Stockport Music Story In Conversation with Andy Couzens (Stone Roses)

The founder member & guitarist of The Stone Roses recounts life in the early band, the first gig & recording with Martin Hannett in Strawberry Studios.

We are delighted to be joined by Andy Couzens, founding member of The Stone Roses, in a rare in-person chat that reveals the early days of life in a band who were determined to make their mark on music.

Andy will be looking back on the explosive punk scene that inspired him to pick up a guitar, the embryonic years of the Roses were they started to develop their sound and their chaotic recording sessions at Strawberry Studios with legendary producer Martin Hannett, who became a close personal friend of Andy's.

Andy, who hails from Stockport, first met Ian Brown and John Squire at the age of 18 when he was at South Trafford College and was asked to be the singer in their punk band The Patrol. Another early 1980's band incarnation was The Fireside Chaps aka The Waterfront with John Squire and Gary 'Mani' Mounfield.

When Andy, John and Ian eventually formed The Stone Roses, they started to make an impact on the local music scene and developed a notorious reputation for themselves which led to them playing their inaugural gig in London supporting Pete Townshend at an anti-heroin gig at the Moonlight Club. Their first gig in the north at Clouds in Preston descended into a riot where technical problems led to fighting between the bands.

During his time with The Stone Roses, Andy paid for the recording of the band's first single release 'So Young'/'Tell Me' recorded at Strawberry on Thin Line Records and was involved in writing and recording  iconic songs that were to become anthems for the band including 'Sally Cinnamon', 'I Wanna Be Adored' and 'This Is The One'. These tracks made up their first set list and were intended for their debut album  that never saw the light of day at the time but was eventually released as 'Garage Flower' in 1996 after the band's success.

Andy also has a revealing insight into the life and struggles of record producer Martin Hannett who produced Joy Division's seminal album 'Unknown Pleasures' and has been lauded for his creativity, innovation and unconventional way of working such as making drummer Reni record his drums on the roof of the Strawberry building.

In this chat, Andy will reveal the real reasons why he left The Stone Roses after a confrontational meeting with the band's manager Gareth Evans and how he went on to have further success in the late 1980's with 'The High'. If you’re a fan of The Stone Roses, Joy Division, or just love rock and roll history please join us for some incredible stories and insights into one of the most influential bands of the British music scene!