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1991 opened with a further European
Tour, but again no UK dates, the Rose seemly now happy to give themselves no
publicity in the UK at all. There was never any mention of them in any of the
music press, but they didn't seem to help the situation, turning down the chance
to play live on the infamous 'James Whale Show', where Wayne Hussey had appeared totally pissed out of
his head. After the 4 year wait for the first album, the second in two years was
released in August 1991, called I.C.E.
I.C.E.
followed on where 'Stringa'
had left off, with short, sharp, uncomplicated Rock songs, but it has to be
said, compared to the earlier records it was poor. Click here for a full
review.
Paul noted that by the
stage they came to record "I.C.E." the band had been going for
some 7 years. The income from the music alone was never going to be enough to
earn a full time living from, so the band members had growing interests outside
of the band, leading to "I.C.E." being recorded during the
night shift.
I think this lack of focus
and commitment is evident in the final product, the record lacking that
enthusiastic feel of a band passionately throwing everything they have into it.
The band toured again in 1992,
but at the end of the tour Paul decided to quit. The band had generated enough
interest and sales in Europe to be offered new distribution deals, but Paul was
increasingly frustrated with the lack of ambition in the band, who were
seemingly content to continue at their current level. For him it should have
been all or nothing.
After six line up changes
over the years, and Paul being an original member, it was a terminal blow to the
band. The move hit Phil hard as they had been friends since their school days.
Phil's enthusiasm waned, and all felt the Rose name had had its day.
After the final Rose split,
the drum machine was dusted off, and Phil & Darren teamed up with Glenn
Shultz again. A new rhythm
guitarist, Neil
Richardson, was recruited. This new line was called "Diversion". They
gigged once as the opening act at the first Carling Festival in Leeds and
recorded a demo. However Europe was only interested in the Rose name, and nobody
wanted to start again from scratch in this country as everybody in the band and
support crew had other careers by now that were earning a higher income than the
band. Morris, Horner and Schultz came back together one last time under The Rose of Avalanche name on 29th May 1993 in Leeds
So the Rose eventually
fizzled out by mutual apathy, and the fact that everybody had found a more
rewarding life outside of the band.
To read what the ex-members of the Rose are up to now, read the Ex-Members
section, which will hopefully grow as time passes.
Original Biography by James Parton, October 1997.
Updated by James Parton, July 1999 & September 2007
Re-written by James Parton,
May 2008
