Ian Brown

Ian Brown had been the frontman of the Stone Roses — one of the greatest British bands of their era — before the band's acrimonious split in 1996. His solo career began with 'Unfinished Monkey Business' (1998) — a record that showed a different side of Brown, more electronic and experimental than the Roses, but with the same charismatic presence at its centre.

'My Star', 'Can't See Me', and 'Corpses in Their Mouths' were all strong singles. 'Golden Greats' (1999) was the commercial breakthrough — 'Love Like a Fountain' and 'Dolphins Were Monkeys' were both top ten hits. Brown's voice — limited in range but completely distinctive — was the constant around which everything else revolved.

Brown has continued to record and tour, his solo career producing a body of work that deserves more recognition than it typically receives. His political engagement — particularly his opposition to the Iraq War and his environmental activism — has been as prominent as his music. He remains one of the most distinctive figures in British music.