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The Stone Roses

Data updated on 2024-12-01 14:46:10 UTC
Meshing '60s-styled guitar pop with an understated '80s dance beat, the Stone Roses defined the British guitar pop scene of the late '80s and early '90s. After their eponymous 1989 debut album became an English sensation, countless other groups in the same vein became popular, including the Charlatans UK, Inspiral Carpets, and Happy Mondays. However, the Stone Roses were never able to capitalize on the promise of their first album, waiting five years before they released their second record and slowly disintegrating in the year-and-a-half after its release.

The Stone Roses emerged from the remains of English Rose, a Manchester-based band formed by schoolmates John Squire (guitar) and Ian Brown (vocals). In 1985, the Stone Roses officially formed, as Squire and Brown added drummer Reni (born Alan John Wren), guitarist Andy Couzens, and bassist Pete Garner. The group began playing warehouses around Manchester, cultivating a dedicated following rather quickly. Around this time, the group was a cross between classic British '60s guitar pop and heavy metal, with touches of goth rock. Couzens left the group in 1987, followed shortly afterward by Garner, who was replaced by Mani (born Gary Mounfield) and the group recorded its first single, "So Young," which was released to little fanfare by Thin Line Records. (Pete Garner died on November 3, 2023; he was 61.) At the end of 1987, the Stone Roses released their second single, "Sally Cinnamon," which pointed the way toward the band's hook-laden, ringing guitar pop. By the fall of 1988, the band secured a contract with Silvertone Records and released "Elephant Stone," a single that set the band's catchy neo-psychedelic guitar pop in stone.

Shortly after the release of "Elephant Stone," the Stone Roses' bandwagon took off in earnest. In early 1989, the group was playing sold-out gigs across Manchester and London. In May, band released their eponymous debut album, which demonstrated not only a predilection for '60s guitar hooks, but also a contemporary acid house rhythmic sensibility. The Stone Roses received rave reviews and soon a crop of similar-sounding bands appeared in the U.K. By the end of the summer, the Stone Roses were perceived as leading a wave of bands that fused rock & roll and acid house culture.

"She Bangs the Drums," the third single pulled from the debut, became the group's first Top 40 single at the end of the summer. In November, the group had its first Top Ten hit when "Fool's Gold" climbed to number eight. By the end of the year, the band had moved from selling out clubs to selling out large theaters in the U.K.

For the first half of 1990, re-releases of the band's earlier singles clogged the charts. They returned in July 1990 with the single "One Love," which entered the charts at number four. Prior to the release of "One Love," the Stone Roses organized their own festival at Spike Island in Widnes. The concert drew over 30,000 people and would prove to be their last concert in England for five years. After Spike Island, the group became embroiled in a vicious legal battle with Silvertone Records -- the band wanted to leave the label but Silvertone took out a court injunction against them, preventing the group from releasing any new material. For the next two years, they fought Silvertone while allegedly preparing the follow-up to their debut album. However, the Stone Roses did next to nothing as the court case rolled on. In the meantime, several major record labels began negotiating with the band in secret. In March of 1991, the lawsuit went to court. Two months later, the band won its case against Silvertone and signed a multi-million deal with Geffen Records.

For the next three years, the Stone Roses worked sporadically on their second album, leaving behind scores of uncompleted tapes. During these years, the group kept a low profile in the press but that wasn't to preserve the mystique -- they simply weren't doing much of anything besides watching football. Finally, in the spring of 1994, Geffen demanded that the group finish the album and the band complied, completing the record, titled Second Coming, in the fall. "Love Spreads," the Stone Roses' comeback single, was debuted on Radio One in early November. The single received lukewarm reviews and entered the charts at number two, not the expected number one. Second Coming received mixed reviews and only spent a few weeks in the Top Ten.

The Stone Roses planned an international tour in early 1995 to support the album, but the plans kept unraveling at the last minute. Before they could set out on tour, Reni left the band, leaving the group without a drummer. He was replaced by Robbie Maddix, who had previously played in Rebel MC. After Maddix joined the band, they embarked on a short American tour at the conclusion of which John Squire broke his collarbone in a bike accident. Squire's accident forced them to cancel a headlining spot at the 25th Glastonbury Festival, which would have been their first concert in the U.K. in five years. As Squire recuperated, the Stone Roses continued to sink in popularity and respect -- even as their peers, the Charlatans and former Happy Mondays vocalist Shaun Ryder, made unexpectedly triumphant comebacks.

The band added a keyboardist to the lineup prior to their U.K. tour at the end of 1995; it was the first British tour since 1990. In the spring of 1996, Squire announced that he was leaving the band he'd founded in order to form a new, more active group. The Stone Roses announced their intention to carry on with a new guitarist, but by October of that year the group was finished. Squire's new band, Seahorses, released its debut album in June 1997, while Brown began a solo career in 1998 with Unfinished Monkey Business. Mani joined Primal Scream as full-time bassist, although he also played on several tours by Stereophonics.

Aside from continual denials from Squire and others that no reunion was forthcoming, there was no news about the Stone Roses for close to 15 years, until 2011. During the early part of the year -- after an emotional reunion of Brown and Squire at the funeral for Mani's mother -- rumors swirled that the Roses would be back for at least one show. Then, in October 2011, the band announced a full reunion, including tour dates that began with a three-show appearance in Manchester in late June of 2012, and extended through the entire festival season. By December, a recording contract had also been announced, with the band's future recordings appearing on Universal in Great Britain and Columbia in the United States. Four years after those contracts were signed, the first fruits from recording sessions at Paul Epworth's studios appeared. In May 2016, the band released the single All for One," the first new material from the four-piece in some 21 years. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

Total plays

1.1 billion
Updated on 2024-12-01

Country

United Kingdom

Monthly listeners

2,111,985

Followers

1,610,206

Top Cities

  1. United Kingdom
    139,882 listeners
  2. United Kingdom
    99,352 listeners
  3. United Kingdom
    60,408 listeners
  4. Ireland
    Dublin
    54,610 listeners
  5. United Kingdom
    57,879 listeners

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Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
I Wanna Be Adored - Remastered
I Wanna Be Adored - Remastered
150,133,592 4:53 1989-05-02
Waterfall - Remastered
Waterfall - Remastered
96,013,476 4:39 1989-05-02
She Bangs the Drums
She Bangs the Drums
91,227,507 3:52 1989-01-01
Fools Gold - Remastered
Fools Gold - Remastered
75,776,656 9:54 1989-05-02
I Am the Resurrection - Remastered
I Am the Resurrection - Remastered
59,846,541 8:13 1989-05-02
I Am The Resurrection
I Am The Resurrection
59,846,541 8:14 1989-05-02
Love Spreads
Love Spreads
59,560,235 5:47 1994-12-05
Made of Stone - Remastered
Made of Stone - Remastered
45,919,072 4:15 1989-05-02
Made Of Stone
Made Of Stone
45,919,072 4:16 1989-03-06
Sally Cinnamon - Single Mix
Sally Cinnamon - Single Mix
39,988,331 2:53 1987-01-01
This Is the One - Remastered
This Is the One - Remastered
35,163,741 4:59 1989-05-02
Mersey Paradise - Remastered
Mersey Paradise - Remastered
21,330,984 2:47 1989-05-03
Shoot You Down - Remastered
Shoot You Down - Remastered
20,113,976 4:13 1989-05-02
Bye Bye Bad Man - Remastered
Bye Bye Bad Man - Remastered
17,887,556 4:04 1989-05-02
Ten Storey Love Song
Ten Storey Love Song
16,394,495 4:30 1994-12-05
(Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister - Remastered
(Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister - Remastered
15,863,267 3:27 1989-05-02
(Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister
(Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister
15,863,267 3:25 1989-05-02
Fools Gold - Remastered Edit
Fools Gold - Remastered Edit
14,751,134 4:16 1989-11-13
Elephant Stone
Elephant Stone
10,673,996 3:04 1989-05-02
Elizabeth My Dear - Remastered
Elizabeth My Dear - Remastered
9,887,532 0:53 1989-05-02
Don't Stop - Remastered
Don't Stop - Remastered
9,535,489 5:21 1989-05-02
All for One
All for One
8,553,476 3:36 2016-05-12
All For One
All For One
8,553,476 3:36 2016-05-12
Sally Cinnamon - 12" Single Mix
Sally Cinnamon - 12" Single Mix
8,384,699 3:28 1987-01-01
All Across The Sands
All Across The Sands
8,384,699 2:41 1987-01-01
Driving South
Driving South
7,044,651 5:10 1994-12-05
Beautiful Thing
Beautiful Thing
6,728,779 7:02 2016-06-10
Here It Comes
Here It Comes
6,451,866 2:45 1987-01-01
Fools Gold
Fools Gold
5,812,039 5:24 2008-07-25
What the World Is Waiting For - Remastered
What the World Is Waiting For - Remastered
5,599,109 3:50 1989-05-03
What The World Is Waiting For - Remastered Edit
What The World Is Waiting For - Remastered Edit
5,599,109 3:50 1989-11-13
Begging You
Begging You
5,453,286 4:54 1994-12-05
Going Down
Going Down
4,778,531 2:47 1989-03-06
Breaking Into Heaven
Breaking Into Heaven
4,490,271 11:20 1994-12-05
Tightrope
Tightrope
4,356,367 4:24 1994-12-05
Where Angels Play - Remastered
Where Angels Play - Remastered
3,977,847 4:16 1989-05-03
Standing Here
Standing Here
3,710,840 5:10 1989-01-01
The Hardest Thing In the World - Remastered
The Hardest Thing In the World - Remastered
3,317,527 2:41 1989-05-03
The Hardest Thing In The World
The Hardest Thing In The World
3,317,527 2:41 1988-01-01
Daybreak
Daybreak
3,019,015 6:34 1994-12-05
Good Times
Good Times
2,949,061 5:40 1994-12-05
Your Star Will Shine
Your Star Will Shine
2,922,752 2:56 1994-12-05
One Love
One Love
2,625,303 3:34 2002-11-04
How Do You Sleep
How Do You Sleep
2,609,091 4:59 1994-12-05
Tears
Tears
2,601,829 6:50 1994-12-05
Elephant Stone - Remastered Edit
Elephant Stone - Remastered Edit
2,404,236 3:05 1988-01-01
Straight To The Man
Straight To The Man
1,857,998 3:14 1994-12-05
I Wanna Be Adored
I Wanna Be Adored
1,628,498 3:28 2014-07-08
Fools Gold - Grooverider's Mix
Fools Gold - Grooverider's Mix
1,518,264 6:06 2000-11-21
One Love - Full Length - Remastered
One Love - Full Length - Remastered
1,336,238 7:44 1989-05-03
I Am the Resurrection
I Am the Resurrection
1,241,551 3:42 2008-06-02
Something's Burning - Full Length - Remastered
Something's Burning - Full Length - Remastered
1,222,418 7:44 1989-05-03
Sugar Spun Sister - Demo Remastered
Sugar Spun Sister - Demo Remastered
1,108,231 3:31 1989-05-03
Foz
Foz
1,090,356 6:26 1994-12-05
I Wanna Be Adored - Demo Remastered
I Wanna Be Adored - Demo Remastered
1,024,806 3:42 1989-05-03
Simone - Remastered
Simone - Remastered
956,266 4:25 1989-05-03
She Bangs the Drums - Demo Remastered
She Bangs the Drums - Demo Remastered
922,851 3:47 1989-05-03
Guernica - Remastered
Guernica - Remastered
884,321 4:23 1989-05-03
Elephant Stone - Demo Remastered
Elephant Stone - Demo Remastered
852,800 3:14 1989-05-03
Full Fathom Five - Remastered
Full Fathom Five - Remastered
848,258 3:03 1989-05-03
Bye Bye Badman - Demo Remastered
Bye Bye Badman - Demo Remastered
846,668 4:04 1989-05-03
Mersey Paradise - Demo Remastered
Mersey Paradise - Demo Remastered
841,190 2:48 1989-05-03
Pearl Bastard - Demo Remastered
Pearl Bastard - Demo Remastered
840,019 3:42 1989-05-03
One Love
One Love
789,493 3:29 1990-07-02
This Is the One - Demo Remastered
This Is the One - Demo Remastered
728,100 4:01 1989-05-03
Waterfall - Demo Remastered
Waterfall - Demo Remastered
719,835 4:45 1989-05-03
Fools Gold - Top Won Mix
Fools Gold - Top Won Mix
699,162 7:13 2000-11-21
Shoot You Down - The Soul Hooligan Remix
Shoot You Down - The Soul Hooligan Remix
677,601 4:48 2000-11-21
Standing Here
Standing Here
640,470 5:07 1992-07-20
Shoot You Down - Demo Remastered
Shoot You Down - Demo Remastered
598,004 4:25 1989-05-03
Waterfall - Justin Robertson's Mix
Waterfall - Justin Robertson's Mix
579,360 6:20 2000-11-21
I Am the Resurrection - Demo Remastered
I Am the Resurrection - Demo Remastered
577,619 6:39 1989-05-03
Where Angels Play - Demo Remastered
Where Angels Play - Demo Remastered
574,079 3:16 1989-05-03
Waterfall - 12" Remix
Waterfall - 12" Remix
554,964 5:35 2000-11-21
Going Down - Demo Remastered
Going Down - Demo Remastered
550,756 2:40 1989-05-03
Made Of Stone - 808 State Mix
Made Of Stone - 808 State Mix
534,233 4:58 2000-11-21
One Love - Demo Remastered
One Love - Demo Remastered
527,473 6:23 1989-05-03
Fools Gold - Grooverider's Mix
Fools Gold - Grooverider's Mix
477,505 4:31 2008-06-20
Something's Burning - Demo Remastered
Something's Burning - Demo Remastered
471,576 3:03 1989-05-03
I Wanna Be Adored - Bloody Valentine Edit
I Wanna Be Adored - Bloody Valentine Edit
359,708 7:40 2000-11-21
I Am The Resurrection - Jon Carter Remix
I Am The Resurrection - Jon Carter Remix
333,767 7:03 2000-11-21
Somethings Burning - Jam & Chat
Somethings Burning - Jam & Chat
320,529 3:39 1989-05-03
Something's Burning - Full Length - Remastered
Something's Burning - Full Length - Remastered
272,919 3:38 1990-07-02
Elephant Stone - Mint Royale Remix
Elephant Stone - Mint Royale Remix
260,301 3:31 2000-11-21
She Bangs the Drums - Elephant Remix
She Bangs the Drums - Elephant Remix
241,425 6:19 2000-11-21
One Love - Utah Saints Remix
One Love - Utah Saints Remix
236,669 5:01 2000-11-21
Elizabeth My Dear - Kinobe Remix
Elizabeth My Dear - Kinobe Remix
210,978 4:54 2000-11-21
Love Spreads
Love Spreads
181,665 3:49 1995-09-09
We will rock you
We will rock you
119,787 1:60 2010-01-01
A Kind of Magic
A Kind of Magic
99,652 4:15 2013-09-20
One Love
One Love
94,203 7:44 1992-07-20
Something's Burning
Something's Burning
88,159 7:52 1992-07-20
The Show Must Go On
The Show Must Go On
77,518 4:02 2013-09-20
Untitled 5
Untitled 5
72,239 1:26 1990-07-02
We Are the Champions
We Are the Champions
61,603 2:55 2013-09-20
Untitled 3
Untitled 3
56,109 2:12 1989-01-01
Untitled 1
Untitled 1
47,958 4:18 1988-01-01
Untitled 4
Untitled 4
45,388 1:52 1989-11-13
Untitled 2
Untitled 2
45,327 1:18 1989-03-06
Shoot You Down - Version 2 Demo
Shoot You Down - Version 2 Demo
4,401 4:28 1989-05-03

New releases

Beautiful Thing
Beautiful Thing
2016-06-10
[Columbia]
Beautiful Thing
Beautiful Thing
2016-06-10
[EMI]
All for One
All for One
2016-05-12
[Columbia]
All For One
All For One
2016-05-12
[EMI]
Collection
Collection
2010-08-30
[Sony Music UK]
Discover The Stone Roses
Discover The Stone Roses
2008-07-25
[Sony BMG Music UK]
The Very Best Of The Stone Roses
The Very Best Of The Stone Roses
2002-11-04
[Silvertone]
The Remixes
The Remixes
2000-11-21
[Silvertone]
Second Coming
Second Coming
1994-12-05
[Geffen]
Turns Into Stone
Turns Into Stone
1992-07-20
[Sony Music UK]
Turns Into Stone
Turns Into Stone
1992-07-20
[Silvertone]
Turns Into Stone
Turns Into Stone
1992-07-20
[Silvertone]
One Love
One Love
1990-07-02
[Sony Music UK]
One Love
One Love
1990-07-02
[Sony Music UK]
Fools Gold
Fools Gold
1989-11-13
[Sony Music UK]
Fools Gold
Fools Gold
1989-11-13
[Sony Music UK]
The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition)
1989-05-03
[Silvertone]
The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Legacy Edition)
The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Legacy Edition)
1989-05-03
[Silvertone]
The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Legacy Edition)
The Stone Roses (20th Anniversary Legacy Edition)
1989-05-03
[Silvertone]
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
1989-05-02
[Sony Music UK]
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
1989-05-02
[Jive]
Stone Roses
Stone Roses
1989-05-02
[SONY BMG Catalog]
Stone Roses
Stone Roses
1989-05-02
[Silvertone]
Made Of Stone
Made Of Stone
1989-03-06
[Sony Music UK]
Made Of Stone
Made Of Stone
1989-03-06
[Sony Music UK]
She Bangs The Drum
She Bangs The Drum
1989-01-01
[Sony Music UK]
She Bangs The Drums
She Bangs The Drums
1989-01-01
[Sony Music UK]
Elephant Stone
Elephant Stone
1988-01-01
[Sony Music UK]
Elephant Stone
Elephant Stone
1988-01-01
[Sony Music UK]
Sally Cinnamon
Sally Cinnamon
1987-05-01
[Black Records]
Sally Cinnamon
Sally Cinnamon
1987-01-01
[Black Records]