Zoo Weekly 8th-14th October 2004



IAN BROWN




The ex-Stone Roses frontman talks about weed - a lot - and why George Best is a twat

For his latest single Keep What Ya Got, Ian Brown has teamed up with Noel Gallagher. It's taken years, but Ian's finally being recognised as a solo artist - not just as the lead singer of the Stone Roses.

How do you rate Manchester United's chances this season?
I think we'll be alright once Rio gets back into the groove. I've not been this season yet because it's hard to get tickets. I usually go through my mates, who are touts, and they sort me out.

How come you're such a big United fan, you're not even from Surrey?
It's weird because my mum, dad, brothers, uncles and aunts are all die-hard City fans. I'm the red sheep of the family. But I loved George Best when I was a kid.

Ever been out with Bestie?
No, he's a twat. I met him once in Fulham and he was an ignorant bastard. He didn't even let on when I said, "Morning, George". I was gutted.

What do you think of Beckham and Rooney?
It's great that a lad from a council estate can have 10 cars. They're not overpaid. They're like racehorses - they eat the right grass and live like kings, but what are they going to do when they finish? Work in B&Q?




Did you and Noel ever argue about football?
Football was off limits. I avoided him for a week when we got hammered by City last season. I feel sorry for Noel being a City fan.

How did you two meet?
I've known Noel and his brother since their first LP. I've always had a lot of love for them. He told me he had this track that he'd written and every time he listened to it, it reminded him of me. So I told him to give it me and I'd add some vocals. He's really musical and has a big imagination.

What advice would you have for the likes ot Pete Doherty and The Libertines, as the Stone Roses went through a similar thing?
We split up because we were all on different drugs and had no manager to bring us inline. It's a shame about Pete, as he had it all and has thrown it away. It's easily done, though. You've been on the dole for years and then suddenly you're playing massive gigs. You come off stage and want to stay high. You end up needing to get high to buy a loaf of bread. Every drug dealer in town swarms around you within 10 minutes of fame.

Doesn't sound too bad...
Coming off stage with the Roses, I'd he offered everything from Kalashnikovs, tanks, whatever. I'd go home and empty my pockets and they'd be full of Es, charlie, trips, weed. I never paid as the dealer would be buzzing off getting Ian Brown flyin'.




You're about to go on tour
I'm off to Japan. I've been going twice a year since I went solo. It's f**king crazy. We go out to the karaoke bars, drinking sake and you can get weed over in Japan. When I first went, it was really difficult to find, but now I'm sorted. You don't want to get caught though, as you'll get four years for one spliff.

You gave up booze and drugs apart from weed. Why?
I love the feeling. It gives me energy, although I don't smoke the daytime anymore as I've got too much on. I'll read my son Jack And The Beanstalk and then I'll skin one up. Don't doubt the weed, it's a healer.

You've been asked a zillion times, but any chance of the Roses reforming?
I can't see it. I got over it back then when I lived and breathed the Roses. I haven't even spoke to John [Squire] for eight years.


Ian's latest album Solarized and single Keep What Ya Got are out now.












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