Stone Roses Reportedly Break Up, Ian Brown Working on Solo Album

It appears that the Stone Roses have split for the second time. However, the news is tempered by the rumor that Ian Brown, singer for the legendary Manchester band, has a project of his own in the works.

"I can confirm Brown is recording new material for his first solo record since 2009’s My Way," writes James Cabooter of the Daily Star. "It means that the Roses’ long-mooted comeback album may now never see the light of day."

There hasn't been an official announcement yet, but it was reported over the weekend that Brown made a somewhat enigmatic statement to the crowd during the Stone Roses' gig at Glasgow's Hampden Park: "Don’t be sad it’s over; be happy that it happened."

If he was indeed saying that they were breaking up, it puts an end to the second go-round for the turbulent group, who re-formed in 2011 after a 15-year hiatus during which Brown released six solo albums. As recently as last year, they were planning to issue their third album, and first since 1994's Second Coming. They had even dropped a pair of songs, "All for One" and "Beautiful Thing," in anticipation of it.

The Stone Roses first burst onto the scene with their 1989 self-titled debut, which mixed house music with psychedelic rock as they – along with Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets – became one of the leading lights of the U.K.'s "Madchester" scene. In the U.S., the record produced three Top 10 Alternative Rock radio hits, "She Bangs the Drums," "Fools Gold" and "One Love," although it only peaked at No. 86.

Over the next few years, their influence grew, and the long wait for Second Coming led to a No. 47 debut. The album received middling reviews, however, and "Love Spreads" became the only charting single from it.

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