Stone Roses reform, Westlife split. Balance is restored!

[Zulu Romeo]

Great news: The Stone Roses to reunite for a new tour:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15348374

Influential Manchester rock band The Stone Roses have announced the end of a 15-year split for a series of gigs.

The band will play two shows at Heaton Park, Manchester, on 29 and 30 June before an "extensive" world tour.

At a London press conference, singer Ian Brown said his friendship with John Squire had been repaired and the group hoped to release a new record soon.

The Manchester band, which was formed in 1983, recorded just two albums before they dissolved in 1996.

Their 1989 self-titled debut is regarded as a seminal work, combining psychedelic pop and funky basslines.

All good stuff. Hopefully this reunion will be more like Take That's and less like the Spice Girls'.

Just when I thought the world of pop music couldn't get better, this then happens:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15377996

Westlife are to split "amicably" after 14 years, the band have announced.

The Irish pop group will finish with a farewell tour next year and said they were looking forward to "new ventures".

Westlife - for many years managed by X Factor judge Louis Walsh - have had 14 UK number one hits over the course of their career.

The music gods are smiling down on us this week.

 

[Pingfah]

OK, I'm gonna say it, and haters be damned.

The Second Coming is the Stone Roses best album.

In fact, it is one of the best albums of the 90s.

 

[ITL]

^ It is a damn fine album. I still prefer the first one, though. I just hope they can deliver some cracking new material. Still, nice that they're back!

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

I'm one of those few people that never got into the Stone Roses, but will attempt to track some of their music when I get back to Newcastle on Monday.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Apparently one of Westlife read out the statement announcing their break-up. Two others mimed to it and a fourth stared in what he thought was a meaningful fashion, but simply looked confused, into the distance.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Apparently one of Westlife read out the statement announcing their break-up. Two others mimed to it and a fourth stared in what he thought was a meaningful fashion, but simply looked confused, into the distance.

And they stood up during the final summary of the announcement, reiterated in a slightly higher pitch of voice.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ Hah, good one.

 

[stoneroses]

Can't wait to see The Stone Roses for the secon time on 30th June 2012 in Manchester.
But please don't mention The Roses in the same breath as karaoke like Take That etc.

 

[Shurik]

I didn't know any of those late 90's boy-bands still existed.

 

[Starkers]

Isn't Westlife splitting (after another album and tour) negated by Steps reforming?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Isn't Westlife splitting (after another album and tour) negated by Steps reforming?

I'm not that hostile towards Steps - they're mildly diverting and, at best, fun. Wastelife on the other hand can go take a flying leap.

The Roses' return, no matter how brief, outweighs all of that.

Cplease don't mention The Roses in the same breath as karaoke like Take That etc.

Yes, 90s Take That were pretty dire, but their reforming was probably the best thing that happened to them - today they actually sound, well, listenable.

 

[N-121973]

Apparently one of Westlife read out the statement announcing their break-up. Two others mimed to it and a fourth stared in what he thought was a meaningful fashion, but simply looked confused, into the distance.

And they stood up during the final summary of the announcement, reiterated in a slightly higher pitch of voice.

Yeah and the statement they read out was a cover originally written and read out by another band or performer .

 

[Seven of Five]

So happy Westlife are splitting. Always hated them and their one note ballad rubbish.

Unfortunately I'm pretty unclutured when it comes to music. I probably know more Westlife songs than Stone Roses ones.

 

[Pingfah]

Yes, 90s Take That were pretty dire, but their reforming was probably the best thing that happened to them - today they actually sound, well, listenable.

Yes, I must say 15 years ago I never thought i'd be able say that Take That are actually OK.

Barlow is a good song writer, he always was, it's just they have now figured out how to deliver the songs without making your ears bleed. They are definitely much more talented than any of their Boy Band contemporaries/descendants, Boyzone, Westlife etc etc.

 

[JoeZhang]

Urg... Heaton Park... that gig will be full of head-cases throwing pint-glasses of piss at each other.

 

[Captaindemotion]

^ And that'll be just onstage...