And your ears shall hear…

The Stone Roses have always been painted as John Squire’s band of riffs and Ian Brown’s swagger, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find their real alchemy lived in the rhythm section.

Alan “Reni” Wren, the band’s drummer, was more than just a timekeeper—he was their secret ingredient. His complex, off-beat rhythms bridged the gap between rock and dance, laying down a foundation that gave everyone else—Squire, Ian, and especially Gary “Mani” Mounfield—the freedom to stretch out.

Mani’s booming bass lines on Second Coming’s opener, “Breaking Into Heaven”, are a perfect example: he locks into Reni’s grooves so tightly that Squire’s funky riffs and meandering leads can float above without losing momentum. It’s rhythm as bedrock, rhythm as liberation.

“Reni was the best musician in the Stone Roses by a mile. He had it all — swing, style, and power. Nobody else could play like that.”
— Noel Gallagher

Contemporaries often hailed Reni as “one of the best drummers of his generation.” The lore goes that Pete Townshend once asked him to play on his solo records after seeing the Roses open at an anti-heroin benefit. Reni declined—choosing loyalty to the band over temptation—but still sat in on drums for Townshend that night. A legend was in the making.

“Alan Wren was the best drummer in the world. He could play guitar and bass too, he could sing — he was better than all of us.”
— Ian Brown

The Madchester scene is often remembered for its attitude and excess, but beneath the myth-making were musicians like Reni—whose swing, syncopation, and refusal to play it straight gave the Stone Roses their pulse. Without him, their story might’ve been very different.

What Is Reni Doing Now—and Will He Ever Rejoin the Roses?

After the Stone Roses wrapped up their second reunion tour in June 2017, Reni stepped out of the spotlight once again—and has stayed there. According to Wikipedia, following the band’s resurgence (2011–2017), he “has since returned to obscurity, running a property business with his wife.”

Fans who still track his whereabouts echo the same:

“He keeps his life very private and he has every right to do so. Unless you know a guy who knows a guy, there’s no legit info out there.”
— Reddit user

“From the various bits I’ve heard Mani is largely cool with everyone, Reni’s disappeared again and pretty much makes his money from being a property landlord…”
— Reddit user

Reni w/Mike Joyce? The ultimate cool!

So, will he ever return to the band? There’s no indication he plans to. Reni has chosen a private life, and the demands of touring may simply not appeal anymore. For now, rhythm as liberation has given way to rhythm as retreat.