Date: Thu, 14 Nov 1996 14:52

I was too young to hear the Stone Roses when they first emerged, and Ireland isn't exactly the hub of the rare and unusual anyway, so I didn't actually get to hear any of their stuff until their concert (Feile 95;Cork - my home town) was played on the radio last December - Crimson Tide preformance.The first Stone Roses song I ever heard was "Daybreak"- I thought my heart was going to be crushed. The music! the lyrics! The voice! And later,(upon investigation into who these people were), The attitude! The principles! Real live outlaws! A penniless student, I spent that weeks grocery money on Second Comming - the best investment I have ever made. 

A couple of weeks later, suspense killing me,I forfitted another weeks food on 

"The Complete..." Both albums became the soundtrack to my first year at college, and still send shivers through my soul. Later still, I managed to get hold of a copy of the debut, and it is still a mystery to me how I managed to get through the first 17 years of my life without feeling such boundless enthuasiam. She Bangs the Drums! This is the One! Elizabeth my Dear - ouch!!!

I managed to convince a few siblings that these were what the world was waiting for, but Most of my" listen to the usual shite on the radio" friends wouldn't listen, but I didn't care . 

My soundtrack was estatic.

The day I heard that John had left, I got kind of numb, and wandered around for a couple of weeks in a daze. I felt as if someoe had ripped a vital organ out. Still,life goes on and the Roses pledged to as well.

Reading was a disapointment from the moment I read the peculiar brand of vitriol towards John at the press conference. A former best friend? I didn't need to see the reviews to know that something drastic had happened.

The news of the split has saddened me, but the memories of some of the best times of my life will always have a Stone Roses song playing in the background, and with songs like "Fools Gold" , how could the story ever end? 

Hope springs eternal; The Stone Roses will make music wherever they go. 

Roll on the next episode!