COPENHAGEN PAKHUS 11.

Finally...the Roses shuffle onstage in front of a flood of blue lights. The audience screams and Mani strikes the low bass notes for the mesmeric "I wanna be Adored". The doe-eyed Brown stands centre stage yo-yoing his hands like a puppetmaster and the expectation of 5 years is forgotten in moments. They power into the exhilarating spinal rush of "She bangs the drum" with the genius of Squire - the single outstanding guitarist of a generation - transforming the song into an epic that will the 600 acres of Glastonbury and then some. Maddix' drumming makes the loss of Reni seem almost superfluous and Brown appears entitled to his arrogant "Oh, you're too kind", as the songs end.

It continues with the astral "Waterfall" and the instantly-familiar "Ten Storey love song" which is so good that even Squire starts moving about onstage. But then things start to flounder. The weaknessesin Brown's voice become apparent in "Daybreak" as his low drawl strays out of tune. Mani is uninspired and the gig hits a level of mediocrity from which it rarely ascends. There are rare glimpses of genius with the bluesy jams of "Breaking into heaven", "Begging you" and "Daybreak"; all monuments to Squire's growing talent. But they're scarce and the gig becomes tedious and disappointing. "Fool's gold", soundchecked for 30 seconds earlier in the day, is a let-down, "Made of stone" is painfully weak and Brown doesn't even try to reach his notes on "I am the resurrection". Instead of a celebration it is an utter disappointment. They offer a 2-song "Unplugged" slot in the middle with "Your star will shine" and "tightrope" but the acoustic guitars of Squire and Mani and bongos of Maddix jar against Brown's voice. Finally they play "Driving south" and "Good times" before descending yet further with a sorry, angry and futile "Love spreads". Squire plays the strong arm blues intro, then turns to Mani and Maddix expecting the requisite beats that give "Love spreads" its spine. Except Mani and Maddix don't play, leaving Squire standing slack-jawed in front of 1200 people, his eyes horror-filled. He stops playing, stares at Mani, Maddix and Brown and starts the song a 2nd time. But by then Squire's unease is palpable and, as the final notes of "love Spreads" fade and Mani throws a punch at his bass, the guitarist takes 3 paces to the centre of the stage. He waits a moment as Brown shuffles off and Mani and Maddix trudge away. And then he holds his guitar above his head, drains the final notes and rams it, neck first, into the gound.

Backstage the band are disconsolate...Mani looks bitterly disappointed, Maddix has the enthusiasm to remain cheerful while a sullen Brown emerges sometime later to talk with friends and hangers-on. The only person not to appear is Squire. His shattered guitar sits alone in the corner as a lament to tonight's slip in standards and spectacular fall from grace.

the new drummer is a guy called robbie maddix - rasta man with dreads an' all. previous background centred on hip-hop beats and soul grooves. all reports suggest he is a more than adequate replacement for reni.

respect, Colin......