MUSIC: The Stone Roses to release first single in 20 years - TONIGHT

Legendary British band The Stone Roses have announced the release of their first single in more than 20 years.
The Stone Roses pictured following their reunion in 2011The Stone Roses pictured following their reunion in 2011
The Stone Roses pictured following their reunion in 2011

The announcement was made from the band's official Twitter account. The single will be released at 8pm tonight.

Earlier this week cryptic lemon posters had popped up in cities across the UK.

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In March Sheffield woman Stevie Birchall stumbled across the Manchester band recording in a studio in London.

Sheffield woman stumbles upon The Stone Roses recording first new music in more than 20 yearsStevie was pictured outside the studio with Roses frontman Ian Brown and bassist Mani and the photos prompted a flurry of speculation that the band were recording their first new material in decades.

The speculation prompted Brown to tell the NME that the band were recording 'glorious' new music.

The Stone Roses were formed in 1984 and release their self-titled debut album in 1989.

Sheffield woman Stevie Birchall pictured with Ian Brown outside The Church studios in London in MarchSheffield woman Stevie Birchall pictured with Ian Brown outside The Church studios in London in March
Sheffield woman Stevie Birchall pictured with Ian Brown outside The Church studios in London in March
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The album became an instant classic and is still considered one of the greatest British records of all time.

A year later the band played a legendary gig in front of 30,000 people at Spike Island in Cheshire but a series of legal wranglings with their record company led to a period of inertia.

The band eventually signed a new record deal with Geffen and at the end of 1994 after years of anticipation released their follow up album - Second Coming.

It was an album which was met with a mixed response from fans and critics alike and a few months later the band were rocked when drummer Reni quit.

Stevie pictured with bassist Mani outside the studiosStevie pictured with bassist Mani outside the studios
Stevie pictured with bassist Mani outside the studios
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Reni was replaced my session musician Robbie Maddix and the band embarked on a world tour and towards the end of 1995 the Roses released Second coming track Begging You as a single. It would be the last they would release.

In early 1996 things got worse when guitarist and songwriter John Squire quit. Although the band stumbled on with a few more live shows - including an infamous headline performance at that year's Reading Festival - the writing was on the wall and by the end of the year Ian Brown had announced that The Stone Roses were no more.

The acrimonious split led to many years of bad feeling between some of the band members, most notably childhood friends Brown and Squire.

The latter set up his own band - The Seahorses - who released their debut album in 1997 but had split by the end of the decade.

Sheffield woman Stevie Birchall pictured with Ian Brown outside The Church studios in London in MarchSheffield woman Stevie Birchall pictured with Ian Brown outside The Church studios in London in March
Sheffield woman Stevie Birchall pictured with Ian Brown outside The Church studios in London in March
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Brown embarked on a successful solo career and went on to release six studio albums on his own.

Mani joined Primal Scream after the Roses split and mercurial drummer Reni spent most of the following years out of the limelight.

In late 2011 Brown, Squire, Mani, and Reni put their differences behind them and shocked the world of music by announcing they were re-forming to play a series of massive gigs.

In summer 2012 they played three huge shows at Heaton Park in Manchester, as well a series of headline festival performances across Europe.

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The following year saw more live shows but this was followed by two years of stoney silence by the band.

Then late last year The Stone Roses announced more gigs for summer 2016 - most notably four nights at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester.

What is YOUR favourite Stone Roses song? Use our Comments section below to have your say.