Tour Venue Seventeen

O2 Manchester Apollo, Stockport Road, Manchester, M12 6AP

aka: ABC Ardwick, The Apollo Cine-Variety Theatre, Apollo Manchester, Carling Apollo

The venue was originally a cinema and variety hall before becoming solely a live entertainment venue in the 1970s. 

Located in Ardwick Green, it was opened on 29 August 1938 by actress Margaret Lockwood, one of Britain's most popular film stars in the 1930s and 40s.   

It was designed by architects Peter Cummings, Alex Irvine and R Gillespie Williams in Art Deco style with a horseshoe gallery. The front is glazed white terracotta and moderne style with its rounded corners, rectangular centre and large tripartite openings on both floors, flanked by vertical decorated panels. 

The interior is Mollo & Egan's original design with opulent plasterwork around the columns. The auditorium has the 70s lipstick red and gold decoration.

It narrowly missing being bombed by three Luftwaffe bombs during World War II and is has Grade II listed building status.  

In 2001, it was awarded Industry Green certification from Julie's Bicycle, in recognition of its commitment to managing its carbon footprint. Julie's Bicycle inspires and enables the cultural sector to lead towards a low-carbon economy. Their vision is a creative community powering action on climate change. Check them out online, their story is an interesting one.

I found many written accounts online from people who have fond memories of the Apollo.  Some recall their childhood before the wide ownership of TVs and visiting on a Saturday to watch cartoons on the big screen.  Others tell of the wide variety of rock and pop concerts they have seen over the decades.

There are simply too many great artists to list for the Apollo.  Anyone who is anyone has played here.  Instead, I have listed is a small selection in a timeline.

1960 – World Premiere of the film "Hell is a City" starring Stanley Baker. The film was shot in nearby Levenshulme.

1965 - The Beatles' tour bus got stuck in fog and arrived 12 minutes after they were due to appear on stage.

1966 – The Rolling Stones.

1977 - David Bowie played keyboard and sung backing vocals for Iggy Pop on his Idiot World Tour.

1978 – The Jacksons for their Destiny Tour.

1978 – The Jam, also performed in 1979 and 1982.

1980 – U2, also Pre-War Tour in 1982 and 1984 Unforgettable Fire Tour.

1980 – The Who.

1981 – Bruce Springsteen for his River Tour.

1982 – Elton John with a special guest Freddie Mercury to duet on three songs.

1985 – Tina Turner on her Private Dancer Tour.

1995 – Bob Dylan for his Never Ending Tour that had been going since 1988!

1995 – The Stone Roses.

2001 – Oasis performed who anniversary gigs to celebrate 10 years.

2002 – Prince played two nights.

2002 – Comedian Peter Kay performed 16 shows over three years.

2007 – The Artic Monkeys filmed their Live At the Apollo DVD.

2009 – Morrissey celebrated his 50th birthday with two gigs and gives every concert goer a souvenir laminate.

2011 – Snoop Dogg played as part of the Manchester International Festival.

2011 - One Direction as part of their Up All Night Tour.

2012 – In a Guardian interview, Johnny Marr confirmed the venue as his favourite to play and admitted to climbing up the drainpipe in his younger days with his mates to watch bands.

2016 – Paul Simon performed for what could be his final tour.

2017 – The venue hosted secret workshops for invited guest and fans for new musical The Band, produced by David Pugh, Daffydd Rogers & Take That.

2017 – Harry Styles performs tonight as part of his sold out, debut solo tour!