August 16, 2007 9:52

Smiths fans try to save Salford Lads Club

Morrissey's followers will be cycling round Manchester for venue

Fans of The Smiths are to take part in a charity bike ride in an attempt to raise money for The Salford Lads Club restoration fund.

The event, called ’Bigmouth Bikes Again’, is set to take place on September 30, and will see around 100 fans ride around Smiths-related landmarks in Manchester.

Organiser of the event and fanclub founder Ruth Martin explained she wanted to do something after the venue, which The Smiths were iconically photographed in front of for their 'The Queen Is Dead' album in 1986, after the club lead roof was stolen, ironically echoing the lyrics of one of the songs from the LP, 'Vicar In A Tutu'.

“I was really sad when I heard the news, and was going to make a simple donation but I thought I could do better than that and decided a bicycle ride of Smiths landmarks around Manchester would be a great idea,” she explained.

The 16-mile route follows Morrissey and The Smiths-related sights as set out in the guide book ’Panic On The Streets’ by Phil Gaenby, and will include the Cemetery Gates of the eponymous (and misspelled) track and Strangeways prison, which inspired the 1987 album title 'Strangeways Here We Come'.

Tribute band The Smyths will be playing live at the event, and an ice cream van called ’Everyday Is Like Sundae’ will be parked outside the club.

Fans wishing to take part can enter via salfordlasclub.org and put in a £5 donation or email bigmouthbikes@fsmail.com.