The Legacy of The Stone Roses and Their Manchester United Connection
Fri, Feb 02.24
It doesn't get much bigger than The Stone Roses if you're a fan of UK music. They were one of the pioneering groups of the 'Madchester' movement in the late 1980s and early '90s. The band's debut self-titled album, 'The Stone Roses,' is widely regarded as one of the greatest British records ever and one of the best albums of all time. It inspired many other artists such as Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, and Kasabian.
The classic and famous lineup consisted of vocalist Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani, and drummer Reni. The group formed in 1983 but took until 1989 to release their staggeringly good debut album, going through the process of finding the perfect sound, changing their name, and adjusting line-ups. When it all came together in 1989, Manchester, and the world, were taken by storm.
The fact that the band tried and toiled in those initial years laid the groundwork for the debut release to be exceptional. This group was individually incredibly talented, and as a collective, they exuded confidence. You can still feel that energy when you dive into their music, even in the present day, 2024.
A quick look at the album's Wikipedia page reveals an almost perfect list of review scores from 10 sources. The lowest score was a 9/10 and 4/5. While the reviews were raving and success was seen by the band, things took a turn when they decided to capitalise and sign with a major label for their second album. The problem was, they couldn't get out of their deal with Silvertone. This led to legal battles and stresses within the band, resulting in their follow-up album in 1994, 'The Second Coming,' not reaching the heights of their first album. Given the success of the debut, however, one could argue that this was always going to be an extremely tough act to follow.
The band ended up splitting up in 1996, leaving fans disappointed and wondering what could have been. However, their legacy still resonates today, as bands like Oasis might not exist without the influence of Ian Brown and co delivering that debut album. Music from the band's first two albums continues to be played regularly, featuring in FIFA games and even iconic movies like the football classic, 'Green Street Hooligans.'
In 2011, the band reunited for the first time, with Ian Brown and John Squire performing alongside Mick Jones (the Clash) and Pete Wylie in support of the Justice for Hillsborough campaign. The excitement reached fever pitch in 2016 when the band released two singles, 'All for One' and 'Beautiful Thing,' followed by a world tour, including two sold-out shows at the Sydney Opera House. Fans of their live shows know the passion their fan base exudes, creating a football crowd-like atmosphere wherever they perform.
This reformation was short-lived though, and the band called it quits again, seemingly for a final time, in 2017. Band members had drifted apart, pursued other interests, dealt with personal problems, and faced issues with each other. It was never ever plain sailing for the group and It's unlikely we'll ever see them play live again, but we'll always hear their music. Especially if you're a fan of Manchester United.
The Red Devils have been blasting 'This is the One' pre-game at Old Trafford since the early 2000s. It's no surprise players like David Beckham and Gary Neville are super fans, along with a stack of other players around the country. The song is about anticipation - you get that sense that something good is imminent - and Old Trafford has seen so many good moments and memories in the years since they started playing it.
Vocalist Ian Brown is a lifelong Manchester United fan and a season-ticket holder, so whenever there's an opportunity to get involved with something special between the club and the band, you bet he'd want them to be part of it. And that opportunity has presented itself. Stay tuned - Friday, February 8th, is going to be a special day for United fans and The Stone Roses fans alike. It's going to be a good one.
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