The Stone Roses showed me the power of being an introvert

The writer recalls arriving at a Midlands boarding school in 1991, where loud, confident boys seemed to dominate and his own quietness left him feeling dismissed. Discovering the Stone Roses’ debut album and guitarist John Squire showed him that someone could be reserved yet charismatic, ambitious and artistically powerful.

Squire’s music and image led the writer to explore painting, modern history, fashion and religion, while the band connected him with other indie fans. He began playing guitar that year, later wrote about music and now performs in a band; years later, meeting Squire confirmed the influence that had helped him accept his introversion.