Ten Years On
So an amazing ten years on from the release of Second Coming (where have the years gone), the first question would most probably be
"where are they now?"...
John Squire
After parting company with The Stone Roses back in March 1996, John Squire formed the Seahorses with three new but very talented musicians, Chris Helme (vocals), Stuart Fletcher (bass) and Andy Watts (drums, backing vocals). The band weren't quite ready for a support slot with Oasis at their pinnicle gig at Knebworth, so instead John Squire appeared on stage with them, performing 'Champagne Supernova' and Beatles' classic 'I Am The Walrus'.
In May 1997, they released their debut album, 'Do It Yourself' which was largely popular with the fans, their gigs sold well and they had a fairly big following but in the end, sadly, things fell apart during the recording of their follow-up album (which was under the working titles) 'Minus Blue' (or 'Motorcade'), this never saw light of day; but thankfully a CD of 10 new tracks did surface and gave a great insight into what could have been a great 2nd album. Chris Helme and Stuart Fletcher would eventually form The Yards, Andy Watts would form Mozer, before going it solo.
After the Seahorses were buried, John Squire hit a quiet period, not sure of his next move. He hooked up with ex-Verve's Simon Tong and Simon Jones but sadly only got as far as the rehearsal stage, they went off and formed The Shining while John Squire made his boldest career move to date and went solo... two superb albums down the line (one lyrical classic 'Time Changes Everything' and one conceptual masterpiece - inspired by the works of Edward Hopper - 'Marshall's House') we are left hanging on, wondering if there will be a third...
Ian Brown
Going the distance, Ian Brown was faithful to the Roses and the fans to the bitter end but after a famously disasterous effort at the Reading Festival in August 1996, Ian Brown finally put The Stone Roses to rest.
At the time, he even considered it to be his last musical stand, but thankfully, he felt enough fans wanted another Ian Brown record and he set to work on his debut solo LP 'Unfinished Monkey Business', releasing it in 1998.
From there it was a steady rise back to power for Brown, playing plenty of venues. 'Golden Greats' his second album, only built up his popularity, launching that 'Brown'-sound that we are so familiar with today. In 2001 he released his third album, 'Music Of The Spheres', it was a masterpiece, filled with brilliantly written tunes, including 'F.E.A.R.', 'Whispers' and 'El Mundo Pequeno' (a song written entirely in Spanish). Ian also gave his first attempt at remixing, he successfully remixed the Manic Street Preachers' 'Let Robeson Song', bringing in his own band to give it his sound, and recording additional vocals.
It would be three years before his fourth album but in the meantime Ian Brown appeared on another U.N.K.L.E. track, alongside fellow ex-Stone Roses bassist Mani, providing vocals on 'R.E.I.G.N.', Mani, of course providing the basslines. He also released 'Remixes Of The Spheres' a remix album of his third album and he had his second go at remixing, reworking GusGus' single 'Desire'.
By the time his fourth album 'Solarized' was about to be released everyone was pretty excited as to hear what he had come up with in his 3-year absence but instead of having a preview of the album at the Claremont Landscape Garden in July 2004, fans were treated to a full Stone Roses set-list, the first time Ian Brown had some of them since the early 90's.
'Solarized' was met by most with a warm response, a lot of fans and critics calling it his best solo work to date. He even co-wrote a track with Noel Gallagher, 'Keep What Ya Got' which became his first single off the album. Ian Brown is now just about to embark on a tour of Ireland but already has confirmed details for March 2005.
Gary 'Mani' Mounfield
Mani stayed with Brown to the bitter end of the Roses, but at the same time being tempted by offers to join Primal Scream. When Ian Brown made his statement, ending the Roses, Mani accepted the offer and joined up with the Primals, in time to feature on their 5th studio album 'Vanishing Point' and their first single from it, 'Kowalski'. That's where he's been ever since, two albums later ('Exterminator', 2000 & 'Evil Heat', 2002) he sounds like he's always been part of the band, performing on their classics, like their December 2003 performance of 'Movin' On Up' on Later With Jools Holland (recently featured on the 'Later... Cool Britannia' DVD), bringing his own energy to them.
Mani has also given a few DJ-appearances and has appeared on-stage with Roses tribute band The Complete Stone Roses and gave his film debut, having a cameo role in the 2002 Michael Winterbottom film 'TwentyFourHourPartyPeople'.
Ian Brown and Mani recently gave us the closest thing to a Roses' reunion when Ian brought Mani onstage at his recent gig at the Manchester Apollo (though Mani did not play anything that night).
Alan 'Reni' Wren
Reni, definitely the quietiest of the four, in terms of musical careers. Sadly the five-year break between albums and friction within the band were too much for Reni and he started to show this shortly after the release of 'Second Coming'. He failed to make appearances for the filming of their second single off the album, 'Ten Storey Love Song', being replaced by a man in a paper 'Reni' mask squatting at flies, after that he made his statements leaving the band and would never drum in a band again. After leaving The Stone Roses in 1995 (having been in the band since 1984), Reni took a long time out, disappearing from the scene for 5 or 6 years with little more than a rumour of what he was up to, then to everyone's surprise he came back, fronting new band The Rub.
Reni also played guitar and designed all the bands backdrops (and other artwork) and although they had an album's worth of songs and sold out the few venues that they played, they failed to get a record deal and disappeared soon after, as did Reni (again).
Other albums that have come closest to that Second Coming sound/feel
The Seahorses - Do It Yourself (1997)
While on the surface it was a very different sounding album - much more pop-py than Second Coming, it is known that Squire wrote a few of the songs ('Love Is The Law', 'Standing On Your Head') whilst still in the company of The Stone Roses and these songs retain a lot of the same vibe as Second Coming. Throughout the album, there is of course, very strong John Squire soloing which is also a common feature between both albums, though lyrically they are at complete opposite ends of the musical spectrum at times.
Incidentally, the follow-up album (which was never released but under the working title 'Minus Blue') would see Squire moving back closer to Second Coming, as it was a much darker, rockier collection of songs than their debut, it also featured more traditional Squire lyrics.
John Squire - Time Changes Everything (2002)
John Squire's first album, saw him concerntrate on his role in music and often reflects back to his Roses days throughout the album. Lyrically a masterpiece, even more indepth than the 'Second Coming' at times. It's also fuelled with those precious John Squire guitar licks.
The Bluetones - Return To The Last Chance Saloon (1998)
Whether it was incidental or deliberate, The Bluetones career starting off mirroring The Stone Roses'. Self-admitting fans of the Roses, the 'Tones first album had a loose, baggy indie (fairly lo-fi in places) feel to it, similiar to the Roses debut. Their 2nd album 'Return To The Last Chance Saloon' saw them return with a much darker, album, thick with guitar and all a lot louder in the same way as 'Second Coming'.
Kasabian - Kasabian (2004)
The Music - The Music (2003)
The Music - Welcome To The North (2004)
Oasis - Be Here Now (1997)
Released 3 years later than 'Second Coming', 'Be Here Now' had a kindred vibe about it, opening with the epic (seven-minute-42-second) 'D'Ya Know What I Mean' which could've been their 'Breaking Into Heaven' (it opens with a building instrumental in the same way, albeit it a much shorter one). The album also retains it's rockiness throughout.
Shed Seven - Let It Ride (1998)
The Charlatans - The Charlatans (1995)
Released less than a year after Second Coming, the baggy survivors released this self-titled album.
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