The Stone Roses Are Stone Dead

The British press had begun to speculate that the band would reform to celebrate the 20th anniversary and reissue of their 1989 debut album.

Guitarist Jason Squire told the BBC the rumors were rubbish.

Asked on BBC Newsnight whether there was any chance of the group playing again, he replied: “None whatsoever.”

Squire, now an artist, earlier used one of his own artworks to respond to press speculation that the Manchester band had agreed to a 21-date comeback tour.

A message superimposed onto a piece of art said: “I have no desire whatsoever to desecrate the grave of seminal Manchester pop group The Stone Roses.”

There you have it. The Stone Roses are done. Over. Finished. History. See?

But lots of people have said never again, most famously Sting. So is the band really, really dead?

Asked whether never really meant never, he replied: “Yeah, I’d rather live my life than attempt to rehash it.

“It would be pointless. I find art far more challenging.”

Squire went on to tell the Beeb that he hasn’t even spoken to singer Ian Brown since leaving the group in 1996, but even if he had, that wouldn’t make a difference.

“Even if Ian and I were still double dating as we did in our teens, then the prospect of a reunion wouldn’t interest me at all,” Squire said.

“There are usually rumors flying around but this one was particularly virulent, so I decided to post an image on my Web site to lay it to rest and hopefully it will work.”

If the band isn’t planting them, where are the rumors coming from?

“There are fans but there is also a market out there to exploit and I suspect this [reunion story] is being driven by people within the industry that have a vested interest.”

Ahh, our old friend greed. But is Squire absolutely sure there’s nothing that can tempt him back?

“I think music’s a young man’s game and I don’t think us old fogeys should get in the way of that,” Squier added.

“I’ve got a lot of great memories from those days but it was a long time ago. I think I have an urge to create and so long as I can satisfy that urge one way or another, then I’m quite happy.”

So that’s one reunion rumor laid to rest. Only about 500 left to go.

Read the BBC story here.