LIVE: The Stone Roses @ Wembley Stadium 17.06.17

It’s had been a long time coming, but The Stone Roses finally realised their potential with a sell-out performance at Wembley to 90,000 adoring fans.

The biggest gig they’ve ever played came a staggering 21 years after the band split up first time around and amazingly after only two new tracks have been released since their shock reformation in 2011.

This was their first London show since their sold out two nights at Finsbury Park in 2013 and their intimate show at The Village Underground the year before that. It had been a long time coming.

The fact so little new music has come from the band yet they still draw such a crowd goes to show what this band means to the British public. With the nation the centre of troubling and difficult times recently following terror attacks and the Grenfall tower tragedy, the show epitomised the power of bands to unite the public.

Following support earlier in the evening by The G-O-D, Sleaford Mods and Blossoms, the iconic 4 piece entered the stage at 8.45pm to ‘Stoned Love’ in the sweltering London heat to the gathering masses.

Each and every member of the sold out crowd was united in a joyous occasion. As soon as Mani snaps out the thumping opening chords of ‘I Wanna Be Adored’, euphoric emotion is released for a spine tingling 19 song set.

The flares were out (despite requests from the band at last summer’s Etihad gigs not to), people were on shoulders and random people hugging each other. The set list was pretty much a constant for the previous tours, with the addition of ‘Where Angels Play’ and the admission still of ‘Beautiful Thing’.

Ian brown, in his mid-50’s and dressed in his own branded clothing and with his no customary janglers is still cooler than any frontman about today and is unfazed by the biggest crowd he’s ever faced. At one point he even picks up a globe to evoke memories of Spike Island and the addition of bongos during ‘Resurrection’ is another welcome addition.

Mani was Mani whilst Reni did what he does best and John Squire noodled his way through with aplomb. The odd note was missed here and there but not person cared. This was a love in, by the people’s band, for the people with every word sang back in unison.

The question now is what next for the band? With no new music imminent are we looking at the end of the line of the second coming, with the band fizzling out in true Roses fashion?

If it is, then this time will be different with the band finally getting to play to the size crowds they deserve and those 90,000 at Wembley on Saturday night can reflect that they were there at one of the bands greatest moments.

Next stop for The Stone Roses is two nights in Leeds and then Glasgow Green on Saturday.

Set List