REVIEW: Spike Island Unseen book

Prior to the weekend of May 26-27^th 1990 Spike Island was a piece of waste ground in Widnes, nothing special or significant about the surroundings apart from a few trees surrounding a big open greenery space and some power station chimneys in the distance.

Bring in one of the biggest bands of the time, Manchester’s rock funk soul music pioneers The Stone Roses, 30 odd thousand fans, along with a batch of support bands and DJ’s, 1 burger van, 1 beer tent, fallings out with TV companies, this culmination has lived long in the memories of those that were there and also many followers who have continued to hunt for recollections of the weekend.

May 2025 marks the 35^th anniversary of what to many was a significant moment in the history of rock and roll, but to others was classified as a miss opportunity with many reports of bad sound and an anticlimax. Whatever the reports and memories shared, there’s little doubting the many photos shared of the occasion look spectacular, as the sun set on the throngs in the attendance, the band look stunning in their Roby Sasson attire, the mini Woodstock event is hard to ignore.

Celebrating this milestone Gigslutz writer Matt Mead and Liverpool’s very own Dave Hewitson AKA 80’s Casuals have teamed up again following on from their sold out and warmly received publications A Weekenders Tale – Flowered Up and Reni – Cult Icon, their new book Spike Island Unseen features stupendous unearthed photographs from stellar shooters including Andy Phillips, Paul Crompton and Ant Mulryan. There are unmatched photos from their collections featuring the chaotic press conference the day before the concert at Piccadilly Hotel, where all the media from all over the globe where there hanging onto the bands every word.

Further additions include backstage photos with the likes of Spacemen 3’s Sonic Boom, Peter Hook watching events unfold, crowd shots depict the ups and downs of the day, landscape shots of the full crowd send a shiver through you, the headline event showing Ian Brown looking like a prime baggy Mick Jagger adorning his casuals black bottoms and well versed white long sleeved top, Reni the groovemaster arms like a human octopus playing the drums, Mani the solid bass unit dressed is casual bottoms and a striking red Roby Sasson top, John Squire is similarly attired in Roby Sasson head down contorting all sorts of noises from his guitar, with the iconic Cress in the back ground pulling all sorts of shapes, this collection is the best there is from the event that’s ever been put together in one place.

With an intro from James Brown, former NME journalist who flew over the crowd in a helicopter and a preface by photographer Andy Phillips who tells his tale of the events, this is a complete narrative of this glorious event, the likes of which we will no doubt ever see again.

Spike Island Unseen soft back edition + limited edition Baba Youngblood print can be pre-ordered here