Seeking a Rosier Second Coming

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.

Despite inspiring moments, “Second Coming” sounded chaotic, and the band seemed equally disjointed on much of its subsequent U.S. tour. Something had gone terribly wrong, and it wasn’t surprising that Squire, 34, finally left the band last year. After continuing for a short time without him, the Roses disbanded.

Now the guitarist-songwriter is back with the Seahorses, featuring singer-

songwriter Chris Helme, bassist Stuart Fletcher and drummer Andy Watts. The band just finished recording its debut album in North Hollywood.

Titled “Do It Yourself,” the package, which will be released in May by Geffen Records, continues to showcase Squire’s melodic songwriting approach.

Question: How did you feel when the first Stone Roses album came out and people in England started talking about it as a turning point in pop culture? Did you understand what they were talking about?

Answer: No, I didn’t understand all that significance people were putting on the album. All I felt was a sense of achievement. . . . The fact that we had made a record that people seemed to like. It meant we would get a chance to make another record.

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Q: Everyone in the group tried to downplay any problems that happened in the five years it took to make the second album. Can you talk any more freely now?

A: There were all sorts of problems. . . . Legal problems, management problems. But the biggest thing probably was that we lost our focus as a band. For one thing, three of us had children, which is something I would never change, but it meant that music wasn’t the only thing in our lives anymore. We also had some money for the first time and everyone startedlooking at houses and buying cars.

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Q: Looking back, how do you view the second album?

A: I’m proud of a lot of the record, but I think parts sound very labored, which is a true reflection of the way things were in the studio. It wasn’t a happy time. We had become strangers. There were periods when I felt the record would never come out, and in some ways making a great record became secondary to simply making any record at all.

By the time we finished the tour, I knew that I couldn’t go through another album like that. I started thinking that I am only going to live once and I might as well enjoy it.

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Q: There seems to be a strong current of positiveness going through the new songs. Do you feel that?

A: I felt a great sense of relief and purpose after I made the decision to leave the Roses, and I think that is probably reflected in the music.

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Q: In one of the songs there’s the line, “I believe in heroes, I believe in stars.” Do you believe in heroes?

A: That’s from “Love Me and Leave Me,” which I wrote with [Oasis’] Liam Gallagher. Yes, I’ve always had heroes. When I was a kid I had heroes in movies. There was this guy in “The Poseidon Adventure” who sacrificed himself to save the ship. My first guitar hero was Mick Jones of the Clash, then Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols. Then I sort of backtracked and discovered Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page . . . .

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Q: How did you feel during the Stone Roses period when people started referring to you as a hero?

A: Well, it’s not really something you feel. You are the same person. But it’s nice if I helped give someone the strength to believe in themselves. Life can be difficult and you need something to help you get through it.