John Squire

** 1/2 The Seahorses, "Do It Yourself," Geffen. John Squire, former guitarist for '80s-rock pioneers the Stone Roses, tosses the Roses' alternative stylishness for a practically stodgy classic-rock sound on this debut from his new band. Moving, tossed-off-feeling moments such as the silly "Happiness Is Eggshaped" and the extraterrestrial blast "Round the Universe" almost compensate for irritatingly beefy guitar solos and psychedelic mushiness. But not quite.

** 1/2 The Seahorses, "Do It Yourself," Geffen. John Squire, former guitarist for '80s-rock pioneers the Stone Roses, tosses the Roses' alternative stylishness for a practically stodgy classic-rock sound on this debut from his new band. Moving, tossed-off-feeling moments such as the silly "Happiness Is Eggshaped" and the extraterrestrial blast "Round the Universe" almost compensate for irritatingly beefy guitar solos and psychedelic mushiness. But not quite.

John Squire and the rest of the Stone Roses called their second--and final--album "Second Coming" in acknowledgment of the enormous expectations in England surrounding the work, which was five years in the making. The title could apply equally to the anticipation for the first album by Squire's new rock quartet, the Seahorses. It was the Roses' 1989 debut album, "The Stone Roses," that signaled the rebirth of melodic pop-rock in Britain.

John Squire and the rest of the Stone Roses called their second--and final--album "Second Coming" in acknowledgment of the enormous expectations in England surrounding the work, which was five years in the making. The title could apply equally to the anticipation for the first album by Squire's new rock quartet, the Seahorses. It was the Roses' 1989 debut album, "The Stone Roses," that signaled the rebirth of melodic pop-rock in Britain.

As late Friday night was turning Saturday morning at the Coachella festival, on-again-off-again and currently-on Brit-pop band Blur left festivalgoers with arguably the night's most poignant moment. Hunched over a piano, lead singer Damon Albarn, with his face sometimes so low that his ears seemed in danger of hitting the keys, pounded away at a song's handful of notes. With the same keys struck repeatedly, Blur's “Sing” was less about creating a melody than it was being frozen in time, a slow-moving, heavily atmospheric quest for the meaning of life.

That was an enlightening critique of the new "24 Hour Party People" DVD in Thursday's Calendar section, particularly with your references to John Squire and the Stone Roses ("Crashing the '24 Hour Party'," March 6). Although the Roses did not play a prominent part in the movie, no one can doubt their absolute importance to the Manchester music scene and their influence on British music in general. It's a shame that their influence and genius were not widely felt here in the States.

The three remaining members of the Stone Roses have vowed to soldier on despite the recent departure of primary writer and musical architect John Squire. In a bitter statement, the Roses say they feel "cheated" and "disgusted" about Squire's leaving in the middle of the recording of a new album. But with plans to recruit a new guitarist, they are "feeling stronger and more optimistic than ever."

A veteran Los Angeles fireman accused of intentionally appearing nude in front of a woman firefighter was excused early from a Fire Department Board of Rights hearing Wednesday to seek stress counseling recommended by a departmental psychologist. Capt.

A Los Angeles fire captain accused of failing to show concern about so-called "girlie" magazines and the viewing of sexually explicit material on television at a Westchester fire station was found not guilty Friday by a three-member board of rights. The board, made up of three battalion chiefs, restored Capt. Arthur L. Suess, a 15-year veteran, to full duty without loss of pay after a hearing that lasted nearly a week.

What was meant as a coming-out party for the Stone Roses' new guitarist, Aziz Ibrahim, turned into a contentious battle between the band and media representatives attending a press conference held by the group before its headlining performance on the final day of the Reading Festival. The surprise session--the band had done only one U.K.

The Stone Roses' disastrous headlining performance at the Reading Festival in August will now stand as the band's off-key swan song. With the recent departure of bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield to join the band Primal Scream, singer Ian Brown--now the lone remaining original Rose--has decided to bring the band to an end. Brown, whose wayward performance at Reading was the focus of the critical abuse that greeted the Roses' set, announced the decision with a brief, bitter statement.

Once or twice during the Seahorses' concert at the Palace on Wednesday, a song would seem reminiscent of Oasis' melodic, acoustic-electric mix. More accurately, though, a tune such as "Blinded by the Sun" faintly echoed Seahorses guitarist John Squire's former band the Stone Roses, the erstwhile kings of Brit-pop who never quite managed to set the world on fire.