Webcuts Music

photo by Pennie Smith

Here is a case of band makes one impossibly perfect, era-defining album that is arguably one of the greatest debuts ever recorded, and then…. everything goes to shit. You couldn’t but help feel sorry for The Stone Roses. This was the general feeling at the start of the 90’s, when these four cocky Mancunians went from strength to strength, only to end up in litigation with their old record company. Paint was thrown, records rereleased and the bands momentum eclipsed by Madchester and dozens of fakers instantly emulating their swagger and sound.

When Second Coming finally arrived four years after their debut it was too little too late, both to recapture the bands stratospheric rise and to establish a linear connection to their debut. Second Coming sounded like an experimental third album, the equivalent of what Oasis would do in 1997 with Be Here Now. Self-indulgent and aimless, Second Coming sucked and sucked some more. For someone who had the misfortune to witness the band following drummer Reni and guitarist John Squire’s departure in 1996, those live shows only reaffirmed the disappointment that Second Coming had brought with it and foreshadowed a rapidly approaching end.

Calls to reform plague every band who’ve ever achieved a modicum of success, and no matter what the smokescreen, unless you’re doing it for charity or other selfless reasons, it’s all about inflating egos and money. The Stone Roses were one of those bands you admired for the way they not as much distanced themselves from the “are you ever going to reform?” questions but volleyed them back with a curt “Never going to happen. Fuck Off”. John Squire was pretty good at that one. He just wanted to paint. Mani said as much as far back as April this year. Naturally bands, like people, have the right to do as they can please. They can change their minds like their guitar strings, but sometimes you just wish ….. “No”.

So, unsurprisingly The Stone Roses have reformed for two shows in Manchester in 2012 (no doubt more to come) and it’s big fucking news. Just like the radio station who played three Stone Roses songs in a row last night, bashing home the news while I sat in my local KFC wondering if this is really the “momentous occasion“ it’s touted as being. There are bound to be detractors as there are supporters, as well as many others who loved the band but who really don’t give a fuck. Just do it — play your songs, count your money, and go away. Don’t even think about putting another record out. Don’t mistake nostalgia for an open door to recapture your youth.