Roses prove they’re what the world’s waiting for

THE Stone Roses proved their reunion was what the world was waiting — as they sold out three outdoor shows in little over an hour to set a new record.

The band, who this week announced they had reformed, 16 years after splitting, sold 220,000 tickets for three shows at Manchester’s Heaton Park.

Singer Ian Brown said yesterday; “We plan on spending the rest of the day jumping up and down with our hands in the air.”

With tickets costing at least £50 (€57), the band’s decision to reunite will prove lucrative with fans handing over upwards of £11 million for the shows.

The tickets went in just 68 minutes, which promoters claim is a new record, becoming the fastest-selling rock gigs in Britain.

When booking began this morning the band had announced just two shows on June 29 and 30 — with 150,000 tickets disappearing in 14 minutes.

The clamour prompted a further date to be added.

The much-missed band held a press conference earlier this week at which Brown and guitarist John Squire announced they had patched up their differences.

The pair had not spoken for many years, following Squire’s departure from the band in 1995 and its eventual demise a year later.

They have been rehearsing over the past few weeks and also working on new songs, along with original members Gary “Mani” Mounfield and Alan “Reni” Wren.

Brown said: “ I think we’ve still got it and I think we’ve got something to give to people. And I think in times like this we can uplift people.”

The Stone Roses are famed for tracks such as Fool’s Gold, What The World Is Waiting For and I Am The Resurrection.