Made of Stone

Leaving behind the kitchen sink realism of the English Midlands, director Shane Meadows celebrates self-proclaimed, “best band in the world” the Stone Roses in Made of Stone; a film that is as much about the fans as it is about one of Manchester’s most iconic indie groups.

The film’s premiere took place on May 30 at Manchester’s Trafford Park. The red carpet event was broadcast across 200 cinemas around the UK, including Belfast’s very own Queen’s Film Theatre.

Made of Stone received a standing ovation from the lucky few who were granted tickets to the show, which was then followed by a Q&A session with director and producer, Shane Meadows.

Meadows revealed that despite being a super fan, he missed his chance to see the band the first time around after suffering a bad acid trip that resulted in him selling his ticket. It’s no wonder that he puts himself in the film, genuinely overwhelmed at the fact he’s been given the opportunity to make this film.

The film draws parallels between the Stone Roses’ initial success in the late eighties/early nineties with their recent “resurrection” since 2011. A collage of magazine covers, found footage and awkwardly hilarious band interviews reveal snippets of the Stone Roses’ early days, whilst Meadows follows the band on tour in 2012 ahead of their sold out homecoming gig in Manchester’s Heaton Park.

Meadows explained that he didn’t want to dig deep into the history, but rather bring a celebration of the Stone Roses to the big screen. Key events such as the band’s split in 1996 are painted over with more recent footage of the band performing across Europe. Backstage interviews are kept to a minimum and only one, rather unimposing scene gives any impression that there has ever been any discontent from within.

Instead what the film does is try to understand the camaraderie between the band and their fans. At the heart of the film is the build-up to a free concert held in May 2012 at Warrington’s Parr Hall. Announced out-of-the-blue on various radio stations, fans had the opportunity to snag free tickets in exchange for showing off a piece of official Stone Roses merchandise at the box office. Vox-pops with some of these fans reveal that some have abandoned their kids or bunked off work in the hope they get to see their heroes reunited for the first time in over fifteen years; and make for some of the most entertaining, down to earth moments in the film.

There are a number of full-length performances that aren’t interrupted with the usual documentary tropes such as narratives or cutaways. A rehearsal of Waterfall is edited in such a way that it demonstrates the symbiotic nature of the band’s dynamics – they need one another to achieve their established sound.

An extended version of Fools’ Gold during the Heaton Park show closes the film. It’s a fantastic performance, albeit one that doesn’t really quite give the film any sense of closure.

For those who aren’t Stone Roses fans, Made of Stone is less of a documentary and more of a propaganda piece to rejuvenate the band’s career amidst their current comeback. In fact it’s the Stone Roses fans that hold this film together, often their nostalgic tales of what the Stone Roses mean to them providing the most insightful, funny and even heart-warming moments of the film. Meadows may not have crafted the definitive Stone Roses documentary, but he certainly manages capture the “One Love” unity that the Stone Roses have come to represent for so many.

By Leigh Forgie

Made of Stone is showing at the QFT right now.