Reckon they are one of those bands where you really had to of been around at the time of the first album to realise how vital they were.
Absolutely. Bang on there mate. I hope those of a younger age who are into the Roses dont see that as an "elitist" view. I guess the best way you could get across what a different sound they unleashed on everyone would be to take a look at the charts back in 1989....
Top 20 for Jan '89
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1 Especially for you Kylie Minogue/Jason Donovan
2 Crackers internatiinal(E.P.) Erasure
3 Buffalo stance Neneh Cherry
4 Good life Inner City
5 She drives me crazy Fine Young Cannibals
6 The living years Mike + the Mechanics
7 Suddenly Angry Anderson
8 Four letter word Kim Wilde
9 Baby I love your way/Freebird medley Will To Power
10 Loco in Acapulco Four Tops
11 Something's gotten hold of my heart Marc Almond feat. Gene Pitney
12 You got it Roy Orbison
13 Waiting for a star to fall Boy Meets Girl
14 Cuddle toy Roachford
15 Burning bridges(On and off and on again) Status Quo
16 All she wants is Duran Duran
17 Mistletoe and wine Cliff Richard
18 Keeping the dream alive Freiheit
19 Two hearts Phil Collins
20 You are the one A-HA
And for June '89
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1 Sealed with a kiss Jason Donovan
2 Miss you like crazy Natalie Cole
3 Express yourself Madonna
4 The best of me Cliff Richard
5 Right back where we started from Sinitta
6 Back to life(However do you want me) Soul II Soul feat. Caron Wheeler
7 Sweet child O' mine Guns N' Roses
8 Ferry 'cross the mersey Chiristians/Holly Johnson/Paul McCartney/Gerry Marsden & Stock Aitken Waterman
9 Manchild Neneh Cherry
10 I don't wanna get hurt Donna Summer
11 On the inside(Theme 'Prisoner-cell block H') Lynne Hamilton
12 I drove all night Cyndi Lauper
13 Hand on your heart Kylie Minogue
14 Requiem London Boys
15 Song for whoever Beautiful South
16 It is time to get funky D.Mob feat. LRS
17 Bring me edelweiss Edelweiss
18 Every little step Bobby Brown
19 Batdance Prince
20 Just keep rockin' Double Trouble & Rebel M.C.
And then Dec '89
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1 Don't know much Linda Ronstadt(feat. Aaron Neville)
2 You got it(The right stuff) New Kids On the Block
3 Lambada Kaoma
4 When you come back to me Jason Donovan
5 Get a life Soul II Soul
6 Eve of the war Jeff Wayne
7 Let's party Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers
8 I don'T wanna lose you Tina Turner
9 Donald where's your troosers Andy Stewart
10 Dear Jessie Madonna
11 Do they know it's christmas? Band Aid II
12 Homely girl UB40
13 Can't shake the feeling Big fun
14 Got to get Rob 'n' Raz feat. Leila K
15 All around the world Lisa Stansfield
16 Fool's gold/What the world is waiting for Stone Roses
17 Another day in paradise Phil Collins
18 In private Dusty Springfield
19 Sister Bros
20 Pacific 808 State
The cultural change was underway. From Kylie, Erasure and Kim Wilde in the early months, it started to change to Soul II Soul, Stone Roses, 808 State.
It was truly a horrendous time for popular music in my opinion, an absolute wasteland of disposable synth pop bands and overblown, overaged Middle Of The Road shite. Am sure there was better stuff out there, but I had no idea how to find it and pretty much had to settle for the traditional outlets such as the Radio and TV shows.
For me personally I just did not get bands like Simple Minds, Simply Red, Erasure and Wet Wet Wet. I just couldnt connect. Where are these bands now? Thats not to say there were not some good bands/artists around that time that I liked - Sould II Soul, Sam Brown, REM and FYC's to name a few. Before that there were The Christians, The Housemartins and probably loads others that I cant recall right now
I guess the crap bands of these times went some way to explaining why I got so heavily into some of the classic older stuff like Dylan, The Stones, Led Zep, Lynrd Skynrd, Black Sabbath etc. Whilst it wasnt my era it was just f'ing superb music!
For me personally, The Stone Roses and also Guns N Roses were the two most important bands in the transition from the 80's to the 90's in terms of popular music. For anyone who doesnt believe that, just have a look at the sort of bands that comprised the charts in the early 90's and compare then them to the ones I posted above.
Phew! Time for me tea now
