Sheffield artist Pete McKee creates new posters for cancer charity featuring Noel Gallagher, Stereophonics, The Who and more

McKee has worked with the charity for the last seven years, raising more than £200,000 by designing posters for its annual fundraising shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

This year's concerts have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the artists decided to still go ahead and design the posters, which are available to buy as limited edition prints.

Each one features one of the bands or artists who were due to appear: Stereophonics, Groove Armada, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Who and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

They go on sale through McKee's website this week.

Each ‘In My Teenage Bedroom’ print is limited to between 50 and 100 copies and is signed* and numbered by the artist and the musicians themselves. Prints are unframed, A2 in size and priced at £195 with proceeds from each one going to Teenage Cancer Trust.

Chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust, Kate Collins, said: “We’ve never had to cancel our Royal Albert Hall shows before but – although the music never got to be heard and our income is suffering – it’s heart-warming to see great friends of Teenage Cancer Trust step up to help young people with cancer through our emergency appeal.

"We’re so grateful to Pete for creating these fabulous prints – and all the bands who have signed them – to make sure they raise much needed funds to help young people with cancer across the UK.”

McKee said: "It’s such an honour to be involved again with Teenage Cancer Trust. The work they do and the young people they help are an inspiration. I’m always so grateful for the support of the bands who play the gigs at the Royal Albert Hall. Their willingness to sign the gig posters I create to further raise funds is wonderful.

“Every year I try to design something completely different to anything that I have previously released. This year’s collection of gig posters are themed around teenage bedrooms as they often serve as places of self-expression, especially when it comes to musical interests, as well as acting as sanctuaries from the pressures from the world outside."

McKee will also go live on the charity's Instagram on Wednesday at 6pm for a cartoon masterclass, where he will be joined by co-host Jessica – a young person supported by Teenage Cancer Trust.

Honorary Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust, The Who's Roger Daltrey, said: “The Royal Albert Hall shows bring so much to everyone involved, particularly for the teenagers and young adults who travel from the Teenage Cancer Trust units - they get a chance to be meet others from different parts of the country who are going through the same experience ,and momentarily forget about their cancer reality. It was heart-breaking having to cancel them, especially as 2020 marked our 20th year there.

“Losing the £1m+ that these shows generate for the charity is an enormous blow but this, combined with the wider financial impact of Coronavirus, has meant Teenage Cancer Trust needs to find £5m if it is to protect the essential support it provides for young people with cancer within our NHS.

“Pete McKee’s limited edition prints are superb and I want to thank everyone who buys one. These signed posters for the shows that never happened are bound to be collectors items in the years to come. They will not only have gained an amazing piece of signed artwork, but they will also be helping Teenage Cancer Trust bridge the gap in income caused by Coronavirus and secure vital services for youngsters with cancer now and in the future.”

Nile Rodgers said: “2020 was a significant year for Teenage Cancer Trust with the charity turning 30 and alongside that, celebrating 20 years of these flagship shows. It would have also been my second Royal Albert Hall gig for this great charity so it was hugely disappointing not to be able to perform.

“Coronavirus snatched away that week of music and comedy, but it hasn’t stopped us from celebrating the achievements of the charity completely. These fab prints produced by Pete McKee allow a small part of me to mark the milestones that should have been 2020, raise awareness, and funds for such an incredibly important cause.”

Noel Gallagher said: “As you are already aware Teenage Cancer Trust 2020 has been cancelled.

“Should you be that way inclined, you can still help the kids out this year by purchasing one of the gig posters by Pete McKee.

“On behalf of everyone at Teenage Cancer Trust, I thank you.

"Onwards.”

Tom Findlay of Groove Armada said: “We were incredibly excited to be making our debut for Teenage Cancer Trust at their Royal Albert Hall shows this year. It was disappointing not to be able to play this iconic venue but the sale of Pete McKee’s amazing prints, allows us to still do our bit to raise awareness of such an important cause.”

Prints go on sale at 10am on:

Thursday May 28 - Stereophonics and The Who

Friday May 29 - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Groove Armada and Chic