By 2011, the rumours of The Stone Roses reforming were swirling with the persistence of a Mancunian drizzle, impossible to ignore and soaking everyone whether they liked it or not. Every supposed “insider” seemed to know a cousin of a mate of a mate who was "In the know!".
Fans dissected taxi-driver gossip and blurry forum posts as if they were sacred texts, while the band themselves stayed as silent as Reni’s drum kit. Was it actually happening, or just another case of wishful thinking fuelled by warm lager and faded Spike Island T-shirts?
John Squire sightings sent fans into a frenzy rivaling a last-minute goal in the Champions League. Denials were issued, promptly ignored, and hope refused to die, because if there’s one thing that
Stone Roses fans excel at, it’s blind optimism wrapped in bucket hats and bravado. After all, stranger things had happened… hadn’t they?
Either way, the rumours had everyone believing that miracles can happen!
2011 - John Squire continues creating art:
A few samples off https://johnsquire.com/
Albert Einstein (ink & oil on canvas, 70x90cm)
David Beckham (ink & oil on canvas, 90x70cm)
Harold Shipman (ink & oil on canvas, 70x90cm)
Hany Houdini (ink & oil on canvas, 86x86cm)
Westwood (ink & oil on canvas, 90x70cm)
Woody Allen (ink & oil on canvas, 90x70cm)
Heaton Park promotional design (oil on canvas)
31 January 2011 - Alex Metric & Steve Angello - Open Your Eyes (featuring Ian Brown) Positiva, Virgin Records.
11 February - 05 March 2011 - John Squire Exhibition, 'Group Show' The Signal Gallery, 32 Paul Street, London, EC2A 3AA
20 February 2011 - Ian Brown's 48th birthday
11 March 2011 - 18 May 2011 - John Squire Exhibition, 'Solo' Art Base, Rue des Sables 29, Brussels, Belgium
DJ Mani - 25 March 2011 - Jamm, London * Supporting: Barry Cadogan
DJ Mani - 26 March 2011 - Jamm, London * Supporting: The Only Jones
10 April 2011 - Reni's 47th birthday
25 April 2011 00:35 BST - Ian Brown is caught speeding at 105mph on the M6 northbound, near Holmes Chapel, Cheshire in his Lexus at 12.30am
A police officer followed his car for five miles he drove at 105mph for about a mile, his speed never dropped below 94mph.
The police officer pulled Ian over where he offered him a roadside fixed penalty, Ian refused and disputed the speeds at which he was driving. Ian initially entered a not guilty plea to the charge.
2011 - Mani's mum sadley passes away
April 2011 - Ann's funeral.
The funeral gathers family and friends of Mani's mother's. Mani and Greg's step-brother Steve and his wife Moira attend too. The Stone Roses members attend the funeral and the band speak together for the first time.
Info From Storytime with Boon - Episode 16 Podcast.
Clint tells the public that the media exploited and made up the headline, ''Clint Boon confirms Stone Roses reunion.'' The media took the information totally out of context, despite the fact that the band were reforming from meeting.
Mani responded "Two old friends meeting up after 15 years to pay their respects to my mother does not constitute the reformation of The Stone Roses. Please fuck off and leave it alone. It isn’t true and isn’t happening."
From 07 July 2013 08:34 walesonline.co.uk By David Owens: Steve realised how much a part of the family he had become when Mani’s mum sadly passed away in 2011 and he was invited to the funeral. It was a fateful day for many reasons: affirmation of how close the man from the Welsh valleys had become to his new family in the north and also the catalyst for what the world was waiting for – The Stone Roses reunion.
“The whole family was there and they hadn’t met me at that point and some of the old ones were looking at me agog. And at the same time Mani was running up and down going ‘he’s back, he’s back, Colin is back!’
“I remember when Mani first met me he said, ‘Christ even his hair is parted on the same side as the old man.’ So it must have come as quite a shock when I appeared, especially as I looked so much like their dad.” And when Steve spied John Squire and Ian Brown at the funeral he quickly realised the significance of what he was witnessing.
“I nudged my wife Moira and said ‘There’s Ian Brown and John Squire.’ She said ‘What’s wrong with that, they were in the band together?’ I said ‘Yeah but they haven’t spoken for 15 years.’
“Then we went back to a local pub and the pair of them were sat next to us. Mani introduced us and they were both lovely chatting away happily. “I said to Greg when we were at the bar, ‘What’s the chances of The Stone Roses getting back together?’ And he said ‘just keep your fingers crossed’, but as we all know that’s where it all came about. Out of something so sad, came something so good.”...
The local pub was The Nelson in Failsworth - 500 yrds up the road from Manis family home in Failsworth.
Primal Scream had played in Manchester the previous night and had their tour bus parked on the little street next to the pub.
May 2011 - Gary Neville’s Testimonial, Old Trafford, Trafford, Manchester - This Is The One
Ian Brown sang the teams 'out the tunnel' anthem live. This Is The One was used for nearly every home game, for ten years, as the team came out of the tunnel to play.
DJ Mani - 06 May 2011 - Room At The Top, Bathgate * Supporting: The Complete Stone Roses (Tribute)
DJ Mani - 07 May 2011 - PJ Molloys, Dunfermline * Supporting: I Dream In Colour
26 May 2011 - Shaun Ryder speaks to The Sun Newspaper regarding The Stone Roses reunion rumours.
Speaking to the Sun, former Happy Monday star Ryder said: "I think it'll happen, I really do. There is more of a chance now than ever of them getting back together. Ian's just split with his missus and I bet she's hit him for a few quid. "The only reason they will get back together is if Ian needs the cash. He never has before, he's a millionaire."
10 June - 02 July 2011 - John Squire Exhibithion 'Celebrity', The Idea Generation Gallery, 11 Chance Street, London, E2 7JB
In November 2012 John Squire's Farmhouse caught fire. The fire
destroyed his two-storey art studio in the converted barn next to his home. More than 20 Firefighters and five fire engines attended the blaze, removing propane cylinders from the studio in order to protect Squire's family home.
Early news reports, accompanied by dramatic photographs of the blaze, suggested Mani, who was godfather to three of Squire's children, had been visiting.
All the unsold paintings from his “Celebrity” exhibition, featuring abstract works named after figures such as serial killer Harold Shipman and David Beckham, were destroyed.
8 June 2011 - The Summer Ball, London
Ian Brown appears.
16 July 2011 - Sesimbra, Portugal
Ian Brown appears.
2011 - Peter Hook Interview , Session, 6 Music, BBC Radio, London
New Order's Peter Hook, who told BBC 6 Music he had been "tipped off last week" about The Stone Roses reunion.
He said: "Because the band had such a short life, there was always this wish that they would reform - because they burned quite brightly and disappeared,"..."I think that they'll make their own magic..."
When you talk face-to-face and you look into someone's eyes, it's definitely a much easier and much stronger way of communicating than doing it through your lawyers..."
You find the thing you loved about each other at the start."
September 2011 - Rehearsal Room
Waterfall / Sally Cinnamon / I Wanna Be Adored / Mersey Paradise /
10 September 2011 - Ian Brown - Bucharest, Romania
He co-headlined an event called "Control Day Out" alongside UNKLE Sounds. This was a solo performance, as the official Stone Roses reunion was announced later in October 2011, with the full band shows scheduled for 2012.
14 October 2011 - Reni issues a staement,
saying “Not before 9T will I wear the hat 4 the Roses again."
17 October 2011 Monday - Ian Brown leaks a possible The Stone Roses Re-Union, Reunion
Brown alluded to a Stone Roses reunion via text message, saying, "We are going to rule the world again. It's happening."
Dynamo told The Sun that Ian had confirmed the reunion by saying that the band were "ready to take the world by storm", and that Brown had sent him a text message with the words "It's happening".
October 2011 - Shaun Ryder interview regarding Fabiola Quiroz Brown & Ian Brown's divorce
From The Telegraph, 18 October 2011 13:46pm by Murray Wardrop: Fellow Madchester scene star Shaun Ryder hinted over the weekend that Brown had been motivated by the recent split from his Mexican model wife Fabiola Quiroz. “It has been coming for a while. It's amazing what a divorce will make you do,” Ryder said.
8 October 2011 Tuesday - The Stone Roses re-union press conference, Soho Hotel, London
The Stone Roses Officially Announce They Have Reformed.
Ian Brown's four-year-old godson, Wilson, with his father Gary Aspden attended too.
Earlier this year (2011), guitarist Squire told NME:
"When it's just a get-together for a big payday and everyone gets their old clothes out, that seems tragic to me.".
A 2007 Paul John Dykes Interview with Robbie Jay Maddix revealed "Do you think The Stone Roses will ever reform?
Would you want to be part of a reformation? If the Roses did reform, I would like to be a part of it but I don’t think that will happen. Ian was offered £10 million for him to reform the band – he turned it down, so I can’t see it, but you never know…"
From 06 March 2009 - Uncut Magazine Interview with Ian Brown on reforming The Stone Roses: So aside from any random, fantastical, Led Zeppelin one offs do you…
I’d need to be down to my last chicken dinner, seriously. Every single act that’s reformed has done it for the money, I don’t think there’s anyone who’s done it for expression, artistic expression, or this burning desire to create more music or…
I think it’s about money. I could always ring Mani and say: “Let’s get the band back together.” But if I said let’s do it and give the money to kids’ charities, would he still want to do it? I don’t think they would.
So, could you see yourself sending John a packet of Maltesers in the future?
I haven’t spoken to him since the phone call when he left the band in ‘96. Have you not? No. I’ve not spoke to him in 13 years coming up now.
From Uncut Magazine 13 May 2016, John Squire March 2006 Interview by Stephen Dalton: “Obviously I’d rather that wasn’t the case, but if I really cared about what people thought, I’d get the Roses back together and get on the oldies’ circuit,”
“Well, I heard some live versions of him doing the songs and they sounded awful, so y’know,” retorts Squire, aware that he’s now unfairly seen as the villain of the piece.
“I don’t think he’s in a position to criticise. Anyway, I don’t want to get into a singing contest with the singer of The Stone Roses!”
Do you foresee a time – reunion or no reunion – when you’ll be on speaking terms with Ian again? Or, indeed, the other Roses?
“I bumped into Reni at an Arthur Lee gig in Manchester, and I still see him now and again. We’re friends. And Mani’s godfather to all three of my children. As for Ian… well, it’s all very well him saying in interviews that he’s still got the same number and that I should call him, but if the kid keeps slagging me off…”
It was a long time ago. Wouldn’t you like to get in a room and just shake hands? “Yeah, maybe. Why not? I’d like to be friends again. Let’s see where we are after 10 years.”
From Uncut Magazine 13 May 2016, Mani interview unconfirmed year circa 2006: Didn’t he say last year that he was planning to reform the Roses?
“He did, and I think that’s what really pissed Ian off. Its like, how dare you without asking me? Me and Reni would be bang up for it. But he’s got to square things with Mr Brown, man. Come on, they’ve both got hair around their knackers, they’re both 43 years of age now, be adult about it for fuck’s sake, guys. Listen to me! Henry Kissinger is in the house!”
How’s your scheme coming along to bring John and Ian together without their knowledge? “I’d just love them to phone each other up, just straighten it out. It’s like a Mexican stand-off. If I could get them together I fucking sincerely would because we were the tightest gang in town. But then it could be claret, snot and teeth flying about the place. It could go either way!
Basically it’s a pride thing. Ian’s still very hurt and I think John – I hope he doesn’t hate me for saying this – but John should pick up the phone and give him a call. There’s no need for John to be penitent, because it was so dysfunctional at that time, and John’s a driven guy. But he could have gone about it a better way.”
You have made it clear you’d be up for one last Roses tour. Have you had serious offers from promoters?
“There’s probably been fucking loads. I’ve been spoken to by a certain big promoter.”
Presumably Simon Moran of SJM, John’s sometime manager?
“Yeah. He’s mad for it to happen. I can’t go into figures but we’d all be able to fucking retire. But we always said it’s not about the money, otherwise we could have fucking sold our souls to the devil 10 times over. We did it just for making music and trying to change people’s attitudes to the Royal Family and racism and all that kind of shit. It was about being the vanguard of change and showing people off council estates that they can fucking form bands and do it. And then you got Verve and Oasis and all these kids.”
So, in that sense, the Roses were a success?
“Absolutely. I never can see it as a failed mission. Fucking hell! I’m from north Manchester – not the best part of town – yet I’ve been around the world two or three times playing music. I’m still comfortable, I’ve got a house. I could have ended up dealing crack or stealing cars or robbing houses, like a lot of my friends. Or dead.”
How about reforming for charity?
“A one-off gig for charity would be fucking awesome. It doesn’t matter if we do it for 37-and-a-half pence. Just to do it would be a joy in itself. Then I could close that chapter in my life. The door is still ajar.”
Ian seems doubtful that the other Roses would reform for charity.
“I’d do it for charity, in an instant. I’m sure John would. And Reni.”
24 October 2011 - Ian Brown appeared in Chester magistrates court for his speeding offence.
Mr Nick Freeman, was dubbed by the media "Mr Loophole" after successfully defending a number of celebrity clients charged with speeding offences, said Ian changed his plea to guilty before the trial when he realised that the speeds clocked by the police were correct. Alison Warburton was prosecuting and gave her evidence.
Ian was fined £650 by Chester magistrates and received six penalty points for speeding on the M6 in April earlier this year.
Ian was also ordered to £300 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Ian Brown thanked the magistrates for their decision after his lawyer Nick Freeman argued that a driving ban would make it difficult for him to see his 11-year-old son who lives in London while he rehearses for The Stone Roses' reunion gigs in Manchester.
"That driving record in my view is something of an achievement because he travels a massive mileage," said Mr Freeman who told the court that his client drives around 50,000 miles a year. Mr Freeman said his client's high mileage was down to his job as a musician and also down to his "domestic arrangements".
"It's an extremely quiet car and doesn't really give much sensation of speed." He said Brown was going through an "extremely acrimonious" divorce with his wife of 10 years and he drove to London every Wednesday to pick his 11-year-old son up from school and take him out for dinner. Mr Freeman added he continues to have an "excellent relationship" with his son and also drives to London to see him three weekends out of four.
On leaving court, Ian refused to comment on the case but stopped to sign an autograph for a radio journalist. "As somebody who is now in the public eye, one can imagine the difficulties he would now encounter if he were forced to rely on public transport. "It would be literally insurmountable. Something would have to give. He would have to reduce his contact with his 11-year-old son at a very difficult time of his life."
November 2011 Thursday - Ian Brown failed to appear at Stoke Magistrates Court for his speeding charge.
Ian Brown is served a driving ban after three consecutive speeding offences at Stoke-on-Trent magistrates court.
Ian is banned from driving for three months, fined £900 and ordered to pay costs of £1,015. Ian was caught driving at 93mph in a 40mph zone, see 12 October 2010. Ian failed to appear at Stoke Magistrates Court earlier in the month.
Judge David Taylor was "angered" by Ian for changing his plea to guilty at the last minute, adding: "This will lead to disqualification." The District Judge bans Ian from driving and warns him, he would face prison if caught behind the wheel during the disqualification period. "Speed limits are not imposed on a motorway unless there are very good reasons. Those reasons are almost always health and safety."
Judge Taylor also ordered that Ian's six points from a previous offence in April this year - when he was caught speeding at 105mph on the M6 in Cheshire - should remain on his licence.
Ian's solicitor Nick Freeman said: "He accepts he should not have been travelling at the speed he was. He accepts the court's sentence with good grace and is now looking forward with enthusiasm to the next stage of his career."
22 October 2011 Saturday - Ian Brown Profile, at 19:00, BBC Radio 4 broadcast.
"Liam Gallagher, John Leckie and John Robb talk about Stone Roses' Ian Brown after the legendary band announced this week that they are reforming. Brown formed the band with school friend John Squire but the rift between the two saw the break-up after just two albums and left a generation of music fans hanging. Brown went on to have a solo career but now he and his former bandmates have made amends. He and the band made a huge mark on music and influenced many who met him including bands such as Oasis and in their early days, Radiohead." Producer: Wesley Stephenson.
22 October 2011 - The Stone Roses appear on the cover of NME
29 October 2011 - The Stone Roses appear on the cover of NME Magazine, The Stone Roses reunite
16 November 2011 - Mani's 49th birthday
24 November 2011 - John Squire's 49th birthday
02 December 2011 Friday - Justice Tonight Concert, Ritz, Manchester
Bankrobber (with Simon Wolstencroft on drums)
Elizabeth My Dear (Ian & John) / Bankrobber (cover) (All stars with Ian & John) /
Armageddon Time (The Clash cover) (All stars with Ian & John)
The "first" reunion show. Hosted by Mick Jones.
John Squire & Ian Brown make a very special appearence together onstage, for the first time since 16 years.
They also featured in an all star line up.
The all stars featured Mick Jones (The Clash) on guitar and vocals, Pete Wylie (Mighty Wah) on guitar and vocals, Peter Hooton (The Farm) on vocals. The Justice Tonight Concert was in aid of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign.
John's brother Matt Squire took photos during the show.
From 04 August 2014 - Matthew Mead - This Is The Daybreak Simon Wolstencroft Interview: Fast forward to December 2011 and The Patrol reunion ! How did that happen ? In December 2011, Ian invited me down to the Hillsborough benefit gig at the Manchester Ritz with Mick Jones.
Ian and John were to perform on The Clash's classic 'Bankrobber' which Ian and Pete Garner (The Stone Roses’ first bass player) had witnessed being recorded at Pluto Studios in Manchester, years before. At the soundcheck, I was asked to play drums for Ian and John on Bankrobber, as the house band drummer was late.
I had not seen John Squire since 1995 at the Manchester Apollo when the Roses played one of their last gigs together. It felt amazing to be back on stage together after all this time and I was buzzing all night, though when it came showtime I was gutted cos The Farm’s drummer showed up. We had all come full circle.
From 05 December 2011 - The Guardian Newspaper article, by Sean Michaels: Singer and guitarist perform together for first time in 16 years, making surprise appearance at Manchester benefit concert The Stone Roses' Ian Brown and John Squire mounted a surprise reunion on Friday, performing together for the first time in 16 years.
The singer and guitarist played three songs – including one of their own – at a Manchester benefit concert organised by Mick Jones. The former Clash musician did promise special guests on the Hillsborough Justice Tour, which is raising money for survivors of the 1989 disaster. But the appearance of Brown and Squire is significant: despite announcing their return last month,
Brown hasn't performed with Squire since December 1995. And the Stone Roses reunion gigs aren't until June 2012.
Friday's concert was almost over when Brown and Squire shambled on stage at the Ritz, sneaking in for the encore. As the lights came up they launched into Elizabeth My Dear, from the band's 1989 debut. The song was apparently requested by Jones.
The pair also performed versions of Armagideon Time and Bankrobber, originally by the Clash, accompanied by Jones and members of the Farm. According to a report by author and musician John Robb, another one-time Stone Rose was present at the gig. Simon Wolstencroft, the group's first drummer, played with Squire and Brown at soundcheck.
"Post gig we go to the hotel bar," Robb wrote. "The night is full of great stories, and that kind of electric buzz when you know you have been part of something really important … Ian Brown is talking about the north and the power of Liverpool and Manchester being together and how the two cities can take on the world.
Some drunk in the bar tries to get Ian to slag off Oasis but he won't have any of it, pointing out that 'in Manchester we stick together.'" Mick Jones's Hillsborough Justice Tour continued to Sheffield on Saturday night, featuring guests Richard Hawley and John McClure. He plays London on Thursday.
12 December 2011 - The Stone Roses sign record deal
The band announce via Facebook that they have signed two huge new label deals with Universal Records in the UK and Columbia worldwide.
12 December 2011 - Clash Magazine/Website Feature:
"The Stone Roses are pleased to announce that they have signed a record contract with Universal Music in London and with Columbia Records in New York."