Date: Thu, 05 Dec 96 16:39

I was 10 in 1988, my friend was 14 and he kept talking about "Sally Cinnamon" - he had just bought the 7 inch and 12 inch single, which I thought was a weired thing to do. The of course I heard it, the opening hook on the guitar, the symbal crash then the vocals and then who could ever forget the amazing bridge " Your eyes are gazing back from ..." it was and still is the best song I have and will eaver hear.

I dont remember hearing "Elephant Stone" or "Made of Stone" so it was late 1989 when I was next treated to the Roses. I was in HMV when I heard an song being played I recognised the voice "Down down, you bring me down ..." I stayed in the shop untill the end I never baought anything I just stood there listening. As soon as I gought home I called my friend and told him about the song, he asked me to come over. At first I thought what I heard was anew single - to my pleasure I found out It was atrack of there debuet album "The Stone Roses"- 40 minutes I did nothing accept loose myself in the music. Now all the way through my life I have went through phases of what my favotate Stone Roses song was at the time - and after the first time I listened to the Album the song that stuck in my head was "Bye Bye Bad Man" - it was just so hushed and mello.

Unfortunatley due to my age, my friend mouving away, the silvertone court case and my lack of funds to buy NME I lost contact with the stone roses and gradualy through time, the tapes got lost and replaced by the Beatles, the Doors, the Who (I was never much into chart music - except from a disastorus Kylie phase in early 87 - I WAS 9!)

Years past and then in then in September 1995 I met my friend (NOW 21) at a footbal match in Glasgow. We bnegan talking and he asked if I had heard "Love Spreads". To his surprise I said no. After the footbal I went round to his House to listen to the Second Coming. Again I was stunned the anticipation in the intro of "Breaking into heaven" was unbarable. As soon as the base and drums came in I could feel The Roses Grouve. The he showed me the one thing I have never been so enveyous of in my life, The stone Roses ticket for the Glasgow Barrowlands (One of the Roses favourate venues)- of course my luck it was sold out. I hated myself why could I not have kept up to date with the NME. F%*K I cursed myself for ages but life goes on and I had found the Stone Roses again.

After this I bought evreything the T-Shirts, The Complete SR, I now have all the singles except "Tell You/So Young" I was determained the next tour I would be there.

The rest is history, Squire leaves, Mani leaves and the Roses and my dreams split up. 

WHY could I not have been 16 in 1989 and went to Glasgow Green - I blame my parents but such is life one kick in the teeth after the other.

Stone Roses live on in our heads.

Cheers, Raymond."I dont have to sell my soul, hes already in me"