Happy Mondays

Happy Mondays are a band formed in Manchester, England in 1981. The band was fronted by Shaun Ryder, who formed the band with his brother Paul Ryder, who played bass, and their friend

Happy Mondays are a band formed in Manchester, England in 1981. The band was fronted by Shaun Ryder, who formed the band with his brother Paul Ryder, who played bass, and their friend Bez, who danced, played percussion and provided moral support (i.e. drugs, especially ecstasy), plus guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan. They have stated that the band name is a take on the title of New Order's timeless classic, "Blue Monday."

Manchester pop impresario Tony Wilson discovered the Mondays at a battle of the bands contest held at his Haçienda nightclub. The story goes that Wilson signed them to his label, Factory Records, even though they came in last. Their first album, Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out), debuted in 1987. A number of other albums followed, most of which were released in the United States on the Elektra Records label. By the late '80s, the Happy Mondays were an important part of the Madchester music scene and personified rave culture. Shaun Ryder fought against a serious drugs problem which typified the scene and the era.