Rave new world for Manchester’s original baggy rockers

By Katie Rowley

It may currently be colder in Britain than the South Pole but with the rebirth of the legendary Madchester music scene, this summer is set to be one of sunny psychedelia.

The Happy Mondays are joining recently reformed The Stone Roses in announcing a series of shows for this summer featuring the original line-up.

And with the Inspiral Carpets, New Order and The Cult also hitting the road, the city looks set to snatch back its musical crown.

Here, Mancunian Matters rounds up the latest news on Manchester’s favourite ‘baggy’ rockers.

The Roses split after a disastrous performance at Reading Festival in 1996. But it seems that Ian Brown and guitarist John Squire have buried the hatchet and are now looking forward to a comeback - three nights at Heaton Park’s 75,000 capacity venue sold out in under a quarter of an hour.

The Happy Mondays announced their UK tour this week, including a homecoming show at Manchester Arena, with special guest support from fellow Mancunians Inspiral Carpets.

Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder told XFM radio station: "Some of the lads hadn't seen each other in more than ten, 15 years. It's as if we've never been apart - so good to all be in the same room. We can't wait to tour."

The Inspiral Carpets are also back together in their original garage rock guise.

Founding lead singer Steven Holt is back with the group – which also includes keyboard maestro and South/XFM DJ Clint Boon – for a fresh tour and the first new material in 15 years.

New Order’s reunion is less straight forward. With bassist Peter Hook still on the sidelines and has now started legal proceedings to stop the other members – singer Bernard Sumner, drummer Stephen Morris and keyboardist Gillian Gilbert – from using the New Order name.

Whether he is successful or not remains to be seen but, regardless, the trio are intending to head out on tour.

Completing the quintet of returning musical heroes is The Cult, whose guitarist and songwriter Billy Duffy hails from Hulme.

The band were formed in Bradford but we think their tour is well worth a mention, if only because it gives us the chance to include this classic track:

The rebirth of Madchester signals good news for the city too, bringing a welcome economic boost this summer.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member for culture and leisure, said: "The Stone Roses are Manchester legends and the entire city is buzzing with the news they're getting back together. People who know the history of the band wouldn't have thought it possible and fans will be beside themselves with excitement."

Legendary Hacienda nightclub provided a hub for the city’s influential sub culture, with the short lived hedonism of Madchester a response to the down and dour years of the late 80s.

When the scene was at its peak the UK enjoyed a “summer of love” in 1988. So is the reform of The Stone Roses, Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets – along with New Order and The Cult – just one very well engineered cash in or can we look forward to a repeat performance?

Despite the financial success of reunions from fellow Brit rockers Pulp, The Libertines and Blur, the Roses have flatly denied accusations of money grabbing. Just as they did 20 years ago, it seems that Manchester’s finest are back to put a smile on the face of 2012’s austerity.