Happy Mondays

Manchester (UK) band Happy Mondays took their name from a New Order song but came last in a 'Battle of the Bands' contest at New Order's Haçienda Club.

The band released their debut album in May 1987. The album, Squirrel & G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out), was produced by John Cale and proved very popular with rock journalists who were paid by the word! Otherwise it was widely ignored. 

In 1988, their second album of drug-fuelled dance music Bummed was released - once again to rave reviews.

By 1989, Manchester (or 'Madchester' as it was dubbed) had declared itself the independent Republic of Rave. The city was aswarm with kids in 24-inch flares and lilac garb, while record shops pumped out low-slung, baggy dance crossover grooves. The Stone Roses released She Bangs The Drum and Shaun Ryder and Happy Mondays had become the talisman of a 'movement'.

Bez's father was a Detective Inspector. Shaun Ryder once described him as "a nasty fuckin' high-ranking CID officer. A real nasty bastard". After being thrown out of the house by his dad, Bez spent two years living in a shed.