Happy
Mondays History |
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1993 |
EMI offered a deal to help rescue The Happy Mondays however it was
reported that Shaun Ryder walked out in the middle of the negotiation
meeting to get himself a K.F.C. (the band's nickname for heroin).
He failed to return and the group disbanded angrily. |
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Double
Easy - The US Singles |
Released
in Sep 1993, this US Greatest Hits album featured '24 Hour Party
People', 'Wrote For Luck', 'Lazyitis', 'Mad Cyril', 'Hallelujah
(MacColl Mix)', 'Step On', 'Tokoloshe Man', 'Kinky Afro', 'Loose
Fit', 'Bob's Yer Uncle', 'Judge Fudge', 'Stinkin Thinkin', 'Sunshine
& Love', 'WFL', 'Angel', and various remixes. Interestingly
'24 Hour Party People', 'Angel' and 'WFL' were never actually
released as singles in the USA. |
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for the CD
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Shaun Ryder overcame his drug addictions and returned with Bez to
form Black Grape. Extra vocals were supplied by
Paul 'Kermit' Leveridge with his former Ruthless
Rap Assassins bandmate, Ged Lynch, on
drums. Multi-talented Danny Saber and ex-Paris
Angels guitarist Paul 'Wags' Wagstaff
provided instrumentals. |
1995 |
|
Reverend Black Grape |
Black
Grape |
single released
June 1995. Later on album. The CD sleeve had a photograph of
George Best whilst the B-side had a remix plus
the new track 'Straight Out Of Trumpton '. Reached UK no.9 |
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the single
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rare versions
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for the single |
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Call
The Cops - USA '90 |
VHS
video recorded live during their 'Call The Cops' 1990 USA Summer
Tour. Fly-on-the -wall footage is blended with 10 live tracks,
'Step On', 'Clap Your Hands', 'Kinky Afro', 'Lazyitis', 'Rave
On', 'Do It Better', 'Performance', 'Gods Cop', 'Hallelujah'
and 'Wrote For Luck'
(released Jul 1995) |
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for the video |
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It's
Great When You're Straight... Yeah |
Black
Grape |
The
chart-topping album was released in August 1995 and featured
the hit singles 'In the Name of the Father', 'Reverend Black
Grape' and 'Kelly's Heroes'. Selling over half million copies
in the UK alone, it was an instant success on its release, going
straight to no.1 |
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rare versions
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for original pressings
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Loads |
This
singles collection was quietly released in Oct 1995, only reaching
no.41. It included the singles 'Tart Tart', '24 Hour Party People',
'Wrote For Luck', 'Lazyitis', 'Hallelujah', 'Step On', 'Kinky
Afro', 'Loose Fit', 'Judge Fudge', 'Stinkin' Thinkin', 'Sunshine
& Love' plus 'Kuff Dam', 'Mad Cyril', 'Tokoloshe Man', 'Bob's
Yer Uncle' and 'Angel'. The limited edition had an extra CD,
'Loads More', which had remixes plus rare tracks
'Delightful' & 'Freaky Dancin' |
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buy Loads More on CD
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for the CD
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Kelly's Heroes |
Black
Grape |
single taken from
the album, released Dec 95, B-side remixes plus 'Little Bob'
live. A ltd live edition was also released with takes of 'In
The Name Of The Father' and 'Fat Neck'. Reached UK no.17 |
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the single
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rare versions
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for the single |
|
1996 |
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Fat Neck |
Black
Grape |
single from May
96, not on the album. Written about friend, Karl Power
(later became famous by sneaking on to a Manchester United team
line-up amongst other pranks) it featured Johnny Marr
on guitar. B-side includes 'Pretty Vacant live' and a remix
of 'Yeah Yeah Brother'. Reached UK no.10 |
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the single
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rare versions
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for the single |
|
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Shaun Ryder sacked Black Grape's management after he claimed they
were taking more money from him than they were actually owed. This
sparked a legal battle that would almost bankrupt Ryder |
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1997 |
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Shaun
Ryder - Happy Mondays, Black Grape and Other Traumas! |
Mick
Middles |
biography
of Shaun Ryder, The Happy Mondays and formation of Black Grape
(May 1997) |
buy the book |
|
Whilst appearing on 6pm TV show, TFI Friday, Shaun
Ryder used the word 'fuck' twice. As a result he became the only person
specifically named in Channel 4's Book of Compliance which states
"Please note that the Channel 4 Board has undertaken to the ITC
that Shaun Ryder will not appear live on Channel 4" |
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Stupid
Stupid Stupid |
Black
Grape |
The
second album from Black Grape was released in November 1997
and featured the singles 'Get Higher' and 'Marbles' as well
as a cover of Northern Soul classic 'Lonely'. A limited edition
of the CD featured plastic moving eyes on the CD cover. Reached
no.11 |
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rare versions
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for original pressings
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|
1998
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High
Life 'n' Low Down Dirty - The Thrills & Spills of Shaun
Ryder |
Lisa
Verrico |
biography
of Shaun Ryder looking at his time with Happy Mondays and Black
Grape (Jan 1998) |
buy the book
buy
deleted copies |
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Shaun
Ryder - In His Own Words |
Mick
Middles |
unofficial
collection of quotes and interviews from Shaun Ryder, his family
and friends (Apr 1998) |
buy the book
buy
deleted copies |
|
In July 1988 Black Grape split up |
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The
Avengers |
Shaun
Ryder makes his acting debut alongside Sean Connery, Uma Thurman
and Ralph Fiennes in this spy-spoof based on the 1960's TV series.
Playing criminal, Donavan, his cameo appearance is enough to
make any Happy Modays fan laugh. (August 1998) |
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for the DVD
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video |
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Freaky
Dancin' - Me and The Mondays |
Bez |
Bez's
honest and hilarious autobiography in which he tells how he
lived in a Morrocan cave with a man who made his own LSD and,
when thrown out of home by his policeman father, lived in a
fully furnished shed for two years. Excellent! (Sep 1998). |
buy the book
buy
deleted copies |
|
In October, Shaun Ryder stated that The Happy Mondays would never
get back together. Six weeks later, having received a massive tax
demand and an expensive divorce, he changed his mind. |
The Happy Mondays reformed with Shaun Ryder (vocals),
Gary 'Gaz' Whelan (drums), Bez
(vibes) and Rowetta (backing vocals). Mark Day
was replaced on guitar by Black Grape's Paul Wagstaff,
whilst Paul Davis (keyboard) was replaced by 'Nuts'.
Paul Ryder (bass) reluctantly agreed to join, ending
his six year silence with his brother. Shaun later said "it
took us two meetings [to get Bez back in the band], the first one
lasted about five hours but the next one was cool. We knocked him
down from his £50,000 to £15 and a free Admiral T-shirt." |
1999
|
In April 1999, the band kick started a worldwide tour with a huge
sell-out concert at the MEN Arena. |
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The Boys Are Back In Town
|
A poor cover of
Thin Lizzy's famous hit produced a UK no.24
single in May 1999. The highlight being Shaun singing "The
boys are back, back in the MCR". There was a 'dirty' and
'clean' version of the song, whist B-sides included remixes
of 'Lazyitis', 'Loose Fit' and 'Bob's Yer Uncle' |
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the single
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for the single |
|
|
Greatest
Hits |
In
May 1999 'The Boys Are Back In Town' joined the singles 'Step
On', 'Kinky Afro', 'Loose Fit', 'Hallelujah', 'Judge Fudge',
'Stinkin Thinkin', 'Lazyitis', 'WFL', and '24 Hour Party People'
on the band's UK Greatest Hits. The B-sides 'Mad Cyril', 'Bob's
yer Uncle' and 'Stayin' Alive' together with some remixes also
make it on to the CD |
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for the CD
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|
Shaun Ryder was taken to the High Court for breach of contract by
Black Grape's management. He was demanded to pay damages of around
£160,000 and had all his assets frozen. All future earnings,
incuding publishing rights, would be paid direct to the court until
settled |
2000
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In January, Shaun Ryder lost his High Court Appeal. He claimed he
had deliberately been given the contract to sign when he was 'out
off it' after smoking marijuana. Whilst the court agreed with him,
they stated that it was still legally binding because his lawyer had
witnessed the signing of the document and hadn't flagged the discrepancies |
Paul Ryder (bass) and Gaz Whelan
(drums) formed funky side project Buffalo 66 with
Dennis Bourne (vocals). They supported Ian Brown
on tour as well as a few Manchester headline gigs. |
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Hunk Of Burning Love EP |
Buffalo
66 |
Apr 2000 single
from Paul and Gaz featuring 'King Of The Sky''. Did not chart |
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the ep
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for the ep |
|
The touring had re-introduced the Happy Mondays back to their excessive
lifestyle, and in June, not willing to return to his bad ways, Paul
Ryder quit ahead of Glastonbury and their Japanese and Australian
gigs. He was replaced by former Seahorses bassist
Stuart Fletcher |
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Hallelujah!
- The Extraordinary Return of Shaun Ryder and Happy Mondays |
John
Warburton with Shaun Ryder |
The
hilarious tale of the Happy Mondays comeback told by Shaun and
his Daily Sport mate. Extremely funny and a must read for all
Happy Mondays fans (Jul 2000). |
buy the book |
|
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Barcelona - Friends Until the End |
Shaun
Ryder & Russell Watson |
The unlikely duet
of Shaun Ryder and Salford tenor Russell Watson, resulted in
this cover of Freddie Mercury & Montserat Caballe's hit.
Recorded to celebrate United's 1999 European Cup Final triumph
in Barcelona, it only reached UK no.68. It would have surely
topped the charts if they'd released it a year earlier. It was
later included on Russell's multi-million selling debut CD,
'The Voice' (July 2000) |
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the single
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for the single
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video |
|
The Happy Mondays supported fellow Mancunians, Oasis,
on the 'Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants' tour |
Following a huge fight between Shaun and Rowetta on the ferry journey
over to Ireland for the Witness Festival in August 2000, the Happy
Mondays split once more. |
2001 |
|
Planet Groove - The Shaun Ryder Session |
various
artists, compiled by Shaun Ryfer |
24 track collection
compiled by Shaun, featuring tracks that inspired him (Jan 2001) |
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for the CD |
|
2002 |
Taking it's name from the Monday's track, the Michael Winterbottom
movie, '24 Hour Party People', tells the story of
Tony Wilson, Factory Records, The
Hacienda, Joy Division
and The Happy Mondays amongst others. |
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24
Hour Party People |
Despite
the occasional hint of a Yorkshire accent, Danny Cunningham
superbly plays Shaun Ryder, Paul Poppelwell
plays Paul Ryder and Chris Coghill, a very
accurate Bez. Interestingly, Paul Ryder appears in the film,
convincingly acting as a gangster, whilst Rowetta plays herself. |
buy on DVD
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the soundtrack
watch
trailer |
|
2003
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Whilst spending time in Australia at the end of the Happy Mondays
tour, Shaun Ryder formed Amateur Night In The Big Top with
cousin Pete Carroll and Shane Norton |
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Scooter Girl |
Amateur
Night In The Big Top |
single released
June 2003. Features B-side remix and 'Clowns', also on the album.
Did not chart |
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the single
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for the single |
|
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Amateur
Night In The Big Top |
Amateur
Night In The Big Top |
This
solo project by Shaun Ryder in July 2003, catches him rambling
over funky beats in Mark E Smith or John Cooper Clarke fashion.
On opening track 'Story' he rambles about the Monday's problems
getting through Customs for a trip to Rio. 'Long Legs' details
his money problems whilst 'In 1987', tells the tale of how the
Mondays allegedly introduced Ecstasy to the British army and
The Hacienda. Includes single 'Scooter Girl' |
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for the CD
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|
Bez formed new band Domino Bones
with girlfriend Monica Ward (vocals), Black Grape
guitarist Paul Wagstaff, ex-Bodines
bassist Ian 'Winker' Watson and Ian Brown's
drummer Simon Moore. Apart from dancing, Bez was
also involved in songwriting and occassionally singing - or as he
put it "I do me dance and spout off with a Mancunian rant, while
Mon and the rest of them do proper rock and roll shit" |
2004 |
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Rattle My Head |
Bez
featuring Shaun Ryder and Domino Bones |
The debut single
from Bez's Domino Bones in April 2004, on which he could be
heard singing for the first time, featured backing vocals from
Shaun. Did not chart |
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the single
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for the single |
|
The Happy Mondays reformed with their third line-up consisting of
original members Shaun Ryder (vocals), Gary
'Gaz' Whelan (drums) and Bez (vibes). Members
of the band, Sonic Audio, integrated into the group
with Kev Sandhu (guitars), Mikey Shine
(bass), Dave Parkinson (keyboards), John
Dunn (guitar) and Poss (decks) filling the
space vacated by Paul Wagstaff, 'Nuts and Paul Ryder, who had vowed
never to play with his brother again. Rowetta had also left to persue
a solo career and also vowed never to work with Shaun
again. Legendary singers Angie Brown and Ron
Caroll provided backing vocals on the tour which was culminate
in another sell-out gig at the MEN Arena. |
In December, Rowetta came 4th in the first ever series of X
Factor, beaten by Steve Brookstein, G4
and Tabby Callaghan. [watch
the video] |
2005 |
In January, Bez won Celebrity Big Brother after receiving
54% of the total public vote [watch
the video] |
Shaun Ryder resolved the legal action that meant his finances were
frozen for the past 6 years. He reached a settlement with the former
Black Grape management team, leaving him free to keep his earnings
after he had paid back his debt to them first. |
|
Live
In Barcelona |
Released
in April 2005, this DVD of the Mondays new line-up performing
live in Barcelona during 2004 includes all the hits as well
as 'Reverend Black Grape'. DVD extras include an interview with
Shaun who reflects on each of the band's albums and the changing
line-up as well as his plans for the future. |
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for the DVD
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video |
|
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Step
On - Live In Barcelona |
The
CD of the Barcelona concert was released in August 2005, charting
at a disappointing UK no.194. It featured 11 tracks performed
by the new line-up, including 'Reverend Black Grape' |
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Rowetta
|
Rowetta |
The
debut album from Rowetta includes the single together with 3
self-penned tracks, 'Fly', 'Pure, Faithful & True' and 'Thunder
and Lightning', and jazz, soul and disco covers as diverse as
The Beatles, Sammy Davis Jr and Oasis. Did not chart (Oct 2005) |
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watch
promo video |
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The
Platinum Collection |
This
budget compilation CD, released in Dec 2005 boasted 15 tracks
including, amongst seemingly random album tracks, singles 'Step
On', 'Judge Fudge', 'Boys Are Back In Town', 'Stinkin Thinkin',
'Lazyitis', 'WFL', '24 Hour Party People' and 'Tart Tart'. Best-sellers
'Kinky Afro', 'Loose Fit', 'Hallelujah', were all interestingly
missing. (Does not chart) |
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|
2006
|
|
Demon
Days Live At The Manchester Opera House |
Gorillaz |
Released
in March 2006, this DVD of Damon Albarn's Gorillaz was recorded
live at the Manchester Opera House. Featuring a live performance
from a somewhat drunken(?) Shaun Ryder on the track 'Dare' |
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for the DVD
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video |
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Bez's Madchester Anthems - Sorted Tunes from
Back in the Day |
various
artists, compiled by Bez |
Collection of Madchester
hits compiled by Bez, featuring 38 tracks including 'Step On',
'Kinky Afro' and the not-so-Madchester new single 'One Dream' |
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for the CD
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watch
promo video |
|
In June, the Happy Mondays performed a concert in Liverpool followed
by an hour long set at The Fuji Rock Festival in Japan |
|
2007 |
In April, the Happy Mondays gave a poor performance at the Coachella
Music Festival in California. Bez couldn't perform as the USA refused
him a visa and Shaun remained static for most of the gig, apologising
for his poor showing repeatedly. The band then returned to tour the
UK which included a sell-out gig at The Ritz as part of the Manchester
International Festival in May |
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Uncle
Dysfunktional |
The
Happy Mondays first studio album in over 15 years was released
in July 2007. The new line-up produced 13 new tracks, including
2 unnamed hidden tracks at the end of the CD. Without any singles
providing valuable airplay it flopped at UK no.73. |
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|
In July, Paul Ryder returned with his new electro funk band, Big
Arm, the name taken from Ian Brown's nickname of the former
Monday's bass player. The line up: Paul Ryder (vocals & bass),
Pete Smith (keyboards), Danny Short (drums), Daz Gilkinson (guitars)
and Lea Mullen (percussion) |
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Big
Arm support Ian Brown on his UK tour (27th Sep-26th Oct) including
2 nights at the Manchester G-Mex |
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Radiator |
Big
Arm |
The
debut album from Paul Ryder's new band, features the singles
'Flashbacks' and 'Sunrays'. Released 15th Oct 2007 |
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