Happy Mondays

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This article is about the English alternative rock band. For Monday holidays in Japan, see Happy Monday System.

Happy Mondays
indie dance
  • Madchester
  • post-punk
  • neo-psychedelia
    • Years active
    • 1980–1993
    • 1999–2001
    • 2004–2010
    • 2012–present
    Labels
    Members
    Past members

    Happy Mondays are an English

    band formed in Salford in 1980. The original line-up was Shaun Ryder (vocals), his brother Paul Ryder (bass), Gary Whelan (drums), Paul Davis (keyboard), and Mark Day (guitar). Mark "Bez" Berry later joined the band onstage as a dancer/percussionist. Rowetta joined as a second vocalist in 1990.[1] They were initially signed to Tony Wilson's Factory Records
    label.

    The group's work bridged the Manchester indie rock music of the 1980s and the emerging UK rave scene, drawing influence from funk, house, and psychedelia to pioneer the Madchester sound.[2] They experienced their commercial peak with the releases Bummed (1988), Madchester Rave On (1989), and Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches (1990), with the last going platinum in the UK.[2] They disbanded in 1993, and have reformed several times in subsequent decades.

    History

    First incarnation

    The band were signed to Factory Records after passing a demo tape to Phil Saxe, a trader at Manchester Arndale who was on friendly terms with Mike Pickering, a DJ at the Haçienda nightclub.[3] Saxe became the band's manager.

    Their first release was the "Forty Five EP", often called the "Delightful EP" after its first track. It was released on

    Step On" and "Kinky Afro" from this album both reached number 5 in the UK singles chart.[4]

    By the late 1980s, the Happy Mondays were an important part of the Manchester music scene and personified rave culture. Numerous world tours meant the band had international success as well as massive success in their home country. The line-up of the band during this first and most important ten-year phase never changed, and the six original members Shaun Ryder, Paul Ryder, Gary Whelan, Paul Davis, Mark Day, and Mark "Bez" Berry remained a tight unit until the first incarnation came to an end in 1994.[5] The band headlined the Friday night at Glastonbury Festival 1990.[4] In November of that year, Paul McCartney commented in NME: "I saw the Happy Mondays on TV, and they reminded me of the Beatles in their 'Strawberry Fields' phase."[6]

    Musically, the band fused indie pop guitars with a rhythmic style that owed much to

    Live followed later in the year.[12]

    Yes Please! followed in 1992, produced by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, recorded at Eddy Grant's studio in Barbados.[13] The album was a commercial failure that bankrupted Factory Records.[14]

    Second incarnation

    Happy Mondays disbanded in 1993, and Shaun Ryder and Bez formed

    UK Singles Chart.[16] They provided support for Oasis on their "Standing on the Shoulder of Giants" arena tour, played at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, numerous European festivals including T in the Park and also toured Australia the same year. Although critically acclaimed and playing to sell-out crowds, the band once more ceased their activity in 2001 following the departure of bass player and founding member Paul Ryder.[17]

    A fictionalised depiction of the band is featured in the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People, with Danny Cunningham as Shaun Ryder and Paul Popplewell as Paul Ryder. Paul Ryder himself had a cameo role in the film as a gangster and Rowetta appeared in the film as herself.[18]

    Third incarnation

    2004 saw another re-formation, comprising original members Bez, Whelan and Shaun Ryder along with another group of musicians. Shaun Ryder recruited Kav Sandhu to join on guitar & bring in a new group of musicians. Kav brought on-board bassist Mikey Shine, keyboard player Dave Parkinson & guitarist Jonn Dunn. Dave Parkinson was later replaced by Dan Broad. Backing singers on the first tour were Angie Brown and Ron Carroll.[19] from 2004 to 2006 the band were managed by Danny Newman, MD at London Club Turnmills brother of London Club DJ Tall Paul. Rowetta's backing vocal role was now being performed by Julie E. Gordon who toured with the band until 2010. Paul Ryder was not present, having sworn to never perform with his brother again following the 2000 break-up,[20] and formed his own band Big Arm. That year, the Mondays released a live DVD of a show in Barcelona. The Mondays played a variety of festival dates in 2005 (including Global Gathering), capping it off with a concert at the Manchester Arena.

    In June 2006, Happy Mondays performed in

    Big Brother Records
    .

    Happy Mondays performed before another re-formed act,

    Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California. They were introduced by Tony Wilson. Bez missed the show because he could not get into the US due to "passport issues".[23] The band then toured throughout the summer of 2007 including a trip to the Numusic Festival in Norway. They played Splendour in the Grass in Australia in July 2009, and the UK V Festival
    in August 2009.

    Happy Mondays toured the US and Canada with The Psychedelic Furs in late 2009 with Paul Ryder's son and Shaun Ryder's nephew Jake Ryder filling in for Gaz Whelan on drums.[24]

    Happy Mondays appeared at the Wizard Festival in North-East Scotland in August 2010.[25]

    This version of the band continued until 2010. Members Mikey Shine, Jonn Dunn & Dan Broad continued to back Shaun Ryder for his solo tour until 2011, surrounding the release of his autobiography.

    Fourth incarnation

    On 29 January 2012, Shaun Ryder announced on radio station Xfm that the band would return with the original and definitive lineup of himself, his brother

    Majorca and Ibiza
    to play the Ibiza and Majorca Rocks events.

    The band announced in September 2012 that they were writing their first album with the original lineup in more than 20 years. [citation needed]

    The band played two nights at the

    Isle of Wight Festival and Scarborough, then in July 2013 they played at the Warrington Music Festival and at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey. They played dates in Belfast, Crewe and Dublin in August 2013. In October 2013 they travelled to Spain to do gigs in Barcelona and Madrid
    then in November 2013 they kicked off a 16 date UK tour to celebrate 25 years since their second critically acclaimed album Bummed was released, and the band plan to play most of the songs from that infamous album. The band signed to Creation Management in 2015. They have announced an international tour to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches.

    In September 2015, a special programme on

    Watch called Singing in the Rainforest followed the band as they travelled to Panama to record a new song with an isolated tribe called the Embera.[28] The band composed a track with members of the tribe for a performance, penning the track "Ooo La La to Panama". Although billed as the first original line-up recording since 1992, Paul Davis was not present, and no mention of him was made. Gaz Whelan confirmed via the Happy Mondays Twitter account (in answer to a question from a Twitter user named ormi_shinobi) that Davis had left the band.[29]

    The band toured New Zealand and Australia in February and March 2019, performing their 1990 album Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches.

    On 15 July 2022, the band announced via their Facebook page that Paul Ryder had died in the early hours of that morning. He was 58 years old.[30]

    Year Song title Album Label
    1988: "Wrote for Luck"
    Listenⓘ     		Bummed Factory Records
    1989: "Hallelujah"
    Listenⓘ
    Madchester Rave On EP
         		Factory Records
    1990: "God's Cop"
    Listenⓘ     		Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches Factory Records

    Awards and nominations

    Year Awards Work Category Result
    1989 NME Awards "
    WFL
    "     		Best Dance Record Won
    1990 Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches Best LP Won
    Themselves Best Band Won
    Smash Hits Poll Winners Party Nominated
    Best New Act[31] Nominated
    1991 Best Indie Group[32] Won
    Brit Awards Best British Newcomer Nominated
    Best British Group Nominated
    2013 Q Awards Bummed Q Classic Album Won
    2016 Ivor Novello Awards Themselves The Ivor's Inspiration Award Won

    Discography

    Main article: Happy Mondays discography

    Members

    Current

    • Shaun Ryder – lead vocals, guitar (1980–1993, 1999–2001, 2004–2010, 2012–present)
    • Gary Whelan – drums (1980–1993, 1999–2001, 2006–2008, 2012–present)
    • Mark "Bez" Berry – dancer, percussion (1980–1993, 1999–2001, 2004–2010, 2012–present)
    • Rowetta – vocals (1990–1993, 1999–2001, 2012–present)
    • Mark Day – guitar (1980–1993, 2004–2010, 2012–present)
    • Dan Broad – keyboards, samples, programming, musical director (2006–2010, 2016–present)

    Former

    • Paul Davis – keyboards, samples, programming (1980–1993, 2012–2015)
    • Kav Sandhu – guitar, keyboards (2004–2008)
    • Paul Ryder – bass, keyboards (1980–1993, 1999–2001, 2012–2022; his death)

    Timeline

    See also

    • List of number-one dance hits (United States)
    • List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart

    References

    1. ^
      ISBN 1-84195-017-3
      .
    2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
    3. ^ Robb, John (2009). The North Will Rise Again: Manchester Music City 1976-1996. London: Aurum Press. p. 261.
    4. ^ a b Toiler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 471. CN 5585.
    5. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 479. CN 5585.
    6. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 478. CN 5585.
    7. ISBN 978-0-205-93624-3
    8. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 481. CN 5585.
    9. ^ "In Pictures: A life on the run". BBC : London Calling. BBC. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    10. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 484. CN 5585.
    11. ^ Howe, Jon. "Are You Man U, You? - When The Happy Mondays Played Leeds' Elland Road". Sabotage Times. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
    12. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 486. CN 5585.
    13. ^ Steve Anglesey (4 May 2012). "Mad Mondays: 23 of the craziest tales about Shaun Ryder, Bez and Co" (News article). Mirror Lifestyle. Mirror Online. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    14. ^ Ben Cardew (25 September 2017). "25 Years On: Happy Mondays' Yes Please! Revisited".
    15. ^ Miranda Sawyer (25 February 2007). "It's great when you're straight" (News article). The Observer. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    16. ISBN 1-904994-10-5
      .
    17. ^ "Interview: Paul Ryder on Life with the Happy Mondays" (Interview). Live4ever. Live4ever Ezine. 11 May 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    18. ^ "24 Hour Party People". Surrender to the Void. thevoid99 2012. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    19. ^ Kitty Empire (10 June 2007). "Pop: Happy Mondays, Astoria, London WC2 | Music | The Observer". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
    20. ^ "Brother in Arms ..." Salford Star. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    21. ^ "Fuji Rock Festival No. 12: What happened?". Fuji Rock. Smash Corporation Ltd. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    22. ^ "Happy Mondays: Biography". The Guardian home. Guardian News and Media Limited. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    23. ^ J.P.Gorman (26 April 2007). "Happy Mondays' Bez Denied Visa For Coachella" (News article). Pop Blend. Cinema Blend LLC. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    24. ^ George.A.Paul (20 September 2009). "Psychedelic Furs sharp, Happy Mondays stiff at Mouse House". The Sound Check. 2012 Orange County Register Communications. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    25. ^ "Happy Mondays to cast spell at Wizard Festival". BBC Uk. BBC. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    26. ^ "Happy Mondays Reunite! - XFM". Archived from the original on 1 February 2013.
    27. ^ Gordon Barr (1 February 2012). "Interview: Shaun Ryder from Happy Mondays". Evening Chronicle. Media Limited. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
    28. ^ "Happy Mondays Confirm They'll Play 25th Anniversary 'Pills 'n' Thrills ...' Tour video". NME. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
    29. ^ "Happy Mondays on Twitter". Twitter.com.
    30. ^ Monroe, Jazz (15 July 2022). "Happy Mondays Bassist Paul Ryder Dies at 58". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
    31. ^ "Articles on Smash Hits". Michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com. Archived from the original on 24 August 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
    32. ^ "Articles on Smash Hits". Michaelmouse1967.wixsite.com. Retrieved 27 April 2020.

    General

    • Vinylnet Record Label Discographies. link. – Factory Catalogue Numbers.

    External links

    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Happy_Mondays&oldid=1219154102"