According to NME, Ian Brown wants Paul McCartney to play on his fifth solo album. The former Stone Rose says: "I spoke to his assistant, I was like, 'Me name's Ian Brown and I'm a singer', and she was like, 'Yeah I've heard of you'. RAK studios where we're recording the album is only round the corner from where he lives. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, I don't mind waiting for him! I'd put it back for him. I just think in the last 40 years, no one's touched McCartney on the bass. It's a bit of a pipe dream, but if you don't ask, you don't get, so I'm going for it".
Brown has already enlisted the help of a couple of other significant contributors - ex Smiths man Andy Rourke, and Paul Ryder from The Happy Mondays.