‘MY SORT OF SINGING WAS SHOUTY SORT OF SINGING'
Happy Mondays
Henry Northmore talks to Shaun Ryder as the kings of Madchester, the HAPPY MONDAYS, return to headline Get Loaded.
he baggy era. the halcyon days of Madchester.
never really seemed to fade completely. Of
course times have changed but audiences are still as rabid for every utterance from Ian Brown as they were during the reign of the Stone Roses: the lnspiral (‘arpets and the l.a‘s have been back on the festival circuit and Primal Scream are (almost) the same force to be reckoned with. Perhaps one band epitomised the time more than any other. They lived the life. they popped the pills. they smoked the joints. they were the Happy Mondays. And they're back again. headlining (iet Loaded alongside contemporaries the l‘arm. There's also a smattering of other live acts. a ska arena (headed by the Specials’ Neville Staple and the Selecter). a dance marquee (with names like Sander Klienberg. Danny Rampling and James Zabiela) and a Northern soul arena (featuring the likes of (‘olin Curtis and Keb Darge).
But the irresistible draw of the swirling psychedelic party that is the Happy Mondays will be the main attraction. Their offstage antics (and in particular Shaun Ryder and mascot Be/‘s seemineg insatiable appetite for drugs) may have overshadowed the music but sonically they were a unique prospect. Breakthrough album. Pills. Thrills and Bel/vur'lies.
mixed by Paul ()akenfold. merged the foetal stages of
dance culture with a Northern swagger. rare groove. street poetry and rock attitudes. No one can forget the cracked majesty of ‘Step ()n' or ‘Kinky Afro‘. Tracking down frontman Ryder proves to be an experience in itself. He finally answers the phone with a note perfect Bel. impression. that cheeky bad boy
charm in full effect. While he does have a tendency to ramble. mumble and repeat himself. his standing as ramshackle street poet is undiminished. 'When I first started singing. I was like “singing. fookin’ singing that’s alright for Lennon. but it‘s a bit fookin‘ poncey that." So my sort of singing was sort of shouty singing.‘ he explains of his unique vocal delivery.
‘The Madchester era was like the scene in Ibiza at the time. What we were doing was adding rock to dance music. the full-on Ii thing took over. but in the first place it was just about mixing different types of music and dancing.’ Though he's no longer trading on past glories. straight after Happy Mondays he went on to form Blake Grape and now he's reinvigorated his cultural cache with his guest spot on current Gorillaz chart smash. ‘Dare'. his spiky delivery adding a thick shot of gritty reality to their cartoon hip hop. ‘1 met Damon when he first hit the charts with Blur. He was a good lad who wrote good tunes. He‘s like a modern day Ray Davis.~
That's not all. There's new material on the way. something most of us never expected due to the turbulent band relations (verbal punch ups and some good old-fashioned violence). ‘Band relations are really good. because it‘s me. Gill, [Whelanl and Bez. We haven't got Wags with its on the road but when we‘re recording and writing on tracks Wags will be brought in because to me he's a brilliant guitarist.‘ He's a British icon who may well be rough round the edges. but he‘s a true embodiment of rock’n‘ roll.
Get Loaded, Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Sat 27 Aug.
22?: Access Massive Festival party of underground vibes and techno from Agoria (pictured, putting in his first show of the fortnight), Creme de Menthe (live) and the Psychonauts. The Honeycomb, Edinburgh, Fri 26 Aug.
:‘i': Pure The 15th birthday and a one-off special from the most important techno night Scotland has ever produced. David Holmes, Eddie Richards and E99 Bam Yasi guest. The Venue, Edinburgh, Sat 26 Aug.
.7 Get Loaded Massive celebration of baggy culture starring Happy Mondays and the Farm, and with a dance marquee and ska and northern soul arenas. Braehead Arena, Glasgow, Sat 27 Aug.
q Brixton Burn Paul N'jie takes on London crew the Surgery for what promises to be a hot, sweaty den of bashment, ragga, grime and UK garage. The Arches, Glasgow, Sun 28 Aug.
" Concept Theory Back with a bang after a summer break, the boys welcome none other than Agoria. Renfrew Ferry, Glasgow, Fri 2 Sep.
Sugarbeat The Glimmers join the Utah Saints' anything goes party. Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, Fri 2 Sep.
:2 Unity Reggae and Indie Schmlndle Reggae and indie together like they should be as the Last Project. Exitpilot, Figure 5. Draw, Craig McGee. Gus. Scott Smith, Neil, Kabi and Mr Massive all join forces. The Soundhaus, Glasgow, Fri 2 Sep. :4. Do This Do That Groove Armada set up their full-on Sound System of musicians, M03 and decks. End the Festival in style. The Honeycomb, Edinburgh, Sat 3 Sep.
25 Aug-8 Sep 2005 ml: LIST 11