FIVE years ago this week, Warrington was at the very centre of the world music industry’s attention as the Stone Roses played their first show in 16 years at the Parr Hall.

The legendary Manchester band had announced that they were reforming late in 2011 and were set to reunite for a series of comeback shows across Europe in the summer of 2012, including three dates at their home city’s Heaton Park.

But at 4pm on Wednesday, May 23 2012, fans were sent into a frenzy when it was announced on the band’s Facebook page that they would be playing their first show since 1996 at the Parr Hall that night.

Parr Hall manager Chris Persoglio said: “Within 30 seconds people were running down the street from local offices.

“Then the country’s media descended on us pretty quickly as well and within half an hour all the streets around us were buzzing, with queues right the way around the Pyramid Centre.”

It was around two months earlier that Chris had received a call telling him that the Stone Roses wanted to play at his venue.

He said: “It was absolutely huge for us – I was walking around with a grin on my face.

“It was really hard to keep it quiet and there were only a couple of people on my team who I could tell.

“I didn’t tell close family just because of the risk of it getting out.

“We rota for staff about a month in advance so we had to tell them we were hosting a council civic celebration – they didn’t know until they turned up to work what they were actually turning up for.

“It was quite tricky keeping it a secret, especially as the band were rehearsing here a couple of days before the gig and you could hear it when you walked past.

“They were knocking around quite a bit and going into town but nobody spotted them.”

The Stone Roses played an 11-song set just a mile from singer Ian Brown’s first childhood home on Forster Street in Orford, and only slightly further from his present residence in Lymm.

A 1,500-crowd included Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher – one of 300 people who were on the guest list for the gig.

Filmmaker Shane Meadows later immortalised the night in his documentary Made of Stone.

Chris added: “It was amazing, especially being backstage as well – the buzz in the venue was unbelievable and it was amazing to be a part of that.

“Five years has flown by – I look back on it really fondly now and it’s done a lot for us as a venue.

“It was amazing just for Warrington to be at the centre of the international live music scene for that one night.”

The setlist for the Stone Roses' Parr Hall gig: I Wanna be Adored, Mersey Paradise, Sally Cinnamon, Made of Stone, (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister, Where Angels Play, Shoot You Down, Tightrope, Waterfall, She Bangs the Drums, Love Spreads