Nordling here. When I read yesterday that the Stone Roses had several film projects in the works, I did a shout-out to site friend Reni (not the real Reni, just a huge fan) to say a few words about them. Without further adieu...
In April this year, The Stone Roses’ John Squire and Ian Brown met at the funeral of bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s mum. The childhood friends hadn’t spoken in 15 years. The owners of The Nelson Tavern - where the reunion took place – posted pictures on the pub’s facebook page and sparked reports of a reunion. The band denied it, of course, and that was that.
Then last week, I got a text - ‘R we going to see The Roses?’ I’d heard that before. But rumours were swirling and later that evening, I got another one - ‘It’s ON.’ The band had been secretly rehearsing for months in a farmhouse and there was going to be a press conference in London.
On Tuesday October 18th, Ian, John, Mani and Alan ‘Reni’ Wren finally announced their reunion. Three shows at Heaton Park, Manchester on June 29th, 30th and July 1st 2012 and they’re playing new songs, too. Director Shane Meadows taped the press conference for a new documentary being produced by Warp Films about the band’s reformation and will be filming the concerts next summer.
The tour film is Meadow’s first documentary. He’s used Manchester bands before on soundtracks. The Charlatan’s ‘North Country Boy’ appears in ‘TwentyFourSeven’ and The Roses’ ‘Going Down’ is used in ‘A Room For Romeo Brass’. As a film-maker, he gets music – remember how the opening scenes in ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’ were synced to Smog’s ‘Vessel In Vain.’
Next year also sees the release of ‘Spike Island’, a comedy about a young, unsigned band going to see The Roses’ legendary 1990 concert (the first time an indie band had staged a massive outdoor event and the moment when The Roses could have become the biggest in the world.)
Maybe – just maybe – The Roses will prove critics wrong and rewrite their own history. We’ll find out on June 29th.
(Son of) Reni
