IAN BROWN has never been known for an immaculate singing voice, yet he remains one of the cockiest, most iconic frontmen in Britain.

It’s 21 years since Brown came to prominence with Madchester legends The Stone Roses, and the years can virtually be etched on the famously gaunt, cheekbone-strong features of a man whose cocksure “monkey man” swagger spawned a host of imitations, both famous and non-famous, such as the plethora of hero-worshippers who packed into Fibbers on Wednesday night.

It was a bit of a coup for the venue to host a leg of this tour – the first time the scally hero had played York – and it was a struggle to cram everyone in with any semblance of comfort befitting a £30-odd ticket price.

So was there enough monkey magic to make it worthwhile?

Brown’s idiosyncratic and inventive brand of music since going solo can be sweet yet aggressive, as reflected by the atmosphere inside Fibbers, when he ipped and dipped through a back catalogue which – especially when considering he disappointingly omitted several favourites and didn’t once dip into the Roses’ magical reserves – proved there is immense quality behind the myth.

It began with Love Like A Fountain, from 1999’s Golden Greats, his second solo album, and it ended, 70 minutes later, with the stomping Just Like You, from 2009’s My Way.

His infamous vocals were at times flat – as is to be expected – and his “dance” movements were more like two-bit keep-fit routines. He even cocked up on Own Brain before cockily cutting the track short and going again.

Yet many in the crowd hung on to every note, bounced with every beat and still swore he was the coolest man on earth.