England's Seahorses, a band that rose out of the ashes of Stone Roses, has been put out to pasture. The group, formed by Stone Roses guitarist John Squire, is citing the standard "creative differences" for the bust up. They had apparently just finished recording a second album according to Britain's Radio One.

"Due to a general divergence of musical directions, The Seahorses have decided to disband," reads the official statement. "No formal plans for the future have been made but all four members intend to continue along their own separate paths."

After Stone Roses disintegrated into mass of bad will following a 1995 tour, Squire linked up with singer Chris Helm, a busker he discovered on a New York City street, and added bassist Stuart Flecher and drummer Andy Watts to form the Seahorses. The group made their debut late in 1996. Watts left the group just prior to a tour in September of '97 (see "Seahorses Drummer Dismounts").

Stone Roses singer Ian Brown launched a solo career. He went on to dubious infamy when he netted a four-month jail sentence late last year for creating a disturbance on an airliner (see "Stone Roses' Ian Brown Gets Four Months" ). His lesser known accomplishments these days include a vocal track recorded with UNKLE that was recently released as a single.

Although with the announcement of the Seahorses demise came the predictable speculation that a Stone Roses reunion may be in the works, Brown's official website states that there's no truth to the rumors that say Stone Roses may reform.

• The Seahorses

September 22 [14:00 EDT] -- England's Seahorses have lost drummer Andy Watts just days before embarking on a European tour as the opening act for The Prodigy.

Britain's New Musical Express reports that the Seahorses will be doing those dates with an as yet unnamed temporary replacement. According to Performance magazine, the tour is scheduled to start September 27 in Moscow.

NME reported that the split was over musical differences, but they also quoted a band spokesperson who alluded to Watts' new baby, saying that he would be "quite happy at home."

The Seahorses were started by Stone Roses expatriate John Squire after an acrimonious falling out with his bandmates. Watts, also a strong vocalist, was the last member added to the new group shortly before they made their live debut last November.

• The Seahorses

August 20 [16:00 EDT] -- The Seahorses is an offshoot of the Stone Roses, a veteran British rock band credited for planting the seeds of the retro-modernish Brit-pop sound that has taken bands like Oasis to the top of the charts.

The Stone Roses enamored some critics, but the band's fractious lineup failed to capitalize on their rep. They hated to tour, took five years to record albums, and couldn't stand each other. The Stone Roses ultimately went their separate way after a tense 1995 tour. Vocalist Ian Brown is working on a solo album with the Roses' bassist, Gary "Mani" Mounfield. Guitarist John Squire formed the Seahorses, and may see his post-Roses career bear early fruits.

The Seahorses's debut is Do It Yourself, a record described as "slight and pleasing rather than immediate and groundbreaking" by Rolling Stone. Squire, a perfectionist known to never pass up a chance to remix, emphasized a short and sweet approach on Do It Yourself. With his York, England, homeboys-bassist Stuart Fletcher, singer Chris Helme, and drummer Andy Watts -- John Squire wrote and recorded the album in a swift 28 days.

Perhaps the presence of respected producer Tony Visconti helped. Visconti's credits include such seminal artists as David Bowie and T. Rex, among others. Or perhaps Liam Gallagher energized Squire. Oasis' lead singer co-wrote one tune, "Love Me and Leave Me," while he and Squire will chillin' out one day. Then again Squire had a lot of music to get off his chest. His Seahorses want to make due on the promise of the Stone Roses' hit, "I Am the Resurrection."

• The Seahorses