Denise Johnson, the Manchester-born singer whose soulful voice lifted the music of Primal Scream — most memorably on Screamadelica — A Certain Ratio, New Order and more has died at the age of 56, according to U.K. press reports and musicians she’d worked with. No cause of death has been announced.
Fans had good reason to believe The Stone Roses’ 5-year-long reunion ended with their June 24, 2017, concert in Glasgow, yet there was never any formal announcement — until now. John Squire, in a new interview with The Guardian, makes it clear: The Roses are once again no more. Full details right here.
This is a round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted. This week sees the release of new studio albums from The Specials, The Beat Featuring Ranking Roger and The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown.
Ian Brown, the once-again-former lead singer of The Stone Roses, will release his first new solo album in a decade next year, a 10-song collection called Ripples that is preceded by the release of lead-off single, and lead-off track, “First World Problems” — which you can hear right here.
Fans who saw tonight’s Stone Roses gig in Glasgow are reporting that frontman Ian Brown seemingly announced the end of the band, telling the crowd, “Don’t be sad it’s over. Be happy that it happened” — suggesting the Manchester legends’ reunion has run its course after five years.
The Stone Roses’ Ian Brown is chronicling his solo career with a limited-edition, 13-disc box set that will include all eight of his albums on CD, plus additional CDs of B-sides and remixes, plus a DVD loaded with all of his music videos and a 12-inch record featuring eight previously unreleased remixes.
The Stone Roses apparently cut short their gig in Amsterdam last night — the third show of their just-launched reunion tour, the band’s first outing in 16 years — according to press and fan accounts, with Ian Brown emerging on stage in lieu of the expected ‘I Am the Resurrection’ encore to announce, ‘The drummer’s gone home.’
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 