ROSES ARRESTED

ALL four STONE ROSES members face jail if convicted on charges of criminal damage arising from a disturbance at their former record company FM Revolver last Monday (January 29). Three members of the band entered the Wolverhampton record company offices at 6pm and poured blue and white paint over Revolver Managing Director Paul Birch and his girlfriend Olivia Darling.

According to Revolver press officer Clare Britt, they then charged out of the office smashing the windows of Birch's £25,000 Mercedes and pouring paint over two other cars in the car park.

The Stone Roses are angry over Revoler's reissue of their "Sally Cinnamon" single but particularly the accompanying video Revolver made without the band's consent. It features black and white Manchester street images, The Hacienda, The International and record shops in the city.

Britt is claiming, however, that manager Gareth Evans had already approved both single and video and had even taken an upfront royalty. Revolver also claim that Evans rang Paul Birch the following day and said words to the effect, "Hi Paul, how's your f***ing car this morning, you ain't seen nothing yet."

When contacted by the Maker, Wolverhampton police confirmed that they arrested the three members of the band at Rockfield studios in Wales where they are recording their new LP and had later picked up Gareth Evans in Manchester as well as a fourth member of the band. The manager was later released without charge.

All the band appeared at Wolverhampton magistrates court the following morning, charged with causing criminal damage. They appeared handcuffed and were charged under their full names, John Thomas Squire, lan George Brown, Alan John Wren and Gary Michael Mournfield. All four pleaded guilty. They were remanded on bail until March 6.

Finally, the band are still officially denying that they are appearing at an all-day acid rave at Spike Island, Widnes, during the bank holiday weekend.

From Melody Maker 10/02/1990