The Stone Roses

Stone Roses' Ian Brown Gets Four Months

26 Oct 1998 12:00:00 EST

Former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown has been sentenced to four months in jail for threatening a British Airways airline pilot and stewardess on a flight from Paris to Manchester last February.

According to British press reports, the stewardess had been serving duty free goods when she mistakenly thought Brown had waved her over. She then realized he was actually just putting something in his pocket. She apologized with another wave, at which point Brown complained and threatened to cut off her hands for waving at him. She testified that he kept up the abuse by pointing his finger and using a menacing tone.

The captain intervened and Brown repeated the threat. An argument ensued, and after the pilot returned to the cabin to land the plane, Brown got up and spent 20 to 30 seconds pounding on the door as the plane approached the Manchester airport. The pilot radioed ahead and arranged to have Brown arrested after the plane landed.

Brown testified that he interpreted the stewardess's wave as a "dismissive gesture," and did complain, but that he accepted her apology and was only joking when he made the comment. He said the pilot tried to provoke him.

Brown, 35, fronted the Stone Roses, one of the most popular groups in the country, from their late '80s inception to their demise in 1996, which followed a steady exodus of band members including mainstay John Squire who left to form the Seahorses.

Stone Roses have often made negative headlines over the years. They stormed off a live appearance on BBC2's The Late Show; entered into litigation with their former record company and pushed their way in and smeared paint around their offices. Brown himself was vilified for his comments about homosexuality and his continuous digs at his former bandmates.

Brown eventually went solo. He and his new band were on a promotional trip to France at the time the airline incident occurred to support his post-Roses solo debut, "Unfinished Monkey Business."

Brown is appealing the verdict.

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The Stone Roses

Stone Roses' Ian Brown Remanded In Plane Flap

27 Mar 1998 12:15:00 EST

Former Stone Roses singer Ian Brown was remanded on bail in a Manchester courthouse today after pleading not guilty to threatening a British Airways pilot on a flight from Paris.

The British Press Association News reports that Brown is now scheduled for a pre-trial review April 29.

Details of the incident are sketchy, but according to PA News, Brown was returning from a promotional trip to Paris with his new band February 13 when the pilot radioed ahead and alerted the authorities to have Brown detained when they landed. He was charged with violating a public order section that relates to making verbal statements considered to be a threat of violence.

Brown released his new solo album, "Unfinished Monkey Business," in England last month, his first record since last recording with Stone Roses in 1994. The band broke up in 1996.

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