Reunited Roses may be summer’s big ticket

Seminal rock act the Stone Roses announced a reunion yesterday, with live shows and the promise of new songs.

Band members had long dismissed talk of getting back together after parting in 1996.

However, they have buried their differences and announced hometown shows at Manchester’s Heaton Park next summer, plus further dates overseas.

Guitarist John Squire said he and singer Ian Brown had met at the funeral of bass player Gary “Mani” Mounfield’s mother.

“When me and Ian met, it changed everything. In some ways it felt like 15 years ago was yesterday,” he said.

Brown said: “Our plan is to take on the world.”

He continued: “We’re going to start off in our home town, Manchester, with two gigs in Heaton Park on 29 and 30 June and after that we’re going to take it round the world.”

Drummer Reni, who dropped out of the music world after leaving the band in 1995, joked: “If anyone buys a ticket”.

The band has already begun rehearsals and working on new material. “It’s not a trip down memory lane. We are doing new songs,” Brown said.