Amongst The Stone Roses’ many masterpieces, such as the inspiring Waterfall and chillout Shoot You Down, there’s the mighty Made of Stone.

This one comes out of nowhere as track eight on the band’s classic eponymous debut album. And it’s enough to send shivers down your spine.

It’s a thunderous, anthemic number that launches that incredible album up another gear. And we think this is definitely a top five best Stone Roses song.

Thrilling Prophecies in Roses Classic Made of Stone

Flat out, we have to say Made of Stone is one of the greatest songs ever written. At least in our opinion! But we should imagine many fans of the band will be in agreement (not just for sycophancy purposes).

Off The Stone Roses’ eponymous debut album, it sits as track eight following on from the glorious Sugar Spun Sister and was made publicly available on 6th March 1989.

It’s an eerie, moody, thunderous number with an anthemic chorus. John Squire’s guitar work is the highlight, with a brain melting guitar solo of the highest calibre.

Singer Ian Brown is also magnificent with his hushed vocals, almost Jim Morrison styled shamanic whispering of capitalism and its flaws.

Brown, famously, would often wear a t-shirt with dollar bills around its neck (see below) in 1989.

The band’s exceptional rhythm section is also working flat out to tie the song together, with drummer Reni’s jazzy fills and precision just perfect throughout. His backing vocals are also glorious.

Made of Stone’s lyrics are actually inspired by the death of Jackson Pollock in 1956. He died after crashing his car into a tree whilst drunk. That adds clarity to the frightening nature of the lyrics:

Your knuckles whiten on the wheel,
The last thing that your hands will feel,
Your final flight can’t be delayed.

No earth just sky, it’s so serene,
Your pink fat lips let go a scream,
You fry and melt, I love the scene.

Guitarist Squire (who’s also an artist) created the Pollock inspired artwork for the band’s album covers.

The song was first released in 1989. But it went on to have a haunting quality the band could never have predicted. Here’s the chorus:

Sometimes I fantasise,
When the streets are cold and lonely,
And the cars, they burn below me,
Don’t these times fill your eyes,
When the streets are cold and lonely,
And the cars, they burn below me,
Are you all alone?
Is anybody home?

The nature of the lyrics, after the 2001 September 11th attacks in America, took on an entirely new dimension.

Much of the band’s eponymous debut was a critique of capitalism. But Made of Stone just happened to represent the collapse of the two buildings at the World Trade Centre.

As a piece of music, it sits there on the band’s outstanding debut album as another towering moment of genius.

Journalist and musician John Robb (who wrote the The Stone Roses’ insightful biography) had followed the band’s career up until 1989. After their musical shift in 1987, and hearing Made of Stone for the first time, he remarked he couldn’t believe the band had just landed such a masterpiece.

That’s credit to Brown and Squire, as the songwriters, who gifted this to the world and also created for themselves something of a dilemma.

How the hell do you go on to write something better than that? Well, the band had other songs just as good. But Made of Stone is extra special.

It released on March 6th, 1989, with the band’s debut album. It also had a run as a single (bit more on that further below), with a reissue following in 1990 to cash-in on the rise to stardom of the band.

Notable Live Made of Stone Performances

One of the odd things about Made of Stone is the band often struggled to work out how to play it well live.

On many occasions they nailed it, such as with Glasgow Green in 1990. And the punchy performance at Tokyo in 1989 is also excellent.

However, there are also a lot of strangely bad performances of it. The Blackpool 1989 effort, for example, is a bit of a mess.

And after the band’s 2011 reunion, the general performances of it weren’t terrific.

This is all just part of The Stone Roses lore and all that. The band was absolutely fantastic live, but also occasionally terrible.

For example, Brown (never the most natural singer) would often smoke too much and ruin his voice. Some of his live performances are awful.

But when he was on it, the man was a legend.

As were the band in general. The Stone Roses, lots of stone. Lots of flowers. And songs of a mighty stature.

The Stone Roses and the Notorious Late Show Debacle

To understand The Stone Roses’ difficult career is an insight into life in England in the late 1980s, following on from the horribleness of the Thatcher government.

It does make you wonder why we keep doing this to ourselves in England, voting for these odious, corrupt Tories over and over.

Back in 1989, The Stone Roses’ career had been stymied by working class difficulties and just how generally unpleasant life could be in Manchester.

The band had a nightmare getting any press recognition, but word of mouth led to their sudden rise to stardom.

At the start of 1989, they’d had a gig in London where about 20 people turned up. By the summer they were selling out huge venues, such as the Blackpool Empress Ballroom.

Whilst the British press latched onto the hottest band of the moment, it did lead to the disastrous (and hilarious) appearance on the BBC’s Late Show in September 1989.

As you’ve already seen, it didn’t go well. Depending on who you listen to, the band ramped up the sound too high (or the studio got it wrong) and a live performance became something else.

Tracey MacLeod was the presenter. And she, awkwardly, had to deal with Brown’s famous chant of “Amateurs! Amateurs!” while live on TV. Lovely stuff!

Anyway, the appearance wasn’t a disaster. More another talking point about a curious band on an incredible ascendency.

The band never did warm up to the press. Even with the 2011 reunion (as unexpected as it was), there was one interview during that time. That’s it. In the last 30 years, The Stone Roses have provided (at tops) a handful of interviews.

And nothing else ever again after. Even after the band split again, there was no official announcement. These boys did not like media attention.

Guernica as Made of Stone Reversed

On a final note, the band had a habit of reversing their songs circa 1989 (there are more of these on our The Stone Roses rarities guide). That way they’d suddenly come away with two great tracks!

One such attempt made it onto the band’s debut as the wonderful Don’t Stop. That’s much of Waterfall reversed, but with new lyrics, vocals, and drumming added over the top.

Made of Stone was turned into Guernica.

It was released as the B side to the Made of Stone single. John Squire overdubbed guitar parts to the track and, as far as we’re aware, Ian Brown sung gibberish reverse lyrics again over the track.

Or is it just his Made of Stone singing reversed? We couldn’t find a definitive answer during our research. It does make it sound like his singing is reversed, but that’s the point!

Regardless, it all adds to the mysticism behind the track it’s reversed from.