The buzz about a possible reunion of The Stone Roses built over the weekend, with no official denial from the band’s members and seeming confirmation from friends such as Shaun Ryder and Tim Burgess — plus fresh rumors that not only are the Roses mounting a series of concerts, but recording a new album as well.
After reports began to first slip out Friday of a news conference planned for Tuesday to announce an alleged reunion of the long-feuding Roses, The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess tweeted, “big news tues. nice when old friends who became foes become friends.”
And U.K. tabloid The Sun today quotes the Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder, another friend of the band’s members, as saying the reunion “has been coming for a while” (the paper also quotes some magician named Dynamo who claims to have received a text message from frontman Ian Brown that said, “We are going to rule the world again. It’s happening.”)
Also today, John Robb — longtime U.K. music journalist, musician and Roses biographer — posted that he received a text from Brown “confirming the reformation,” and noted the Roses have been “rehearsing in Manchester all summer.” He added that “an insider to the band” told him the Roses have written new material and are planning to record a follow up to 1994’s Second Coming.
So is any of this true? Well, outside of a cryptic message from drummer Reni, none of the Roses has issued a formal statement denying the reunion, as the band’s members have been quick to do in the past. We should know Tuesday whether the Roses indeed are getting back together.
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Linkage: Stone Roses reportedly reuniting, plus R.E.M., Depeche Mode, college radio
- Stone Roses reunion? U.K. paper: Ian Brown, John Squire ‘buried the hatchet,’ will tour
- The Stone Roses’ 20th anniversary round-up: Video, audio, links, interviews
- Through his art, John Squire firmly denies reports of a Stone Roses reunion
- No reunion: Ian Brown shoots down report of Stone Roses anniversary tour
- Report: Stone Roses to reunite, mark 20th anniversary of debut album
Much as I love the Roses’ music, I cannot believe that at this age and length of time since the last record they will produce anything that is not mediocre. I hope the rumours are false.