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The Stone Roses

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Stone Roses were an English rock band from Manchester, formed in 1983. They were among the pioneers of the Madchester movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The best-known line-up consisted of the singer Ian Brown, the guitarist John Squire, the bassist Gary Mani Mounfield and the drummer Alan Reni Wren. Brown and Squire knew each other from school and at first tried out all sorts of little bands. Squire came up with the name Stone Roses as two words that contradict each other. Mani joined the group in late 1987, and according to Brown the sound changed almost overnight.

Music and breakthrough

The debut album The Stone Roses appeared in 1989 on Silvertone and became a classic. Singles such as Made of Stone and She Bangs the Drums led to Fools Gold, which reached the top eight of the British chart in November 1989 and became the band's best-known song. The music combined 1960s-style guitar pop, with clear, jangling guitars and strong melodies, with the groove and dance of the time. A long legal battle with the label followed, until the group signed with Geffen in 1991. The second album, Second Coming, came in 1994 and received mixed reviews. After changes in the line-up the band stopped in 1996.

Influence

In 2011 the group got together again, with a world tour and three concerts at Heaton Park in Manchester, but after two singles in 2016 it was over again in 2017. The influence on British guitar music is great. The Gallagher brothers of Oasis named their performances as an inspiration.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Fools Gold and notice the tight, repeating bass line and the guitar floating above it. Can you hear how this is a rock song that you can also dance to?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsMadchester