The Stone Roses - Spike Island
The scam was getting out of control. The band played brilliantly, but the sound varied in the crosswinds so completely different mixes could be copped by moving around the field. The backlash had started. The Roses were in a difficult position - where to go next? A couple of weeks later they played to 7000 in a tent on Glasgow Green, generating an incredible atmosphere. Perhaps the tent will prove to be the get-out clause the Roses were looking for ..
John Robb, Sounds - November 24 1990
The Roses play coolly and confidently, but a third of the way in, there's a danger of the 'big event' turning into a series of likeable hums. Next single 'One Love's gently psychedelic pop, slots in sweetly with the retro naivety of 'Sally Cinnamon' and 'Sugar Spun Sister'. Against a changing back projection of John Squire's paintings and collages, Brown trance grooves around the stage, self- possessed almost to the point of being totally oblivious, and Roses dancer Cressa's bizarre love octopus moves hardly add to the visual clout. Just when it's getting boringly polite, though, the stage is bathed in red light and the Roses start to edge out of beat-group mode towards their more shamanistic potential. 'Standing Here' is given plenty of Hendrix edge by Squire, a guitar god without the junkie showman twat mannerisms. And 'Fools Gold's wah-wahed funk is thoroughly sky-kissing.
City: Widnes, England
Date: 27th May 1990
Running Time (Approx): 70 mins
Tracklist:
- Intro
- I Wanna Be Adored
- Elephant Stone
- She Bangs The Drums
- One Love
- Sally Cinnamon
- Sugar Spun Sister
- Standing Here
- Fools Gold
- Where Angels Play
- Don't Stop
- Something's Burning
- Made Of Stone
- Elizabeth My Dear - choice track
- I Am The Resurrection
Sound Quality: B
Drums are too high in the mix, and vocals are lost a few times.
Sound is a bit weak, but there is no distortion, and it sounds
close and clear.
Performance Quality: C
The Roses sound quite nervous and are not as outgoing as they
usually were, just going into autopilot. The fact that Elizabeth
My Dear is my favourite performance says it all. That song
sounds brilliant at the setting though, Ian Brown's voice
just echoing out over 30,000 people, with Squire's chilling
guitar backing him up.
Why should I get this bootleg?
Not for the music really, but for the fact that it was the biggest Roses event ever. Having the fireworks on the end of the recording is a nice touch.
Fan Reviews
"A lot better than you make out!" - Peter Hancox, England
"The musicians sound nervous. The quality's clear but a little hollow. Fools Gold is fantastic. Despite its bad points, the fact that it's Spike Island makes it worth having." - Ben Cohen, England
"On the whole I don't think they really did their songs justice, Elephant Stone and She Bangs the Drums especially were a bit disappointing, but having said that, I thought One Love and Something's Burning stood out, even though they're not my favourite Roses songs. I liked the intro to the CD as well." - Emma Harper, England