Its official - legendary Manchester band the Stone Roses are to reunite for a series of summer concerts in 2012. Singer Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani and drummer Alan 'Reni' Wren announced the news at a press conference at London's Soho Hotel on Tuesday (18th October 2011).
The group will kick off their reunion with two homecoming shows at Manchester's Heaton Park on 29th June and 30th June 2011, followed by a huge world tour, according to NME.com. Surprisingly, the group also announced they are to play a selection of new songs at the concerts, with a view to a possible third album. After Squire quit the band in 1995, the group fell apart one year later admits legal wrangles and internal rows. Their self-titled first album, still regarded as one of the finest debuts of all time, was followed up by the poorly received 'Second Coming'. On the possibility of a third album, singer Ian Brown told journalists at the press conference, "We hope so. But we said that before didn't we?" Other big names to attend the announcement included legendary photographer Pennie Smith, who was taking photos of the band, and Brown's close friend Dynamo. The Bradford-born magician was first to announce news of the reunion, during an interview with The Sun's showbiz editor Gordon Smart on Friday (14th October 2011).
The scheduled gigs will be the first time the Stone Roses have played together since their disastrous performance at the Reading Festival in 1996.