Latest news with #TheStoneRoses
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
British Airways air hostess given 48 hours to live after shock brain haemorrhage
Summer Clarke mimed the lyrics to "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis and "Waterfall" by The Stone Roses as she emerged from a coma after suffering a stroke. For Summer Clarke, life is a melody to be sung. After waking from a coma induced by a stroke, she could sing before she could talk. Initially, she just mimed to "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis and "Waterfall" by The Stone Roses, along with Taylor Swift's popular tunes, but soon she was singing them out loud. Her mum, Linda, shared a poignant moment: "She sang a very emotional Lilly Allen song - Somewhere Only We Know - which was used in the John Lewis Christmas advert. It was our special song, which we sang together. As she sang it she cried. That was heartbreaking because I knew she knew something was not right but she didn't know what had happened to her." Summer's life took an unexpected turn one day in May 2023 when, as a flight attendant for British Airways, she was grilling burgers in the garden with pals. She recalls feeling off: "I started to feel a bit dopey. I knew how to cook but was asking if I was doing things right. I felt strange." That day progressed to an evening at a pub, where severe headaches escalated, resulting in her being violently ill and seeming to experience a seizure, reports the Manchester Evening News. Summer was just 24 when she was urgently taken to Tameside Hospital after suffering a spontaneous brain haemorrhage. She was unable to breathe independently and was placed on life support upon transfer to Salford Royal Hospital, known for its neurosurgery expertise. Linda, her mother, recounted: "The doctors did a draining procedure but the pressure on her brain was immense. I was told that she might have 48 hours to live and we should maybe say our goodbyes. She was given a ten percent chance of survival – it was terrifying." After two weeks in an induced coma, Summer began to show signs of life by moving her little finger. Linda shared: "We were being warned that she might never talk or walk again and be in a vegetative state. "Eventually she started moving her little finger. Then she opened her eyes. But for a good few weeks she was non responsive. Then she started following people around the room with her eyes and slowly it improved from there. She was in the ICU for about six weeks." Summer spent time at Salford Royal from May until November 2023, followed by a stint in a rehabilitation unit at Rochdale hospital from November through to the end of February 2024. Reflecting on her recovery, Summer said: "Before I could even speak to anyone I started to sing. I don't know how. It was like being a baby again, I had to learn everything from scratch." Remarkably, she could sing her favourite songs perfectly before she was able to speak clearly or even recognise her own mother. Linda shared her daughter's incredible journey: "Summer suffered with so many cognitive problems but singing just came naturally to her. "She could sing to music when she came out of the coma. She would start by miming songs and then she could sing anything on her playlist." Summer, 26, reflected on the uncanny phenomenon saying: "Anything we played I remembered the lyrics to, even if I didn't recognise my own mum, it was all very strange." Linda recounted the early signs of recovery: "She was even trying to sing when she had a tracheotomy - it is hard to speak with that in. She was miming the words. From day one of her being put in a coma we had been playing Summer's playlist." Detailing an emotive moment, Linda said: "It was songs from it that Summer began to sing - including my wedding song, Waterfall by the Stone Roses. She had aphasia, and could not get her words out to talk, but she could sing, which is very strange. I was crying when she was singing, it was very emotional." As for Summer's current state, she revealed: "Now I can walk, I can pretty much do everything, the only thing I struggle with is reading. Also for the first time since this I recently rode a bike - which was a bit hard." They credit Summer's remarkable progress to a combination of sheer determination and resilience, along with her passion for music and singing. A survey conducted by the Stroke Association charity, involving 1,000 stroke survivors to commemorate Stroke Awareness Month in May, revealed that over a third of survivors in the North West (37%) lost their ability to speak following their stroke. Interestingly, over a third (35%) reported an enhanced ability to sing compared to speaking in the days, weeks and months post-stroke. In fact, a quarter of respondents (26%) could hum or sing before they regained their speech. In the UK, strokes affect 100,000 individuals annually, with a third of these survivors suffering from aphasia - a language and communication disability that hampers abilities to speak, read, write or comprehend language. Studies have indicated that singing post-stroke can improve communication and spoken language for those afflicted with aphasia. The Stroke Association's survey discovered that more than half of stroke survivors (54%) stated that activities such as singing, listening to music or playing an instrument had a positive influence on their recovery from stroke. Furthermore, two out of five respondents claimed that music had a significant impact on their recuperation. From a practical standpoint, nearly two-thirds of stroke survivors asserted that music aided in enhancing their communication skills after their stroke. Over half of them also reported improvements in memory and hearing due to music. From an emotional standpoint, nearly half (45%) of stroke survivors reported that singing along to music post-stroke helped them unwind, and over a third (34%) found hope in singing as they could vocalise better than they could speak. Additionally, two out of five (43%) felt it brought positivity back into their lives. The organisation also conducted a survey with 2,000 individuals from the general public, revealing that many in the UK are not aware of the significant communication challenges faced by stroke survivors, with over a quarter (28%) oblivious to the fact that such difficulties are a common aftermath of a stroke. Those with aphasia often experience a decline in wellbeing, battling with decreased confidence and social withdrawal. Linda said: "Even when Summer was in the coma I was playing her favourite music, I really think it helped in her recovery and her Dad, Keith, Fiancée, Lewis and Sister, Courtney were all by her side too! The therapist said they were amazed by her progress and resilience which was all down to Summer's attitude." Summer reflected: "While I still struggle with certain things like reading, I look back and think how have I done this? My walking now is near perfect and back to what it was and my memory is sometimes good and bad but I don't let my stroke stop me doing things." "My motto during my recovery has been, 'If I can't do it today, I'll do it tomorrow' and that's what I'll keep living by. " During her recuperation, Summer found immense comfort in the song "Proud Mary" – initially brought to life by the American rock ensemble Creedence Clearwater Revival back in 1969. It was, however, Tina Turner's rendition of the song that greatly aided her recovery journey. This month marks a crucial period as the Stroke Association urges individuals to lift their voices in solidarity, aiding stroke survivors who require essential support after the life-changing ordeal of a stroke. Spearheading the cause, they've unveiled Sing4Stroke, an innovative drive for fundraising. The initiative empowers people to sing in any setting they prefer – be it from the comfort of their homes, during a live stream, within office precincts, school premises, or while hosting a bespoke event – all with the aim of gathering indispensable funds to aid stroke survivors and their families. Professor Mark Tarrant, spearhead researcher from the University of Exeter, elaborated on the study findings: "Singing-based rehabilitation may have positive effects on both social confidence and wellbeing, providing social and emotional support for people with aphasia and their loved ones." Furthermore, Juliet Bouverie OBE, the CEO of the Stroke Association, commented: "There are now over 1.4 million stroke survivors in the UK, and this number is growing. The impact of a stroke can be completely life-altering. We believe everyone deserves to live the best life they can after a stroke but to do this, we need your support. "Singing can be a powerful tool in stroke recovery for those who experience communication difficulties. Because music and singing are processed in a different part of the brain to spoken language, some people with communication problems find that they can sing easily, even though speaking is difficult. "Now we need singers to show their support to stroke survivors and their families. If you're part of a choir or singing group, you could dedicate a song to stroke survivors and donate some of the proceeds. Children at school could vote for a song to prepare and come together to sing at a special assembly for Stroke Awareness Month. You could even hold a 'sponsored sing' and sing 31 songs in a row – one for every day in May to highlight Stroke Awareness Month. By taking part in Sing4Stroke, you'll help make a lasting difference to stroke survivors and their families." Every day in May, it's estimated by the charity that 240 individuals in the UK will confront the devastating effects of a stroke. This condition can leave survivors unable to move, see, speak, or even swallow. However, with resilience, determination and the right support, recovery is achievable. The Stroke Association stands as the sole charity in the UK offering lifelong assistance to all stroke survivors and their families. The organisation provides bespoke support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors annually, funds crucial stroke research, and advocates for the best care and support for everyone impacted by stroke. Linda praised her daughter's resilience, stating: "She is amazing, she goes to the gym twice a week. The gym and the music have played a huge part in her recovery. The experts actually don't know what caused the bleed on her brain. "The doctors did say 'you will get your daughter back in five years. It has not even been two yet, and she has been amazing."
Irish Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
"We fixed everything and they made one of the biggest albums of the 1990s"
KINGSLEY Ward is leaning against a post in the courtyard. Behind him is the old pig shed where Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded. 'I remember standing in the yard and hearing the guitar solo and thinking, 'That's a bloody good guitar solo',' he says. Welcome to Rockfield in rural south Wales. The studio on the farm. Home to cattle, sheep, horses and some of the biggest bands in the world. This is where The Stone Roses had their Second Coming, where Coldplay went Yellow and where Queen asked the world to do the Fandango. Thirty years ago, Oasis arrived here to make their second album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? From the outset, Rockfield owner Kingsley Ward knew it was something special. 'I told Noel it would sell millions,' says Kingsley. 'He said, 'Do you think so?' and I said, 'Yeah, because you've got four hit singles there.' 'Noel was back here two weeks ago and he said, 'Kingsley got it right.' He remembered it.' Kingsley and his late brother Charles started the studios in the early 1960s after buying some recording equipment and using empty pig feed bags to soundproof the farmhouse loft. Rockfield was born. Over the years, a granary, stable block and pig shed were all converted into acoustic spaces filled with microphones, mixing consoles and moveable walls. It has become one of the most successful studios in the world and is still run by Kingsley and his wife Ann and their daughters Amanda and Lisa. 'Whenever anyone asks, I always say the summer The Pogues were here was the best one. It was just a really special time,' says Lisa. 'They were such a great band, the weather was perfect, the World Cup was on and they befriended everybody in town. Even the poachers.' The Pogues travelled to Rockfield in June 1990 to record Hell's Ditch with The Clash's Joe Strummer as producer and Glasgow roadie Charlie MacLennan tasked with looking after their increasingly wayward singer. 'He stayed up there,' says Kingsley, pointing at a room overlooking a field. 'I went up there one morning about 12 o'clock and it was all dark and like an idiot I opened the curtains. 'This figure rose up off the settee and said, 'Can you close the curtains?' 'It was Shane.' Hell's Ditch would turn out to be Shane MacGowan's last album with the band as fault lines widened between him and the other members, but for the most part it was a happy time with Strummer conducting affairs in a cowboy hat. 'We had The Pogues and Joe Strummer and another band called The Connells and they all got on so well,' says Lisa. 'One of the guys from The Connells loved fishing. He went fishing one afternoon and came back with a tiny trout and he was so proud of this tiny trout. 'And then, I remember Big Charlie [MacLennan] appearing the next day with this enormous salmon and the guy from The Connells was gutted. 'Of course, The Pogues had bought the salmon off one of the local poachers in Monmouth.' Two horses, Hugo and Shamrock, are grazing in the paddock. Staff are cleaning out accommodation, getting ready for the next band. Lisa opens the door of the Quadrangle studio and flicks on the lights. A vintage tape machine is standing in one room. An organ is behind a partition. Microphones, cables and amplifiers are scattered around. Kingsley sits down behind the mixing desk. Irish artists have decamped here for decades with everyone from The Undertones and Ash to NewDad recording at Rockfield. 'Ward is an Irish name,' says Kingsley. 'My great-grandfather came over in the 1800s. We've had all the Irish bands. Everyone but U2.' There follows a mini dispute between father and daughter about whether U2 came to Rockfield to visit Robert Plant or Clannad sometime in the 1980s. Or maybe both. 'They've all been to Rockfield. Paul Brady. The Saw Doctors. Cry Before Dawn. That Petrol Emotion,' says Kingsley. 'Horslips… Bloody hell, great guys. Michael Deeny, their manager, I remember him alright. 'The Hothouse Flowers… one of them got drunk in town and left his boots in the pub. We had to go into Monmouth the next morning looking for the boots. 'We've had the whole contingent. Oasis, of course, they're Irish too.' Oasis had history with this part of the world. The band held initial sessions for Definitely Maybe at nearby Monnow Valley Studios – a former Rockfield rehearsal space that Kingsley's brother Charles turned into a separate business. While there, they visited The Stone Roses at Rockfield during the recording of their Second Coming album with Liam Gallagher and Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs taking a combine harvester for a spin across the fields one night. That set the tone for the Morning Glory sessions in May 1995. 'Men behaving badly,' says Lisa, smiling. 'That's why all the accommodation here is comfortable, it's not boutique. Because things happen in high jinks.' Famously, the Gallagher brothers had a huge bust-up at the end of the first week with a cricket bat, fire extinguisher and dust bin involved in the carnage before the band fled. Lisa opens the door of the Coach House studio where they were working on Morning Glory. The control room looks almost the same as it did in 1995, although the sofas are new. 'We never talked about the fight for years. The press would ask us about it, but we never spoke about it,' says Lisa. 'It happened, it was all fine, it all got sorted. We fixed everything and they came back and recorded one of the biggest albums of the 1990s. 'They're fabulous, we love them. And 30 years later we still have a great relationship with them because they know they can trust us and we know we can trust them. 'That's why Noel was back here doing random stuff for the 30th anniversary of the album. That's why they're welcome back any time.' The grand piano Noel played on Don't Look Back In Anger is in the corner of the studio. Lisa takes the cover off and pulls out a wooden stool held together by black tape. 'That probably sums up Rockfield,' she says, laughing. Don't Look Back In Anger was one of four hit singles on Morning Glory, along with Some Might Say, Roll With It and Wonderwall. The album sold 22 million copies worldwide. Kingsley got it right. 'We've got a wall outside we call our Wonderwall,' says Lisa. 'Noel set up microphones there to record the guitar part of the song. He originally wanted to record it on the wall.' You can hear a snippet of the recording before the opening track on the album, complete with bird song. Last year, The Cure made their comeback album Songs of a Lost World at Rockfield and the studio's legacy keeps inspiring new generations. Even Noel has been to see where Bohemian Rhapsody was recorded in 1975. 'It's the unusual circumstances of where it is, the farm, and it's the bands. Those two things. That's why it's special,' says Kingsley. Lisa points towards her office at the end of the courtyard. 'If I stand outside my office, I can hear guitars in one room and drums in another, the hair still stands up on the back of my neck. And I can wear my wellies all day. 'We've got the best job in the world.' Some might say she's right.
Daily Mail
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Radio X Best of British 2025 top 100 in full:
Published: | Updated: Oasis – 'Live Forever' Queen – 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Oasis – 'Slide Away' The Stone Roses – 'I Am The Resurrection' Oasis – 'Champagne Supernova' The Rolling Stones – 'Gimme Shelter' Sam Fender – 'Seventeen Going Under' Oasis – 'Don't Look Back In Anger' Arctic Monkeys – '505' Amy Winehouse – 'Back To Black' The Stone Roses – 'Fool's Gold' Pink Floyd – 'Wish You Were Here' Courteeners – 'Not Nineteen Forever' David Bowie – 'Heroes' Nothing But Thieves – 'Overcome' Pulp – 'Common People' Stereophonics – 'Dakota' Joy Division – 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' Paolo Nutini – 'Iron Sky' Shed Seven – 'Chasing Rainbows' Sam Fender – 'People Watching' Florence And The Machine – 'Dog Days Are Over' Snow Patrol – 'Chasing Cars' Oasis – 'Acquiesce' The Stone Roses – 'I Wanna Be Adored' The Verve – 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' The Smiths – 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' Oasis – 'Wonderwall' Arctic Monkeys – 'A Certain Romance' New Order – 'Blue Monday' Oasis – 'The Masterplan' The Prodigy – Firestarter' David Bowie – 'Life On Mars?' Radiohead – 'Creep' The Rolling Stones – 'Sympathy For The Devil' The Rolling Stones – 'Paint It, Black' Nothing But Thieves – 'Welcome To The DCC' The Smiths – 'How Soon Is Now?' Depeche Mode – 'Enjoy The Silence' Arctic Monkeys – 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' Oasis – 'Cigarettes And Alcohol' Stereophonics – 'A Thousand Trees' The Beatles – 'Let It Be' Nothing But Thieves – 'Amsterdam' Oasis – 'Supersonic' Arctic Monkeys – 'Mardy Bum' Blur – 'Parklife' The Lathums – 'Struggle' David Bowie – 'Let's Dance' The Clash – 'London Calling' The Clash – 'London Calling' Muse – 'Knights Of Cydonia' The Smiths – 'This Charming Man' Sam Fender – 'Hypersonic Missiles' The Libertines – 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' Nothing But Thieves – 'Impossible' Stereophonics – 'Local Boy In The Photograph' Amy Winehouse – 'Rehab' The Stone Roses – 'Waterfall' Blossoms – 'Gary' The Prodigy – 'Breathe' Oasis – 'Half The World Away' Oasis – 'Rock 'N' Roll Star' Skunk Anansie – 'Weak' Oasis – 'Whatever' David Bowie – 'Starman' Arctic Monkeys – 'Fluorescent Adolescent' Blur – 'Song 2' Oasis – 'Morning Glory' The Stone Roses – 'Made Of Stone' The Lathums – 'Say My Name' The Verve – 'Lucky Man' Stereophonics – 'The Bartender And The Thief' Kasabian – 'Club Foot' The Stone Roses – 'Sally Cinnamon' Stereophonics – 'C'est La Vie' The Stone Roses – 'She Bangs The Drums' Radiohead – 'Fake Plastic Trees' Led Zeppelin – 'Stairway To Heaven' Arctic Monkeys – 'Do I Wanna Know?' Snow Patrol – 'Run' Elbow – 'One Day Like This' Kasabian – 'Fire' Oasis – 'Cast No Shadow' Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – 'If I Had A Gun' The Beatles – 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' The Prodigy – 'No Good (Start The Dance)' The Beatles – 'Come Together' Arctic Monkeys – 'When The Sun Goes Down' Skunk Anansie – 'Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)' Blossoms – 'Perfect Me' Paolo Nutini – 'Last Request' Arctic Monkeys – 'Cornerstone' Sam Fender – 'Spit Of You' Blossoms – 'Your Girlfriend' The Kooks – 'Naïve' Stereophonics – 'Maybe Tomorrow' Oasis – 'All Around The World' Pulp – 'Disco 2000' Wet Leg – 'Wet Dream' Oasis – 'Some Might Say'
Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Oasis track tops Radio X poll of best British song of all time - see the top 100 list
Liam and Noel Gallagher are loved by millions and have an impressive 16 tracks in the top 100 Best British Songs poll from Global radio station, Radio X Live Forever by Oasis has been crowned the best British song of all time in a new poll ahead of the band's highly-anticipated reunion tour this summer. The Manchester band led by Noel and Liam Gallagher had an incredible 16 tracks in the top 100 results by Radio X. As well as Live Forever, 'Don't Look Back In Anger,' 'Slide Away' and 'Champagne Supernova' also made the top 10. It was Radio X's 10 th annual Best Of British with B&Q poll. Queen's iconic 1975 anthem 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is named second in the list for a consecutive year, while The Stone Roses ' 'I Am The Resurrection' moves up one place to fifth. The Rolling Stones' 'Gimme Shelter' jumps up two places to sixth, and Geordie hero Sam Fender's 'Seventeen Going Under' re-enters the top 10, moving up five places into seventh. Arctic Monkeys' '505' and Amy Winehouse's 'Back To Black' make up the rest of the top 10, coming in ninth and 10 th respectively. Ahead of kicking off their world tour this summer, Oasis dominate the Best Of British poll as the most popular artist with 16 entries – two more than last year – with fan favourites like 'The Masterplan,' 'Morning Glory' and 'Wonderwall' all making it into the top 100. Behind Oasis are Arctic Monkeys with eight tracks in total, followed closely by The Stone Roses with seven, who also had this year's highest climber – 'Fools Gold,' jumping up 68 places to 11th place! It is no surprise to see Oasis doing well in the survey as they are at the forefront of many fans' minds ahead of their reunion tour this Summer. On Sunday Liam Gallagher teased fans on X, formerly twitter, as the gigs got closer saying: 'Not long to go now kids.' When someone said they couldn't wait for the Manchester shows, Liam replied: 'You can't wait? I'm climbing the walls.' Noel and Liam will walk on stage for the first time together since the band split in 2009 on July 4 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. There will also be dates in Manchester, London and Dublin as part of the tour. The line up for the band is also now thought to have been completed with rehearsals for the whole band also expected to start next month. Liam and Noel Gallagher are bringing in newcomer Joey Waronker on drums alongside more established former Oasis band members on guitars. The full line up is thought to be Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher, Paul 'Bonehead' Arthurs, Gem Archer, Andy Bell and Joey Waronker. The shows will also feature special guests Richard Ashcroft and Cast, who are friends up the band. On the poll results, Matt Deverson, Managing Editor of Radio X, said: ''Live Forever' had to be number one, didn't it? And with Oasis dominating the 100 with 16 songs in the list, it reflects the growing excitement among Radio X listeners for what will be the biggest music and cultural moment of the year, from the biggest band in the world right now!' The Radio X Best of British 2025 top 100 in full: Oasis – 'Live Forever' Queen – 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Oasis – 'Slide Away' The Stone Roses – 'I Am The Resurrection' Oasis – 'Champagne Supernova' The Rolling Stones – 'Gimme Shelter' Sam Fender – 'Seventeen Going Under' Oasis – 'Don't Look Back In Anger' Arctic Monkeys – '505' Amy Winehouse – 'Back To Black' The Stone Roses – 'Fool's Gold' Pink Floyd – 'Wish You Were Here' Courteeners – 'Not Nineteen Forever' David Bowie – 'Heroes' Nothing But Thieves – 'Overcome' Pulp – 'Common People' Stereophonics – 'Dakota' Joy Division – 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' Paolo Nutini – 'Iron Sky' Shed Seven – 'Chasing Rainbows' Sam Fender – 'People Watching' Florence And The Machine – 'Dog Days Are Over' Snow Patrol – 'Chasing Cars' Oasis – 'Acquiesce' The Stone Roses – 'I Wanna Be Adored' The Verve – 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' The Smiths – 'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out' Oasis – 'Wonderwall' Arctic Monkeys – 'A Certain Romance' New Order – 'Blue Monday' Oasis – 'The Masterplan' The Prodigy – Firestarter' David Bowie – 'Life On Mars?' Radiohead – 'Creep' The Rolling Stones – 'Sympathy For The Devil' The Rolling Stones – 'Paint It, Black' Nothing But Thieves – 'Welcome To The DCC' The Smiths – 'How Soon Is Now?' Depeche Mode – 'Enjoy The Silence' Arctic Monkeys – 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' Oasis – 'Cigarettes And Alcohol' Stereophonics – 'A Thousand Trees' The Beatles – 'Let It Be' Nothing But Thieves – 'Amsterdam' Oasis – 'Supersonic' Arctic Monkeys – 'Mardy Bum' Blur – 'Parklife' The Lathums – 'Struggle' David Bowie – 'Let's Dance' The Clash – 'London Calling' Muse – 'Knights Of Cydonia' The Smiths – 'This Charming Man' Sam Fender – 'Hypersonic Missiles' The Libertines – 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' Nothing But Thieves – 'Impossible' Stereophonics – 'Local Boy In The Photograph' Amy Winehouse – 'Rehab' The Stone Roses – 'Waterfall' Blossoms – 'Gary' The Prodigy – 'Breathe' Oasis – 'Half The World Away' Oasis – 'Rock 'N' Roll Star' Skunk Anansie – 'Weak' Oasis – 'Whatever' David Bowie – 'Starman' Arctic Monkeys – 'Fluorescent Adolescent' Blur – 'Song 2' Oasis – 'Morning Glory' The Stone Roses – 'Made Of Stone' The Lathums – 'Say My Name' The Verve – 'Lucky Man' Stereophonics – 'The Bartender And The Thief' Kasabian – 'Club Foot' The Stone Roses – 'Sally Cinnamon' Stereophonics – 'C'est La Vie' The Stone Roses – 'She Bangs The Drums' Radiohead – 'Fake Plastic Trees' Led Zeppelin – 'Stairway To Heaven' Arctic Monkeys – 'Do I Wanna Know?' Snow Patrol – 'Run' Elbow – 'One Day Like This' Kasabian – 'Fire' Oasis – 'Cast No Shadow' Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds – 'If I Had A Gun' The Beatles – 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' The Prodigy – 'No Good (Start The Dance)' The Beatles – 'Come Together' Arctic Monkeys – 'When The Sun Goes Down' Skunk Anansie – 'Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good)' Blossoms – 'Perfect Me' Paolo Nutini – 'Last Request' Arctic Monkeys – 'Cornerstone' Sam Fender – 'Spit Of You' Blossoms – 'Your Girlfriend' The Kooks – 'Naïve' Stereophonics – 'Maybe Tomorrow' Oasis – 'All Around The World' Pulp – 'Disco 2000' Wet Leg – 'Wet Dream' Oasis – 'Some Might Say'
BBC News
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Stone Roses' Spike Island gig that inspired Pulp's new track
After much anticipation, British indie band Pulp released their first single in nearly 24 years called Spike Island this Sheffield band said the song's title was inspired by a concert by Manchester band The Stone Roses, held in Widnes, Cheshire in why is the gig surrounded by mystique, all these years later? Who are The Stone Roses? With singles such as This Is the One, I Am the Resurrection and Fools Gold, The Stone Roses provided some of the biggest soundtracks of the Madchester music scene in the late 1980s and early movement saw an explosion of a musical and cultural scene in the North West city, where a blend of indie rock with elements of acid house, psychedelia, and 1960s pop rose in Mead, who has published a book about the band, says: "The Stone Roses were the biggest band at that time. They were as big, if not bigger, than U2, who were massive.""Their musicianship was second to none. I mean, you just had four members, but there was some sort of magic that happened when they were on stage."The band, which formed in Manchester in 1985, originally featured singer Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani and drummer with the music, they had a distinctive style, leading teenagers to adopt baggy clothing, mop haircuts and bucket hats. Manchester United even launched a kit collection in 2024 inspired by the band. Where is Spike Island? Created after the 1833 extension of the Sankey Canal in Widnes, Cheshire, the island was the centre of Britain's chemical industry during the Industrial and railways dominated the area until the industry went into decline in the 20th part of their series of gigs, The Stone Roses held a concert at the site on a sunny day on 27 May area has now become a haven for wildlife with paths for walkers and cyclists. What happened at the concert? Official figures suggest about 28,000 people attended the concert but Mead reckons that goes up to about 30,000 if you include Haslam performed a DJ set before The Stone Roses' performance and recalls how the band's management booked the wrong DJ acts – getting Frankie Bones instead of Frankie says it was "evidence of the endearing amateurism around the gig"."My generation were not really into open air festivals. Glastonbury wasn't anywhere like it is as big now."We liked rave venues or basement live music. We liked sweaty little venues clubs in the middle of town." There have been mixed reviews of the concert with Pulp guitarist Mark Webber telling BBC 6 Music describing the show as "a slight anticlimax". "There was a lot of anticipation but it didn't sound very good, it was very windy and the vibe wasn't there."Haslam adds: "I don't think anyone appreciated that you need to a lot of amplification to reach the back of the crowd, because all the sound just gets lost in the atmosphere."Mead, who is helping on a documentary project about the concert, says recently-found footage reveals "key moments when the band play I Wanna Be Adored and you see the crowd, it's electric"."It's like nothing else – wall-to-wall bouncing from the front to the back."He says there was also "blissed-out dancing" during Fools Gold and "everyone's arms in the air" for I Am the also remembers fans filing out of the gig in "very, very high spirits"."Whatever the problems with the sound and waiting around and all of that, I think for those young people, they knew they'd had a day out to remember." Why has the concert become a cultural moment? Until a full recording came to light in 2024, it was thought the concert had not been captured on film, making it the subject of much mystique for those who weren't there. But even with the new find, Haslam believes the gig was significant because The Stone Roses "didn't play that often" and it felt like "a life-changing moment"."It was an opportunity to see this band that had somehow seemed to be the most significant band of the era."It was the culmination of two or three years when a certain look and a sound that was a kind of cross between funky indie and rave really animated a new generation."He says the Spike Island concert was part of a series of gigs that "took The Stone Roses from being a big local band and a kind of Manchester secret to being internationally renowned".Crews travelled from France and Germany for the event while fans came from across the says "there wasn't really anything similar afterwards" for the band due to time it took the band to release a second album."That took far too long - four or five years - so a lot of the momentum went out of the Roses at that point and by the time they came back, that part of the world had all moved on to said Spike Island "was the only moment where you had The Stone Roses absolutely at their peak, playing music that had been quite underground but had been becoming accepted by the mainstream - that mix of euphoric rave vibe with rock music". Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
