After years of media speculation, British rock band The Stone Roses have officially announced they have reformed at a press conference in the UK.
The band will reform with the original lineup frontman Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani and drummer Reni and revealed that they plan on embarking on a worldwide tour next year.
The band formed originally in the early 1980s, however infighting between the members led drummer Reni to quit in 1995, shortly followed by Squire in 1996. The group officially disbanded that year. Squire and Brown reportedly did not speak until recently.
Speculation of a Stone Roses reunion has been rife for years, but rumours really began to heat up in the last year. In an interview in June, Squire said when asked whether the band were looking to reform, “When it’s just a get-together for a big payday and everyone gets their old clothes out, that seems tragic to me. I don’t see these rumours as special or flattering. It’s a symptom of the times. People who can afford to waste money on gigs now are of a certain age and The Stone Roses fit their brief.”
Earlier in April drummer Mani was furious with the press when speculation rose after Squire and Brown attended the funeral of Mani’s mother. At the time Mani said “Two old friends meeting up after 15 years to pay their respects to my mother does not constitute the reformation of The Stone Roses. Please fuck off and leave it alone. It isn’t true and isn’t happening.”
Well now it is happening and we can all look forward to seeing the iconic band on our shores sometime soon. For further information go to their newly launched The Stone Roses official website Thestoneroses.org.
You can listen and watch to the full press conference below
Stone Roses reunion press conference by nmemagazine
