Date: Wed, 6 Nov 1996 16:40

I don't know when the Roses first came into my consciousness, or even when I first heard their music. It might have been in my favourite music store - Dada's (in Perth, Australia). They had (and still have, last time I was there) a doorstop - a stone, with "THE STONE ROSES" painted on it, and a Rose! And I remember seeing the odd S.R. t-shirt around UWA (Uni of Western Australia). I guess it must have been sometime in about 1991 or 92, when I came across a second-hand CD of the Stone Roses in the CD library (a big secondhand/rental store), I remember asking Tom, the owner of the place, if it was any good - I usually agreed with his taste.

He said something along the lines of it being rather great, and that it had Fools Gold on it as well, so it was value for money, and that I should definitely purchase. (what a salesman). I usually preview any CD's I buy from there, but for some reason I didn't hesitate. It sounds dumb, but my curiosity was raised by why anyone would take the time to paint a rock, and why people were wearing t-shirts of a band I'd never heard. So I got it home and played it.

So I was fortunate - the first thing I ever heard from the Roses was What they wanted me to hear, what they always open with..I Wanna Be Adored. And I thought it was...OK. Then came She Bangs The Drums, and I thought...nice tune. Then Elephant Stone. I can't remember my initial reaction to this incredible work of art. So it couldn't have been overwhelming. I remember my first strong reaction was to Waterfall. This sounded amazing. Must have been the chiming guitar, I loved early REM, and there are (some minor) similarities between the Stone Roses and Murmur and Reckoning, REM's first two albums. Nothing else made a big impression until I got to the chorus of Made of Stone...memorable from the first time you hear it. Then I got to Fools Gold, and I might be mistaken, but it felt familiar. Is it possible I had heard it on the radio when it came out? I hope so, it makes me feel in some strange way that I didn't completely miss their arrival, although in some ways they were really already past their peak (as the Stone Roses, not as musicians) by 1990.

So after the first few listens to the album, I thought it was OK, but I only really liked 3 or 4 tracks. It sounds impossible, but it took me months to realise, after more listens, that this was something special. It was a gradual process as each track became a revelation...I am the Resurrection...Sugar Spun Sister...Elephant Stone...Bye Bye Badman...This is the One...hang on, these are all fucking brilliant, what's going on?

So by then (about 1993) I was telling everyone - "The Stone Roses man, do yourself a favour!". I began researching the Roses...who were they, where were they from, how big were they, why were they so lazy? All of which led to further questions...Who were the Happy Mondays? What was Madchester, what was Spike Island, and WHAT did 'baggy' mean!? (Pardon my ignorance, but I hadn't been in England since I was 9, in 1982, so missed out on all that, watching from a distant shore)

Then nothing...Then came Britpop...Then came Oasis... Then came this really excellent electric blues on the radio, but I missed the back-announce. Then I heard it again, and it was a song called "Love Spreads" by this long forgotten band called "The Stone Roses"...

Well, the same thing happened to me as many other people I suspect - race out to get Second Coming, become woefully disappointed, then gradually realise that it might be poor compared to you-know-what, but a blinder of an album on it's own merit.

Then the Roses announce a tour of Australia. Yeah, right. I didn't give it any attention until it was about a month before the gig nothing was said about them pulling out. Could it be? Well I bought a ticket in the vague hope of them coming through and lo and behold...

At Metropolis Club, Fremantle, October(?) 1995, I saw the best gig of my life. Impossible to put into words. I can't even remember what they played, except I clearly remember thinking during I am the Resurrection, that I could die a happy and fulfilled person. OK, it would have been even better if Reni was behind the drums, I think he's more responsible than most people think for the overall impact of the Roses music, but you can't have everything. To see the Roses with Squire in top form, with Mani going mad, with Ian...being Ian - One can't complain.

Since then, I've discovered the internet and Roses pages (MUCH appreciation to Eric for the fantastic Roses HQ and all others who've put in time and effort on web pages) and, of course, this list which is constantly entertaining. I love hearing about people who are just discovering the magic, about 15 year olds who will educate the next generation etc etc.

Regarding the break up - it was inevitable. John and Reni were never coming back, so It's a relief that Ian is not going to pretend to be the Stone Roses by himself. Good luck to all of them, they've already given so many people so much joy, anything more is a bonus.

That's it. Here's my current top ten, for what it's worth. I'll change my mind tomorrow, but it might go something like this:

1) Mersey Paradise - the last 20 seconds - just listen to the harmonies and to Reni - He's unbelievable
2) Waterfall 12" - Oakenfold's subtle remix should be in the remixers textbook of how not to fuck up other people's songs.
3) Where Angels Play - for Ian's "I'm coming throoooooouuuuugh" in tune!
4) I am the Resurrection - not the poxy TCSR version, oh dear
5) Going Down - "to look down on the clouds you don't need to fly"
6) Fools Gold - If you can't dance to this...
7) Elephant Stone at Blackpool '89 - the opening is so good it had to go downhill, but still makes a change from Hooky's light production
8) Daybreak - Crimson Tonight version. Shows how Robbie is a great drummer, but totally opposite to Reni.
9) Tell Me - probably the worst Roses song of all. It's great!
10) Sally Cinnamon - what happened between Tell Me and this to transform 4 guys from mediocre Manc lads to this? Practice? Drugs? Who cares - just be thankful it happened.

Cheers,

Adrian.