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Biography
Discovered at, where else but Manchester’s Mecca of Mess, The Hacienda, the band were picked from the line-up of a battle of the bands and taken under their wing by Tony Wilson. Fronted by Shaun Ryder and his sidekick Bez, the band released their debut album in 1987 on the legendary Factory Records, including on it the anthem ’24 hour party people’, a track that’s title went on to inspire a film of the same name that recounted the Factor Records glory days and all the chaos that came with it.
The torch-bearers of Manchester’s drug induced ‘Baggy’ Sound, the band rounded out the decade with two more albums, ‘Bummed’ and ‘Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches’ which was a platinum success for the band. With the group now being the walking embodiment of Rave culture, they were seen as a popular commodity worldwide and began touring extensively.
All this cultural opulence came to a destructive peak with the disastrous recording sessions for 1992’s ‘Yes Please’. In short they went to Barbados, took too many drugs, recorded an album with no vocals and bankrupted Factory records in the process.
It was the perfect ending for a band whose career up till that point had been defined by chaos but as the band split up, it left behind an enduring legacy. A key influence on other important Manchester acts like the Stone Roses, the band have also become the headline act of one of the most exciting times in British music. I guess maybe Tony Wilson was right when he said that “Shaun Ryder is on a par with W.B. Yeats as a poet”.
Live reviews
One might assume that the Happy Mondays make a better story than a band, and at points in their storied history they definitely have. Take for example, how the unbelievable tales surrounding their ill-fated recording sessions in Jamaica (including Shaun Ryder holding the master tapes of his own album to ransom while demanding that Factory Records buy them off him before listening to them) only lead to the release of the critical and commercial disaster “Yes Please!” before the band split up for the second time the following year. However, time and hefty tax bills heal all wounds, and while the musical fashion of nostalgic reunion tours may be waning it does still mean that acts that are getting back together are better bands than they were in their heyday. While their legend may follow them around just as much if not more than their classic albums on stage, the band can still slay any audience they’re put in front of with their loose limbed indie-funk.
Even without band mascot Bez hurling himself around the stage with his ever-present maracas for many of the songs (arthritis curtails even the freakiest of dancin’), the Mondays have got to the point where they can turn any venue they play into a heaving club during the height of the Madchester era. At this point they are a true outlier in British music, as few acts are playing that style of music and fewer still playing it at the level the Mondays are at, so every time one has the opportunity to see them you can also bet that they’ll be playing to a crowd that truly believes in the band. It’s rare to witness an audience that’s willing to give themselves to any band, for some it’ll be to relive their glory days, for others, it’ll be to experience them for the first time if they weren’t around at its peak. It takes a special band to create that effect on people, and the Mondays do that every time they play. So put aside your preconceptions and witness the original Party People do what they do best as soon as possible.
william-howard-2
During their heyday Manchester rockers the Happy Mondays were equally known for their controversy as their music. They have disbanded and reformed four times yet since 2012 they have been noted to be performing stronger than ever as friendships seem to have been well and truly incarnated and the rapport onstage is visibly improved. They tend to play a 'greatest hits' of such with majority of material lifted from 'Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches' yet there is still opportunity to showcase newer songs too.
You still get the aggressive frontman mannerisms of Shaun Ryder and the bizarre dancing/percussion of Mark "Bez" Berry but without all the substances means the band manage to finish sets now compared to years past. This is good news for the fans as they have some real brit pop gems including 'Step On' and 'Loose Fit'. These sound great with piercing percussion and thumping drums which has the crowds dancing and jumping beneath the stage to these nostalgic vibes. Happy Mondays did not achieve the same impact as the likes of Blur or Oasis, yet they still attain some kind of importance and the live show is a good demonstration of this.
sean-ward
A fantastic Happy Mondays gig - whilst it may be 20+ years since their peak, they still know how to rock a room and were on form in Leicester.
Good to see Bez up on stage, although he only has the energy for a song or two at a time these days.
Great to see them play all the classics, so all in all a great gig!
RichardOsborn
Enjoyed the night at the Happy Monday's gig but sound quality was a bit off till about halfway through the gig. I must admit I liked Black Grape at the Beach Ballroom more, sorry.
I attended The Cult on Monday night and it was fantastic, there was no issue with the sound that night.
mdy
Fantastic gig, what a Sunday to hear the Mondays ! Had my melon twisted, it was wrote for luck, hallelujah !! The band was bang on point and the crowed lapped up the 25th year anniversary in style, I hope they return soon and bring the madchester back to South Wales. Diolch yn Fawr.
BONES41
They were great - realitevly short and sweet (played all of Pill, thrills n bellyaches) but that’s all you want. Shaun Ryder is a genius front man - stands, delivers, makes smart arse remarks and hardly moves (well he does have Bez to do the moving for him)
andrew.a.a.harrison
What a great gig, from Shaun Ryder's opening line: 'you look like a bunch of toffs' (the gig was part of a racing festival) through to a compelling and chaotic Step On, this gig was fun from first moment to last. Great idea playing here.
Nicell
Loved the whole evening.
All the acts that performed were great. The drink prices once in were ok for a gig.
Happy Monday were great. Good to see Bez hasn't learnt anymore dance moves in 20+ years.
iain-mack
The Kings of Shiiine On weekender leave another crowd in awe. Their status as one of the greatest bands ever is assured. 30 year party people. No days off for these icons.
Shiiine_On
