Meadies Musical Marconi

Alan (Reni) Wren is the world renowned drummer famed for drumming with The Stone Roses. Lea Mullen was in Little Caeser, before the band eventually became known as The Rub. Here we have an exclusive interview with Lea who speaks exclusively to Shiiine On blog. Shiiine: How did you first get to know Reni? LM: I first met Reni when I worked at a musical instrument shop in Manchester called A1 Music maybe late 1980’s. Were you aware of Reni before you knew him? I was aware of The Stone Roses but not really of Reni believe it or not. I didn’t really take notice of the Manchester music scene at that time, I was more into jazz and Led Zeppelin. Was this way before joining The Rub? Long, long time before The Rub. How did you join The Rub? One day I was in a rehearsal room playing drums the door opened and Reni walked in. I didn’t recognise him because I hadn’t seen him for maybe three years, and he had a big beard. He said to me “I want you to play drums in my band, you play just the way I vi...

The Rub were the band fronted by one of the best drummers of his generation Alan ‘Reni’ Wren of The Stone Roses. Emerging at the front end of the 00’s with a brand of music completely different to anything the Roses’ released, The Rub have gone on to achieve cult status amongst fans due to their short outburst of activity before going back into the shadows.  In an exclusive interview conducted by Matt Mead, drummer with the band Mik Grant tells his own unique, charming story of how he was chosen to fill the ‘throne’ of one of the most revered drum stools in Manchester.   LTW: Can you please let me know some details from your background? Where you were born, here you grew up and what are your first memories? MG: I was born in 1967 alongside my twin sister Maureen in Greenock on the banks of the River Clyde in the west coast of Scotland. I come from a big family so my first memories were lots of dancing and singing at parties. Every house was crammed with people from babies to p...