‘They all wanted to be the front man’: how the Stone Roses made their classic debut album

SOURCES

— In an interview with The Varsity in 1976… but the production sucks’. ‘Lou Reed speaks: is this man punk of the year?’ The Varsity. March 24, 1976: https://archive.org/details/thevarsity96/page/20/mode/2up

— The back cover sleeve of the Roses’ 1988 single… the band’s tangental links with the acid house scene. Page 124, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— ‘That hunger for music that people had then was awesome… that was the feeling.’ http://www.davehaslam.com/Old/Old/Ian_brown.html

— Noel Gallagher has acknowledged the way house music's sunshine optimism infused Definitely Maybe in songs like ‘Live Forever’. Oasis – 'Definitely Maybe' - Noel Gallagher In Conversation With John Robb: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZKmihCrp8I

— When he heard The Stone Roses… my mark, my era.’ Page 121, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— The first music Brown remembers listening to… Sex Pistols’ ‘Pretty Vacant’. Page 185, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— According to the studio’s in-house engineer… It was much much worse than anybody could ever fathom.’ Page 120, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— According to Ian Brown, the band had lied… including three of their greatest songs: ‘Made of Stone’, ‘Bye Bye Bad Man’ and ‘I am the Resurrection’. Page 120, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— To save money, the early recording sessions… barely touched drugs in the studio. Page 121, Page 123, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— To generate new melodies, John Leckie played… Brown’s favourite on the album. Page 186, 187, Robb, John, The Stone Roses And The Resurrection Of British Pop Paperback (Ebury Press, 2001); page 123, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— It was ‘very much a collaborative thing,’ Leckie told… had demoed on the Fostex, consisting of just guitars and vocals.’ https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-stone-roses-fools-gold

— ‘I am the Resurrection’ had started out… towards an instrumental collage. Page 186, Robb, John, The Stone Roses And The Resurrection Of British Pop Paperback (Ebury Press, 2001); page 131, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013); Aston, Martin, Inside The Making Of The Stone Roses’ Debut Album: “Of course, John and Ian hated the record.”: https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/inside-the-making-of-the-stone-roses-debut-album/

— ‘We had some bits left over on tape… dropped in at exactly the right points.’ Interview in Total Guitar, quoted on page 186, Robb, John, The Stone Roses And The Resurrection Of British Pop Paperback (Ebury Press, 2001)

— As 1989 began, the Roses appeared… an apology from one of Manchester's pop music gatekeepers, Tony Wilson. Page 130, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— By the time the group had arrived at Rockfield Studios… strolled into the studio and recorded it almost in one take. Page 131, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013); page 186, Robb, John, The Stone Roses And The Resurrection Of British Pop Paperback (Ebury Press, 2001); Aston, Martin, Inside The Making Of The Stone Roses’ Debut Album: “Of course, John and Ian hated the record.”: https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/inside-the-making-of-the-stone-roses-debut-album/

— ‘I'm the biggest Roses fan,’ Ian Brown… go by just like that.’ ‘Ian Brown: career-spanning interview by John Robb’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDUR6Ec3keo&t=3310s

— Over two days in early 1989 Ian Brown… outro to ‘I am the Resurrection’. Page 131, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013)

— John Leckie had realised early on… complaining the drum and bass were not loud enough. Page 120, 122, Spence, Simon, The Stone Roses: War and Peace (Penguin, 2013); Aston, Martin, Inside The Making Of The Stone Roses’ Debut Album: “Of course, John and Ian hated the record.”: https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/inside-the-making-of-the-stone-roses-debut-album/

— ‘Twee,’ was Squire’s even more damning summation… Reni wouldn't even come to the studio. Page 186, Robb, John, The Stone Roses And The Resurrection Of British Pop Paperback (Ebury Press, 2001); Aston, Martin, Inside The Making Of The Stone Roses’ Debut Album: “Of course, John and Ian hated the record.”: https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/stories/inside-the-making-of-the-stone-roses-debut-album/

— Reflecting on the band’s demise… is becoming fragmented.’ The Stone Roses: Made of Stone. (2012). [DVD]. Directed by Shane Meadows. UK: Channel 4 DVD