Gig review: The Stone Roses, Heaton Park, Manchester

By DAVID POLLOCK
Published on 30/06/2012 02:50

“HERE we are. Here it is.” Six words that have surely already found their way into folklore and the way Ian Brown chose to announce the original Stone Roses’ return to a British stage after nearly 20 years away.

Anyone who might have felt an element of cynicism about this most unexpected reunion, who might have questioned the financial motives of the band, their supposedly overblown legacy or their chances of remaining together after singer Brown and drummer Reni apparently felt out during a recent continental gig can rest easy. This show was everything they might have hoped for.

As it did with their seminal debut album, I Wanna Be Adored kicked things off – making a mockery of questions about Brown’s infamously fragile voice when every one of the thousands of people here was singing it right back at him. The opening was muted, a selection of B-sides and album tracks including Mersey Paradise, (Song For My) Sugar Spun Sister and the subtle but vehement protest singing of Bye Bye Badman, but even these songs are old friends to their thousands of dedicated fans.

As the sun set, more familiar tracks, such as Ten Storey Love Song, Waterfall and a mighty Fool’s Gold – which took in the Beatles’ Day Tripper – demonstrated what everyone had been hoping: that Reni, bassist Mani and guitarist John Squire are still a fantastic, intuitive live band. Brown’s unexpected rap at the end of Love Spreads and a masterful finale of I Am the Resurrection whetted the appetite for what will hopefully be a phenomenal T in the Park show next week.

Rating; *****