Manchester Online 27th May 2005



Brown still on top of his game



EX-STONE Roses singer Ian Brown has denied the group will reform, despite guitarist John Squire saying this week that he planned to reunite the much-loved quartet.

LOOKING back at that now-infamous 1996 Stone Roses Reading gig, it'd was a brave man who'd put money on Ian Brown being the most successful ex-Rose.

Imploding under the weight of expectation, in fighting and the fall-out from an eternity of legal wrangling the virtuoso guitar playing of John Squire – or the powerhouse rhythm section of Mani and Reni – seemed like a safer bet.

As the off-key notes echoed round the festival, it seemed the curtain was about to fall on Ian Brown for good…

But that wager would be paying back ten-fold now. Preparing for his date as part of the Carling 24 event Brown, the most Mancunian of Mancunians, finds himself heading the bill at home once again.

Though 24 hours of music back to back might be a bit much, even for him.

"Erm, I Am Kloot are at 7am aren't they? So I don't think I'll be at that. I don't know about beating drums at 7 in the morning man," laughs Brown loudly. "I'm not up for that at all…."

Refreshingly enough, there's no hint of industry-speak in his response as to why he got involved either:

"The main reason was because of the stage time," he states. "I chose the Apollo because - no offence to the Academy – I didn't want to go down in size. Last time I played two nights at the Apollo, so it might be a backwards step.

Dead 60s

"Then they told me it was an 11pm start time, and that was it man. I think that's a great time to go on stage. Plus it's a whole day of music, which sounds top - and The Dead 60s are supporting me. When they asked me if they could be on the bill, I went and checked em out.

"And y'know, to me they sound like when The Clash were doing reggae, they've got a good groove. They're a new up and coming band and so I'm well up for that."

As illustrated by the line-up at Carling 24 – much the superior to its London sister event - 2005 is shaping up to be a big year for Manchester music.

Oasis, New Order, Doves, Elbow, I Am Kloot, Nine Black Alps and The Longcut all have albums out – and civic pride is clearly still high on his list of priorities.

TO read the rest of this interview buy this week's City Life (issue 587). Out now priced £1.50.

Ian Brown plays Academy 1 with The Dead 60s as part of Carling Live 24 on Saturday, May 28. Tickets are sold out.


Jon-Paul Waddington




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