2015 passed with barely a ripple in the Stone Roses universe. Then, without warning, sixteen lemons appeared around Manchester, instantly triggering mass hysteria. Fans interpreted this citrus-based omen as a clear sign of a new album. Prayers were offered. Message boards combusted. People emotionally prepared for greatness.
Naturally, the lemons did not mean new music. They meant tour dates. More specifically, dates in 2016.
To be fair, they weren’t just any dates. The band announced massive hometown shows at the home of Manchester City Football Club, because subtlety has never been their thing. Demand was so ferocious they had to add extra nights, confirming two things: Manchester still cared deeply, and everyone was absolutely going anyway, album or not.
Hope was kept alive, of course, by the familiar promise that new music was just around the corner in 2016. The album, however, remained imaginary, proving once again that with the Stone Roses, belief is optional, lemons are misleading, and patience is a lifelong commitment. Its a"Beautiful Thing"
27 January 2015 Tuesday - Ian Brown testifies at the Fred Talbot sexual abuse court case in Minshull Street Crown Court, Minshull Street, Manchester
Ian aged 51 Ian Brown testified against a former teacher at Altrincham Grammar, Fred Talbot, who was found guilty of sexually abusing pupils in the 1970s. Ian gave evidence in 2015 and later in 2017 too.
20 February 2015 - Ian Brown's 52nd birthday
10 April 2015 - Reni's 51st birthday
11 May 2015 - Ian Brown's sister Sharon Louise (Shaz) Brown passes away
Ian's solo LP 'Ripples' (01 February 2019) was dedicated to her.
October 2015 - The Stone Roses have reportedly registered a new touring company called Man Touring Limited.
Ian Brown, John Squire, Gary Mounfield and Alan Wren are the only names linked to the documents which were available on the government's Companies House website.
October 24, 2015: Noel Gallagher hints at new music
Woah there. Maybe there will be a third coming. A year and a half of band silence later, Noel Gallagher has news. The former Oasis guitarist and friend of the band was recently asked if he had “any idea what’s going on with the Roses”, to which he replied coyly: “Yes. I know exactly what’s going on… They’re blooming.” Bring it on.
October 27th NME run a feature
The Story Of The Stone Roses’ Reunion… So Far
When The Stone Roses announced their reunion in 2011, second coming fever swept the nation. By late 2013 we were still waiting for new music. By 2014, everything was eerily quiet and the whispers doubled back on themselves. Had the band gone their separate ways again? Was it all a dream? Maybe not. Our gobby knight in shining armour Noel Gallagher has hinted that something is in the pipeline. In a bid to uncover exactly where The Stone Roses might be at in 2015, we take a look back over the milestones that marked their reunion, from on-stage bust ups to surprise shows. If there is more to come, we’re ready for it.
02 November 2015 - 16 Lemon Posters appear In Store Windows & Around Manchester To Promote The Upcoming 2016 Tour
The band put up the posters themselves always in groups of 16.
Sightings of the posters were confirmed at Close Barber's shop on Greater Ancoats Street and the Vinyl Revival record store on Hilton Street. Vinyl Revival would later sell the posters, all proceeds went to charity.
02 November From BBC Website
The Stone Roses are to headline at T in the Park next year, it has been confirmed.
The Manchester band will be the main act at the 2016 festival, which is being held at Strathallan Castle on Friday 8 July.
They will also play two gigs at Manchester's Etihad Stadium on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 June. DF Concerts said a limited release of tickets for T in the Park would go on sale at 09:30 this Friday.
Rumours were sparked after posters featuring the band's logo appeared in Manchester.
Pictures of white posters with an image of a lemon, which featured on the band's debut album in 1989, were shared online. Suggestions ranged from homecoming shows and festival slots, to a 2016 tour.
Some thought the lemon posters pointed to a long-awaited new album, which has been rumoured since the band reunited in 2012. It would be their first record since 1994's Second Coming. T in the Park is being held from 8-10 July.
November 2nd - Manchester Evening News
The Stone Roses announce Manchester shows at Etihad Stadium
The news arrived after the band's name trended on Twitter for hours following the appearance of dozens of lemon posters around Manchester
The Stone Roses will play two shows at the Etihad Stadium next year on June 17 and 18. The gigs were announced following a day of intense speculation after dozens of posters with the Stone Roses iconic lemon logo appeared in shop windows all over the Northern Quarter.
Tickets for the gigs go on sale at 9.30am this Friday (November 6), with prices still to be announced.
Fans and famous faces took to Twitter as soon as the posters starting appearing at 8am, and within a couple of hours the phrase Stone Roses was trending in Manchester and several other UK cities.
Manc rock royalty including Tim Burgess and Liam Fray tweeted lines of lemons emojis - mirroring the poster campaigns on Oldham Street, Hilton Street, Church Street and Great Ancoats Street.
Most of the posters were displayed in batches of 16 posters, suggesting a tour announcement for 2016 was on the cards.
November 2nd Radio 5 Live Website
Do Stone Roses posters spell a new album?
The Stone Roses' Biographer has told 5 live that posters appearing around Manchester sporting the famous lemon band logo "has to mean a record" is being released.
There are strong rumours that a new album might be announced after several shops in Manchester city centre have been given posters with lemons on to put up in their windows and sworn to secrecy.
Music journalist John Robb, who wrote Stone Roses and the Resurrection of British Pop, "there have been quite a few gigs in the last few months" so the lemon posters are unlikely to signify another concert.
The Stone Roses last album 'Second Coming' was released in 1994.
November 6th - DailyMail
The Stone Roses add extra fourth date to their sell-out Manchester tour after 'unprecedented demand' in tickets
They delighted fans earlier this week with news of a reunion next summer.
And due to an incredible high demand for tickets, The Stone Roses have added a fourth and final date to their homecoming tour at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium in June.
The band’s Twitter page announced on Friday that there was an ‘unprecedented demand’ for tickets after fans tirelessly tried to secure seats for the original shows - Friday 17 June and Saturday 18 June.
November 13: RTE Online
Stone Roses to bang the drums in Dublin next year
Legendary Manchester band, the Stone Roses are returning to Ireland next summer for an outdoor concert at Dublin's Marlay Park.
The gig will take place on Saturday July 9, 2016 and will be the Roses fist time to play in Ireland since performing open air shows in Dublin and Belfast in 2012.
Last week the band announced hometown shows at Manchester's Etihad Stadium next June and a headliner date at the T in the Park Festival in Scotland on July 8, with fans quickly snapping up nearly all the tickets.
16 November 2015 - Mani's 53rd birthday
24 November 2015 - John Squire's 53rd birthday