27 May 2025

On 2 May 1989 Manchester‘s baggy trouser champs THE STONE ROSES released
their fabulous self-titled debut LP . One of the best debuts in rock history.

A year later – when the whole of England was in love with the band – on 27 May 1990, today 35 years ago the band played a by now historic outdoors concert in front of
27.000 stoned fans at Spike Island in Widnes, Cheshire, England.

Not historic because of the performance itself (bad PA, too much wind driving the
sound all over the field) but it meant the end of the 80s, and the start of a new era
with the country’s best and most loved indie band in a green field, celebrating it all
with drugs, booze and rock ‘n’ roll.

It had the same impact as the legendary counter-culture Woodstock Festival in 1969
and the same experience quote : “If you can remember the festival, you weren’t there.”
Two brothers, named Liam and Noel Gallagher were definitely there and the event led directly to the conception of Oasis.

British newspaper The Guardian wrote: “Here were 27,000 people crammed into a field surrounded by the chemical factories of Widnes to watch one of the most all-advised, badly organised and shambolic gigs ever held. By the time (after hours of DJs serving as support acts) the Stone Roses came on after sunset, people were climbing on the sound towers and dancing anywhere they could find a square of space. The sound was appalling and their performance was messy. And yet nobody cared.”

Everybody was a stoned rose.

DEBUT ALBUM

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The Stone Roses: Story