The Stone Roses: War and Peace

by Simon Spence

The Stone Roses captures the magic—and chaos—behind the UK band's rise, fall, and recent resurrection.

The iconic Brit pop band The Stone Roses became an overnight sensation when their 1989 eponymous album went double platinum. It was a recording that is still often listed as one of the best albums ever made. Its chiming guitar riffs, anthemic melodies, and Smiths-like pop sensibility elevated The Stone Roses to a cult-like status in the UK and put them on the map in the U.S. But theirs is a story of unfulfilled success: their star imploded as their sophomore effort took years to complete and the band broke up acrimoniously in 1996. Sixteen years later, they have reunited for a world tour, thrilling fans around the globe in one of the most successful reunion tours ever.

With one hundred interviews of key figures, forty rare photographs, and exclusive insider material including how they created their music, The Stone Roses charts the band's rise from the backwaters of Manchester to becoming the stars of the "Madchester" scene to their 2011 reunion. Going beyond the myths to depict a band that defined Brit pop, Simon Spence illustrates their incandescent talent and jaw-dropping success while contextualizing them in the 90s music scene. This is the definitive story of The Stone Roses.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History, British Literature

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty average as far as band biographies go. I felt like most of it was culled from magazine interviews and other second hand sources. But even from that I learned a lot about the band I never knew. It's a pretty sad story of lost opportunity and bad decisions, but in the final analysis they seemed to have an almost punk ethos that they stood for throughout their history.

They didn't follow trends, sign to trendy labels when they easily could have, or go along with the rest of the indie crowd in Manchester or the UK, even though their style ended up defining much of the era and they influenced many bands in the 90s who rose to super stardom (notably Oasis). It's painful to watch their rise despite being outsiders from the Factory/Hacienda mafia, and then see that same stubbornness and impulsiveness lead to indecision, miscommunication, protracted lawsuits and ultimate disintegration.

The book traces, in great detail, the shady deals and characters that make up the entertainment industry at the time, and should act as a warning to anybody coming after them. The same hubris that helped them make some of the best music of the time also led them down an all too familiar path in the music world. They thought their greatness would rise above bad contracts and management, but as time has told their years in court fighting sapped their creative power. They made the mistake of thinking they could change the system, when they could have easily taken advantage of it on their own terms and called the shots.

The reunion is an interesting and somewhat shocking post script, but in the end they squandered their undefinable and remarkable chemistry, leaving us with one classic, era defining album. At least we have that.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really new here but still a nice trip down memory lane.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would have been a much better book if the band themselves were not so reticent about giving interviews. For that reason, it falls short of Andrew Loog Oldham's memoirs (also ghost-written by the same author).

To me, whole "Madchester" music scene of the late 80's ranks among the watershed musical movements that changed the culture and eventually fizzled due to overexposure (such as Liverpool circa 1962; Seattle 1990; London/New York 1977 and Los Angeles 1965). The Stone Roses were at the forefront of that movemement even if they failed to capitalize on it the way later bands like Oasis did. Their Spike Island concert in 1990 was considered the pinnacle of their career (though it was nearly their Altamont). Subsequently, the band squandered all that momentum, releasing their follow up album five years later.

For anyone who is interested in the music industry, this book could be a text book on what to do (and what not to do). For instance, the band chose their manager Gareth Evans precisely because he was a garrulous Mafioso who made a show of always traveling with a duffle bag full of cash (which was actually newspaper with cash at the top). However, he had no music industry experience and made the band sign what is arguably the worst record contract ever. He was also a crook in his own right. Is it therefore a surprise that when the band were finally getting influxes of cash to the tune of 40,000 GBP, that they saw a measly "Christmas bonus" of 400 quid? Even the infamous Mike Jeffries (Hendrix and the Animals) didn't seem quite THAT bad. On the flip side, the band might still argue that they wouldn't have had a career at all which is why they didn't care if they got ripped off.

As a fan of the whole period I still enjoyed reading this because I was interested in some of the record company politics. However, it would have been vastly improved had there been more information about the socioeconomic and musical history of Manchester; as well as many more personal anecdotes (of which there were some, but not enough). Supposedly their tour manager is working on his own book which is why he did not contribute any interviews to this volume. Consequently, this is probably not the definitive biography of the band.

[Lizzy Wheeldon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone roses so easy 5 stars

[Bob Schnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually know a lot more about a band before I read the biography, but before I read this one I could only name one member of the band and knew next to nothing about their story. This book was, therefore, quite an education even though the band members generally did not cooperate with the author. I highly recommend watching the video "The Complete Stone Roses" after reading the book as many of the memorable scenes in the book are included.

The story of The Stone Roses is basically that they were an important band in the creation of the "Madchester" scene and became hugely popular despite their many faux pas, terrible business deals and seeming lack of enthusiasm for the pop star life. It is a story that is all too typical in the music industry, but the Stone Roses manged to make it their own. Sometimes you just want to smack some sense into them.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a 'must-read' for big fans of the band. An interesting documentation of the bands rise, fall and rise again. Only disappointment was the lack of new information of the wilderness years (91-93). But doubt we will get any of that information until someone close to the band releases a book on the band. 4/5.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting book looking at the career of the stone roses from the start to the reunion with parts of where the band gradually blew apart with in fighting but worth reading though about a prime mover of the madchester scene of the late 80's/early 90's

[Romysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am sat here bursting with excitement. It's less than 24 hours until my biggest gig in my life. What I'm about to see at Wembley tomorrow is the best band I have ever seen (and ever will) with no doubt. And my build-up for this concert was more than perfect.

I just finished watching 'Made of Stone' (for like a hundreth time), and yesterday I watched 'Spike Island'. But since Monday I was deeply into Roses' history.

This book is phenomenal. It is very well written, with the details and informations you wouldn't find.
It is an amazing tale of a couple of young lads from Manchester who wanted to be big, so they did. It is almost unbelievable what they went through.
This band is different. With their rebelious punk behaviour to be such huge personality is magnificent. As stated in the book 'It takes a lot of effort to look like there is no effort.'
This piece is for life-long Roses fan or for someone who just heard Fools Gold. Or for whoever doesn't even know them. It is certainly worth reading.

I was just a 1-year-old when the band split, but I am lucky enough to see them getting back together. And tomorrow is going to be very special day I will never forget.

[Matzen Sen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough history of The Stone Roses, covering all eras from their genesis through to the breakup and the 2012 reunion. Includes many first-hand accounts from those who were present at the time and were close to the band, although unfortunately there's very little first-hand input from the band members themselves (at least the members of the 'classic' lineup). Of all of the members, Ian Brown probably comes off best and John Squire comes off worst (by quite a long way); I have no idea how accurate their portrayals are (and have no reason to suspect any bias on the author's part), but if the book's account is to be believed then the Roses' implosion was due in no small part to Squire's intransigence and mercurial nature.

In short, an essential read for fans of the band and those with an interest in the period straddling the late 80s and early 90s in British music.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good biographical read about one of the most important bands of the 20th century - the Stone Roses. Their eponymous debut album is considered one of the finest albums to come out, however, litigation and in house fighting led to the demise of the band. A lot of tidbits and facts about the band and the personalities of each and every band member. A must read if your into the " Madchester " scene of the late 80's early 90's and indie music in particular.

[Mark Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warts and all run through of the life and times of seminal Manchester indie outfit The Stone Roses that charts the spectacular rise to fame and misfortune and subsequent implosion of the band, and their subsequent return to the stage after many a year, insightfully and wittily. Plenty of decent interviews and insights. One love indeed.

[Kasper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very, thorough and interesting look at The Stone Roses' career. Though, Spence is a bit too much of a fanboy at times and that can be a little cringey. Overall, it was well worth reading (especially if you like The Stone Roses), although it's depressing it ends so optimistically "The Roses were sure to deliver on stage and on record" (so much for that).

[Steve Parcell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read about the Stone Roses but a little disappointing.

It seemed to be a collection of reviews and snippets from other publications and it never felt like the author 100% interviewed the band members and that it was straight from them.

Interesting nonetheless.

[Kealan O'ver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonably enjoyable read but very depressing to find how utterly inept this band were and how they made every single wrong decision that a band possibly could and didn't have a sufficient amount of tunes to back up all the bravado.

[Laura-Michelle Horgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know who to truly blame most for how mishandled this band was, but I would be a long line of slimy British music dudes. They should have just come to America themselves. We would have taken care of them!

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read. I love the irony of the socialist band members who wake up one day wanting to hoard all the money and get furious at their manager who took a large share. Never stops amazing me how dim witted commies are.

[WIlliam Gerrard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stone Roses are undoubtedly one of the most important bands to have emerged during my lifetime. Their early defining sound paved the way for the explosion of the 'Madchester Sound' and the book's introduction about the seminal 1989 Spike Island gig was grippingly enthralling. We explore the roots of the band and each character tows together to form the inseparable four piece that went on to illuminate British pop and rock. Ian Brown, backed with the guitar of John Squire, Mani's Bass and relentless Reni on drums form The Stone Roses and this magical tale weaves together their roots and their emergence and dominance of the UK Indie scene. Their exuberant manager Gareth Evans with his excesses reveals some of the excesses of the music industry that ultimately ripped The Stone Roses apart. Bad business with the record label due to mal-considered contracts led to the huge delay on the recording of The Second Coming, the band's follow up to their 1989 debut masterpiece. The frustration of the recording of this album and inherent personal problems, including drug abuse, led to the breakup of the band. Irrevocable differences kept them apart for over 15 years and although they all succeeded in their own way in private projects it wasn't until 2011 that the band reformed and it is a happy ending to the book to read about their golden legacy tour across the world, yet again an indestructible four-piece force of the Live Music World. A cracking read and a must for any fan. I was lucky enough to catch them at Finsbury Park in London on their comeback tour and it was a highlight for me musically, a true spectacle.

[Brianna Westervelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this book could've gone more in-depth, then again it is The Stone Roses.

[Grainne Cullen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t like it when they fought.

[hollie waterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

me when the stones are roses

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP Mani 🍋

[Harrison Hulse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book

[Renato Thibes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enquanto eu lia esse livro, o Mani morreu e foi homenageado no show do Oasis em São Paulo. Apesar de triste, foi bonito poder participar desse epílogo.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and thorough story of how the Stone Roses became the huge band of the 90s.

[Richard Gilbertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for any Stone Roses fan. Well written and hard to put down

Edit: Ian Browns Harry Potter cameo is in The Prisoner of Azkaban, he’s sat in The Leaky Cauldron reading a book and stirring a drink without touching the spoon. I never realised it was him till I read this biography!

[Charlie Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘It takes effort to sound effortless’ - Ian Brown.

For a biography which does not feature interview content from any of the four core members of the band, I am astounded at how brilliant this book is. The group remain one of the most legendary British bands of the 1980s and 1990s and their mystique lives on today.

Spence provides a satisfying and thorough early history of The Roses, demonstrating from the beginning his acute attention to detail with such an array of sources. In fact, there is so much depth that it makes the reader feel a part of the story as Spence magnificently captures the aura of the ‘Madchester’ scene in which the band thrived.

Although finely tuned and packed with detail, it is a supremely well-written and gripping account. One of the best quotes taken by Spence was from a magazine during The Roses’ disintegration where they were described as ‘crucified by their own messiah complex’ - absolutely brilliant.

Call it seminal, defining, comprehensive.The story is fundamentally spellbinding. Spence writes with authority about a band who failed to reach the heights they were expected to soar towards. This, we now know, only adds to their charm and I pray that they reunite once again.

This is essential reading not just for fans of The Roses but fans more widely of British rock and culture of the late 1980s and early 1990s. It is an account of exhaustive detail. There is a tangible passion and even desperation with which Spence talks in his Afterword about what inspired him and his determination to do The Stone Roses and their story justice. He unequivocally achieved with this masterpiece.

[Wayne Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting insight in to one of my favourite bands

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable history of The Stone Roses describing their formation, rise to prominence and recording one of the greatest albums ever before imploding and their split and eventual reunion.

The book is very readable although input from the core band members is quite limited, relying on second hand sources for much of the bands quotes. What is decent is the range of interviews from people on the periphery of the band.

I'm not going to suggest the book is inaccurate but I had a raised eyebrow or two in points. In particular in the early part of the book where it was suggested that riots regularly broke out, what's notable is a riot is described in detail at a gig in my home city. I'm not saying it's not true but I am very surprised that this had not entered into the folklore of the city. In my youth I was involved in the local music scene and I'm pretty sure this story would have been relayed. Funnily enough they played a few years later to less than 200 people and I couldn't be bothered going - it's amazing how many great bands were on the circuit around then playing to a couple of hundred people.

What is fascinating is that The Stone Roses only released two albums but transcended genres, inspired many and wrote truly beautiful music. Their self titled album is a work of art. It truly wasn't a quick rise to fame. Their debut was released six years after their formation, their second album four years later. It's clear that the Roses were successful in spite of their selves, signing appalling contracts, not playing the game with the media or touring and generally being uncompromising in their outlook.

I recommend when reading the book and then listen to the albums to truly appreciate how brilliant they were.

[Derek Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

From gestation to resurrection, the tale of The Stone Roses in all it's glory and ignominy. Their long journey from the first gigs to Spike Island, to the long wait for The Second Coming to the almost instant disintegration and eventual comeback. Spencer takes a steady stroll through their history providing a neutral stance throughout, not always easy given the characters involved who can all be difficult.

I guess most complaints about the book would be the lack of direct involvement from the main players but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Given their notorious reticence it's also not that surprising.

In the end it's a tale of swaggering self confidence and arrogance, of a band determined to do it their way, of poor decision making and management, of a steady rise and sudden fall.

The book is effectively straight reportage - a large part on the formation and early life of the band and previous members, carrying on through the peak years and the eventual disintegration as they become mired in court cases and the close friendships that created the band and made them such a strong unit start to fall apart.

Spence charts all this meticulously and yet from Spike Island the book feels a little rushed but is never less than fascinating. For those of us not involved in the music business the issues with management and how easy young bands get ripped off is scary. Something that comes across if you read Peter Hook's books also and indeed Spence's own book on the Happy Mondays.

Well worth a read if you have any interest in the Roses and goes well with other books about the same time period.

[Jeff Howells · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stone Roses arguably have the biggest reputation based on the smallest output in the history of recorded music. On the basis of this biography it's not entirely clear how this actually came about (other than being in the right place at the right time). By all accounts they are an extremely lazy, unorganised, arrogant band, but for a brief moment captured the zeitgeist, so a lot of people of my generation are prepared to give them a hell of a lot of slack. It's clear the author is a big fan, he's practically in love with Reni and is prepared to turn a blind eye to Ian Brown's foibles. If anything he comes down hardest on John Squire (he's scathing of his post Roses career...). It's an interesting read but in all reality they were falling apart even before they made it...and, whisper it, I preferred their second album anyway...