Towards the end of 1989, the Stone Roses were on the cusp of being the biggest band in Britain. Having just played a massive show at Alexandra Palace, they were asked to perform their song Made of Stone live on a BBC culture and arts programme called The Late Show. This was going to be their national TV debut and expectations were huge.
But on the night in question, after only a minute, an internal power cut in the studio interrupted their performance, causing the band to stop and look at the panic-stricken BBC technicians with collective Mancunian indignation. Ian Brown, the singer, snorting with derision, said, without needing any amplification: “We’re wasting our time, lads. Amateurs!”
