Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 15:30

My Roses story begins in 1989.

A friend of mine had his cousin visiting from London.

After enduring stick from everyone over the Lemon t-shirt which he wore constantly he told us to give them a chance. He took out a copy of the first album and I was instantly captivated. I hadn't heard anything like it before. The dreamy guitar and hypnotic rhythms just held me in a trance.

The only band which came close was The Smiths and it pissed all over them. 

So after that there came five long years of rumours,whispers and speculation. I knew they'd come back - they had to. Admittedly I didn't think much of "Second Coming" at first but after a while it grew on me and now I believe that it is an even better album than its predecessor. 

The only time I saw The Stone Roses live was a hot night in August 1995 in Cork,Ireland. 

After they had cancelled Glastonbury It was doubtful as to whether they would play this festival. All fears were calmed on the Friday afternoon, I stood in the groove tent and there only yards away was Ian Brown. 

The man just gave a new definition of the term "cool as fuck". After he signed my Made of Stone t-shirt he promised that they would indeed play And boy did they play. I have never seen a band have such complete adoration thrown at them. 

We met many English fans that day.They had payed a fortune to see them and when John played the opening bars to Waterfall two of them were screaming the words but crying openly. John played like a man possessed that night as 25,000 fans sang along to his guitar solos. 

Even Ian sang in tune most of the time. They left and said that they'd see us again next year. What a fucking shame. I'll never forget it when Jo Whiley announced that John had left. 

Something came in and just ripped me apart. I'm not ashamed to say that I was devastated. When they anounced that they would carry on I was happy but the more I thought of it the more it sunk in. It was over. My friend and brother came back from Reading both shellshocked. 

I went to my brothers flat the next day and his girlfriend is crying.

Now we have The Seahorses and Mani's with the Primals and the others might come up with something. But one things certain - they'll never match the Roses in their prime and we all fucking know it. 

Christ, what a fucking waste.