Ian Brown grey hair prompts Stone Roses legacy discussion

An image of Ian Brown with grey hair prompts a look at the Stone Roses past and their current live performances.

Ian Brown wears grey hair as Stone Roses legacy faces renewed scrutiny

Ian Brown rose to fame as the frontman of The Stone Roses, formed in 1983 in Manchester, and helped shape the Britpop era with their 1989 debut. The band released Second Coming in 1994 after a protracted legal fight with their record label and split in 1996. They reformed briefly in 2011, embarked on a world tour in 2012, and released new material in 2016, but that reunion was short lived. Since the band’s 2019 split, Brown has pursued a solo career, releasing seven studio albums and continuing to tour in various formats.

Public attention has followed Brown's live appearances in recent years. A Leeds show in September 2022 drew strong online criticism described by fans as a karaoke performance, and a 2023 Warehouse Project appearance saw him sing with a backing track and struggle with pitch. Critics and fans remain divided over whether the performer can carry The Stone Roses' legacy in a changing live scene, even as his solo work keeps him in the public eye.

Age and fame create pressure. The look of a legendary frontman is now part of the story around a band whose peak is decades past. Audiences want authenticity when they pay high prices for tickets, and nostalgia can only go so far if the live show does not deliver. In Manchester and beyond, Brown's career highlights a broader trend: iconic acts aging in public, tested by new conventions and the risk of disappointing fans who remember a different era.

Highlights

Time will tell if the stage can still hold the Roses' magic