The Stone Roses Reunion: Watch The Press Conference In Full

The Stone Roses announced that they are reforming at a press conference in London yesterday (October 18) – you can now watch the full footage below on Gigwise.

The band, noted as one of the most important UK groups of the last 25 years, will play two hometown shows at Manchester's Heaton Park on June 29 and 30, as well as going on an extensive world tour.

Original members - frontman Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Mani and drummer Reni  -  revealed that they have already started rehearsing for the tour, which won't get underway until the summer of 2012.

Speaking at the conference Brown said: Our plan is to shake up the world. We're gonna go around the world next year. We're going to start off in Manchester and play two big gigs. This is not a trip down memory lane, we are doing new songs.

"We are going to do what we did the first time and ride it 'til the wheels come off. And let's face it, the wheels did come off. We'll keep writing and if it hits our standards, we'll go with it. We're not here to destroy anything. It's as precious to us as it is to someone who has followed us for years.

"I've heard a few people say 'You shouldn't do it, you're going to destroy the legacy'. But that's not our intention."

Heaton Park holds 75,000 people, giving an idea of the scope of interest there is in a band that last played together in 1996.

Tickets for the shows go on sale on Friday (October 21) at 9.30am.

For further information about the gigs, go to The Stone Roses newly launched official website Thestoneroses.org.

For more details and to buy The Stone Roses tickets, check out Gigwise Gig Tickets.

The Stone Roses - Press Conference: