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The Stone Roses Live At Heaton Park: Two Hours Of Total Sex
I arrived worried about the sound and Ian Brown's voice, but walked away high on adrenaline and shellshocked from having seen The Stone Roses cement their reputation with a magical performance...
Hail stones attack from the right as 75,000 believers gather in Heaton Park for a musical pilgrimage.
Mancunians embrace, reunited for the first time in years by the reconciliation of the Roses. Their band, their youth, and twenty years in waiting.
The buzz of excitement across the field is palpable. Smiles adorn every face, the regular downpours unable to wash them away.
At 21:15 The Supremes ‘Stoned Love’ introduces four heroes, and it’s raining again, authenticating the Manchester occasion.
I was just too young for the first coming. I grew to adore The Roses from the words of the Gallagher brothers. A band that meant as much to Noel and Liam as their own meant to me.
I never thought I’d see them live, which enhanced a mystique now at risk. I’d read of how many ways it went wrong in the past. The sound at Spike Island and Brown’s vocals at Reading (and other).
Mani’s bass line to ‘I wanna be adored’ is the first sound heard. It’s loud, clear, and fucking brilliant, kicked along by Reni’s drums, the perfect rhythm section. The crowd sing John Squire’s guitar part before the master himself weaves his first magic of the evening, washing gently over the sublime foundation Mani and Reni have laid.
The sound will not be a problem.
Nor will Ian Brown’s vocals. From the first line you know everything is going to be just fine. “I don’t have to sell my soul, he’s already in me.” Its sung back at him on mass, with fists clenched and hearts full.
As the opening song ends I’m already appreciating the sound which fills the air, whilst worrying if I’ll ever hear them perform that song again.
Fuck worry. There’s no time for it and the next song will be just as good. And the next. Relentlessly magical, even the rain concedes defeat . ‘Mersey Paradise’, ‘Sugar Spun Sister.’ Punch, punch, punch. People dance in disbelief and joy.
The delicate moments which other bands might lose to the wind in a field this size are conquered. The whispered vocals of ‘Shoot you down’ crystallise the air, beautifully audible. “I’d love to do it and you know you’ve always had it coming”.
“Ten Storey Love Song” is huge. Pink lights burn bright, and the underlying romanticism at the soul of the Roses pulls at every string. You wonder how any album track listing such a song could ever have been deemed a disappointment.
Perhaps the man who halted a reunion for so many years, John Squire smiles between solos, and allows he to indulge in ‘Fools Gold’. @johnrob77 describes it as “total sex”, later pointing out “it sounds like he’s playing with two guitars.” Squire and guitar are one, the most complex of solos seep effortlessly.
‘Love Spreads’ grooves with a refrain which could go on forever without ever approaching boredom.
‘Made of Stone’ is followed by ‘This is the One’. Pure pop songs on tap with huge choruses bursting full with hope. Songs for the people. I shut my eyes and lap it up. This is the one. This is The Stone Roses.
Reni smashes out the iconic intro and the band soar off into utopia, taking 75,000 people with them
Mani elevates the band into ‘She bangs the drums’. He holds his instrument with focus and a face full of emotion. It means just as much to him. Ian Brown dances in between his gospel deliveries, soaking up the sounds being delivered by his mates. A privilege to front such musicianship, with a justified knowledge of how little it would mean without him.
He dedicates a gorgeous ‘Elizabeth my dear’ to ‘Elizabitch’, asking “Did you put her there?”, before the knockout blow of ‘I am the Resurrection’ lands perfectly. Reni smashes out the iconic intro and the band soar off into utopia, taking 75,000 people with them.
The band hug before holding each other’s arms aloft. They’ve won, and leave the stage to Bob Marley’s ‘Redemption Song’ and a field full of thanks and appreciation.
Fireworks scream into the air, trying to reach the same heights at which the band exited, exploding far short.
The pilgrims leave the field. Woman are forced to find their own way home, left lost in the park by husbands lost somewhere else in their youth.
It was triumphant. Far from denting their legacy, they’ve cemented it.
It wasn’t about the money, it was about four friends putting their differences aside years later, united in the grief of one, before taking joy to so many.
It was about the purest form of song. Four musicians who do what they do in ways others can only dream of.
It was about the people, and filling them with hope at a time when bankers and politicians do all they can to take it away.
It was about ‘The Stone Roses’.
Who else was going to fucking do it?
Want more? Then check out these Stone Roses articles…
The Stone Roses Live At Heaton Park: Exclusive Extract From War And Peace, Part Two
The Stone Roses Live At Heaton Park: Exclusive Extract From War And Peace, Part One
The Stone Roses Are Reforming And I Cannot F*cking Wait
Ian Tilton: The Man Who Shot The Stone Roses
The Third Coming: The Stone Roses In Pictures
Ian Brown Interview: Stone Roses Reunion, What The World Is Waiting For?
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COMMENTS
Er..it was about the money
If it was about the money they'd have done it years ago, when offers received were no different to that on the table now.
I was there on Firday and the whole experience led to me proposing to my girlfriend as the fireworks went off
I was there on friday it was amazing probably the best gig ive been too. Wish i could remember more
I have never understood the fuse about what at best is a byrds tribute band.The Happy Mondays were a far superior band and original to boot.Prehaps its because there was no pretty boys?And before anybody mentions Squires guitar,Second coming was just more retro thievery on the whole and as for the Sea horses.And yet todays youth lap it up.How poor must the 'Hoxton' scene be if this surpasses it?Music is dead....
Can of Greenalls for Cholo,a youth mortgaged away along time ago,it seems.
What utter fucking Hyperbole and as for this "It wasn’t about the money"....hahahahaha, just how naive are you?
Best gig I have ever been to without a doubt. Where any of you that are slagging the Roses actually there? Bet you're the same bunch that continuously slate the band for being a one album wonder when nothing could be further from the truth. Nothing could ever replicate that feeling when Mani played the first few chords of Adored on Friday night. Amazing. Special mention to The Wailers as well, top band. I would do it all again in a heartbeat
I went and it was amazing.
All this "it was amazing"...."better than sex"...."i found god"....What horseshit!
I was there on Saturday. They were brilliant. The bit I'll remember most is when Ian Brown walked over to John Squire and said "What you got for us then?" and Squire started playing Made of Stone. Absolute magic.
Youth,as with many things is overrated.Not least of all The Stone Roses...
Cantona7 - that moment was superb. Can't believe I forgot it!
This gig was that amazing and unbelievable that Joe couldn't remember a moment that was superb and legolad wished he'd remembered more.
A magnificent return of a real band for real music fans. If you weren't there or think they're overrated or you're complaining about them getting a pay day that's very much deserved and long overdue, you're simply getting it wrong.
not a bad band but vastly over-rated as were Quoasis.
Must be tiring being Mr Controversial.
what Joe said.
"Overrated" is the cheapest rhetorical trick in the book - but hey! Good luck with the trolling though (and ironically calling them a "Byrds tribute act" is retro is hardly the pinnacle of originality - it having been said in the NME about oooo 20 years ago.) Thanks for keeping us posted about your feelings though, I'm totally convinced. Also: they were really very good as a band, but Brown's voice is still hit and miss. With all that money on the table you'd think he'd be able to afford a vocal coach. Awesome rhythm section and Reni is the best British drummer since Bonzo checked out. Biggest talking point for me though is exactly when Primal Scream became such a dirge live?
Not really. I was there on Saturday and it was average at best nothing out of this fucking world. It was well shaky at the start and got marginally better. I'm a big fan of Brown's solo stuff and seen him live many times. I don't gripe about is vocals etc. I've seen Brown perform Roses songs as a solo artist better than he performed on Saturday.
Stone Roses are fucking garbage. Rather listen to a squirrel's testicles drop.
Cracking article mate.. unfortunately we live in a world full of sceptical bastards.. the 225,000 who had an incredible night courtesy of bloody brilliant tunes will always outweigh the keyboard warriors. Whether you were one of those reliving your youth over the three days or like me, unlucky enough to be too young first time round and never thought you'd have the chance to hear 'This Is The One' being sung by a field full of piss heads it was magical. THE STONE ROSES WILL LIVE FOREVER.
If it's 'vocally coached' singers you're after then go get a ticket for the x factor final. I was there on Saturday and it was incredible; great vibe, loadsa cool people and a heartfelt, impassioned performance from the roses. A true band of the people, fuckin magic.
He went had a good time enjoyed himself what's the big deal? Who cares if it was about the money if people enjoyed themselves? All those cynics slagging off, write about the last great gig you went to or the last great band you found, I'd love to read that. Roses live were always more than equal to the sum of their parts, three great musicians and one naff singer, but somehow, it worked.
What JohnnyL said.
Is anyone bashing the ROSES on here that actually went? Or just bitter at missing out? Maybe they're just bitter fullstop. I was there friday and it was magic. Everyone singing and dancing noone thinking they were too cool for school,what's happened to people nowadays,i know times are tough and the government are intent on shitting on us but everyones become bitter and cynical. It's time to rejoice the great things in life because one day the dream will be over!
Everyone is entitled to the opinions.For sure.However whether the statement about them being a Byrds tribute act is original or not does not make it any less true.
Also I fail to see how giving my honest opinion about a band equates to trolling.All it is,is my opinion not better or worse than yours.Just different.
Cholo Also I fail to see how giving my honest opinion about a band equates to trolling.All it is,is my opinion not better or worse than yours.Just different. because you posted it several times, forcing your wanky dogshit opinions down our throats. You and Ooooooh Non-controversial are a pair of bad bad tit's. Do one.
Cholo if you were around in between 67-72 you would be saying that the Rolling Stones were a Muddy Waters tribute act, flower power was for cunts and CAN were a better band anyway. All I saw was 70,000 people enjoying themselves in a giant open air party largely united in happiness. Tragic huh? The music was also good, especially 12 minutes of Fools Gold and if you can point me in the direction of any Byrds track that sounds like that I'll buy you a lolly x
Stone roses suck dogs cock along with you deluded cunts.
Now get back to championing architecture in Helsinki or whatever dog shit you are listening to this week
I was there and sorry to disappoint some people on here but they were fucking amazing and worth every bit of hype and money end of. Showed up every british band that has come after. Absolutely top top class.
What a bunch of deluded cunts. I'll give my fucking opinion some more, I WAS THERE SATURDAY and it was fucking average, yes i said it again AVERAGE. Heaton park will go down as a bunch of pissheads desperate to get to a bar and pay 4 quid for more piss and forget half the gig. Some fucking memory that was, thank fuck i didn't pay get in.
Have a day off Mr C.
It was about the money, all that lovely lovely wonga, plugging the divorce induced haemorrhage in Ians Bank account. I'm sure it was an epic gig, the gushing reporting is a bit much, well done for not loosing totl control and bshing one out in the crowd though.
Not sure it was about the money Paul. All Ian's albums have gone Gold. He's sold over 1.7m of them. He's never really struck me as the money grabbing type, divorce or no divorce. Easier to do a Clash and sell a tune to British Airways than tour again. I think John probably does not need the cash as Second Coming (which he wrote)sells pretty well. Mani gets royalties from Primal Scream. Reni maybe? Try again mate.
John definetly doesnt need the money he gave us ten vip tickets and we fix his car they were worth 2 grand so i was told 200 apiece he must do well of his pictures as well
Was there Friday, wasn't the biblical experience I was half expecting, but obviously that kind of expectation had been diluted somewhat by all the YouTube footage of them popping up here there and everywhere. As a result of that tho, the 3 of them did sound tight as fuck.BRown wanders in and out of tune, but that's to be expected. Would never go to big outdoor venue again, far too much hassle on all counts. What will be interesting now is if they can get their arses in gear to write a new album and go and tour that in smaller venues up and down the country. They,ve coined it in,, everyone danced around naked in a big muddy field, now let's hear them play up close and a bit more personal. And Ian, getting voice coaching is not going to dent your ego it's just gonna give the songs (your songs) the credit they deserve. LOVE SPREADS XX
I went on Saturday. It was great. It was about the money. They hadn't done it before now because the money was never as daft as it was now, and attempts at a solo career (I saw Squire sing Roses songs at Shep's Bush Empire in 2004) were yet to fail. They were on about £2m each just for those three gigs. It was about the money. (or did you think Reni wore as much of a disguise as he could get away with because he loved being back at the centre of all that adulation?)
You sound like you know them all Kev, when did they tell you it was all about the money? Or are you (like the rest of us) just guessing? I'm sure Squire could have sold Love Spreads to Lurpak for an advert for £2m before now. I'll keep an open mind until one of them admits it. Until then I'll think maybe, just maybe, they missed playing great tunes with each other in front of an adoring crowd.
'until one if them admits it' - that's not really likely to happen is it? Neither is selling a tune to an advert for seven figures. Ads don't pay that much, and doing that doesn't offer you the ability to say you did it for any other reason. Brown and Mani wanted it, Squire and Reni got on board when the money got silly. You think Reni came back cause he missed playing behind a singer who calls him a cunt to a packed venue? did you see Squire's reaction when Brown went to hug him? The buzz of playing again is a huge bonus but ain't enough when your singer's spent years ripping you to bits. I love them, saw them first time round, and loved Saturday, it doesn't bother me that the main motivation was money, even though it is.
I admit to seeing the best in people, probably naive of me. I'm glad we both enjoyed it, irrespective of the reasons behind it. You & Paul are probably right. Probably.
(Scotty = Howard)
Fair play Howard, it's a good way to be. I worked in the music industry for years, it's full of cynics doing cynical things. One of the reasons I love the roses is 'cause their music ain't.
I couldn't give a f**k if it was for the money or not. Tbh good on them. There's too much shite out there making big money who couldn't even dream of touching the class of that first album or just the iconic footing TSR have. I didn't go I was gutted I didn't get tickets sorted in the end but still I have loved reading all about it, watching youtube clips. I'm sure the bar and toilet situation was a joke, fair enough, but from a music experience/spectacle it looked mega and I'm sure it was. Respect to anyone who went I say and has the story to tell.
theres so much love for this band both inside and outside the music business it is unbelievable a return was inevitable. you know if you don't love them fuck off your opinion is not valid, I have seen some legendary bands but I went on Sunday and was simply blown away with how fucking good these guys are four as one in total harmony, who gives a fuck about the money they made a lot of people happy, Oh and by the way a message to that tool Mr. controversial I too have seen Ian brown sing many Stone Roses tracks and quality wise it isn't in the same league as this quality wise so get real pal.
theres so much love for this band both inside and outside the music business it is unbelievable a return was inevitable. you know if you don't love them fxxk off your opinion is not valid, I have seen some legendary bands but I went on Sunday and was simply blown away with how fxxking good these guys are four as one in total harmony, who gives a fxxk about the money they made a lot of people happy, Oh and by the way a message to that tool Mr. controversial I too have seen Ian brown sing many Stone Roses tracks and quality wise it isn't in the same league as this quality wise so get real pal.
3 weeks have past since I was there on the Sunday & to be honest I'm still buzzing.....WHO cares about a big pay day??? They fucking deserve it!! Everyone In Heaton park I saw had a smile from ear to ear & i've never heard or saw a crowd so animated...it was the dogs bollocks ;)
The Stone Roses are shit!
what a gig im only just getting home
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