John Squire Gives Up Music For Good

John Squire has revealed that he has given up making music forever.

The former Stone Roses and Seahorses man says that he is going to concentrate solely on his main passion – painting.

Speaking to BBC6music, he explained the reasons for his decision: “It seems to me that painting comes a lot easier. There’s less effort involved. It comes more naturally, there’s no committee involved.

“In a lot of ways it’s a lot more rewarding, cos there’s a faster output, a faster flow of ideas.”

The guitarist says that he doesn’t even listen to music when he’s painting even more, continuing: “I used to listen to music when I was painting. Recently, in the last few years, I’ve much preferred to work in total silence.

“There’s a real connection between with the things I love about music, and the things I love about painting. I discovered them at the same time.”

An exhibition of John’s latest artwork, imaginatively called New Work, is on display at the Smithfield Gallery in London until July 28.