Happy Mondays: Last News

Happy Mondays have announced they have parted ways with vocalist and percussionist Rowetta after 34 years.Taking to social media today (December 23), both the singer and Happy Mondays shared a statement sharing the departure of Rowetta from the group. “Happy Mondays and Rowetta announce that Rowetta will no longer be performing with the band,” it read.It continued: “Happy Mondays thank Rowetta for her services and wish her the best for the future.” The vocalist joined the band back in 1990 and was featured on the band’s single ‘Step On’ which peaked at Number Five on the charts.

Happy Mondays and Black Grape, has died aged 60.Tributes have been paid from a number of Wagstaff’s friends and colleagues, including Bez, who posted a retro image of Black Grape on his Facebook page on Saturday (March 22), adding: “Mr Paul Wagstaff (Wags), remembering the good times. RIP my friend.”Wagstaff was part of the band Paris Angels, who emerged during the Madchester period in the late 1980s. Closely associated with the burgeoning acid house scene and the legendary Hacienda nightclub, their funky indie dance music was exemplified by singles such as ‘Perfume’ and ‘Scope’.When Shaun Ryder and Bez formed Black Grape in 1993 after the dissolution of Happy Mondays, they recruited Wagstaff on guitar.

The Inbetweeners stars James Buckley and Joe Thomas played Oasis‘ Liam and Noel Gallagher in a parody reunion film for Comic Relief. Check it out below.It came after heavy hints earlier in the month pointed to Comic Relief planning something Oasis-related, before it was revealed that Buckley and Thomas would reunite on-screen for the charity show.The sketch, titled ‘Oasis: The Reunion: The Movie’ aired on BBC One last night (March 21) and saw the actors, who formerly played Simon and Jay in The Inbetweeners take on the role of the Gallagher brothers.It began by tracing their notorious breakup in 2009 to their reunion, announced last year, which – according to the film – came after Noel’s “credit card maxed out” and Liam’s accountant (played by money-saving expert Martin Lewis) informed the singer that he was “skint”, resulting in the brothers both being told to call each other in order to get “big money”.Once they reconcile, they begin arguing over the setlist and getting the band back together by calling “everyone in Manchester”, including Happy Mondays‘ Bez and a handful of Coronation Street stars.They then went on to poke fun at the band’s ticket fiasco, with Piers Morgan as “the ticket master” parodying the band’s dynamic pricing controversy that made headlines last year when tickets went on sale.The sketch also showed a fan stuck in an extensive ticket queue until they turned into a skeleton before reaching the checkout page.Other celebrity cameos, included Hugh Dennis, Micky Flanagan, Vernon Kay, Mark Silcox, Tasha Ghouri, Melvin Odoom, Tommy Fury and Roisin Conaty.

Doechii, Barry Can’t Swim, Ezra Collective, Jorja Smith, The Last Dinner Party and more have been announced as performers for Bristol’s FORWARDS festival 2025.The two-day event is due to take place at Clifton Downs in Bristol on Saturday August 23 and Sunday August 24.Now, the first wave of acts and headliners have been announced, with Barry Can’t Swim, Ezra Collective, Confidence Man, Orbital, Mount Kimbie, English Teacher, Happy Mondays, Katy J Pearson, Ishmael Ensemble and the Rituals Orchestra and Mermaid Chunky all set to take to the stage on the first day.The following day will see performances from Doechii, Jorja Smith, The Last Dinner Party, Olivia Dean, Fabio & Grooverider Orchestra and the Outlook Orchestra, Moonchild Sannelly, The Silhouettes Project, Almeda and Snapped Ankles.Described in a press release as a “future-thinking festival”, FORWARDS also features “major social initiatives” and “timely debate” alongside music acts from across the world.Pre-sale will begin at 10am GMT on Wednesday (March 5), followed by general sale on Thursday (March 6) at 10am. You can find all ticket details here.Tom Paine, Co-founder of Team Love said: “FORWARDS is back for its fourth year, and we couldn’t be prouder.

Shaun Ryder has denied allegations of “punching” and “knocking out” from his former Happy Mondays bandmate Rowetta.Back in December the band announced that they had parted ways with the vocalist and percussionist after 34 years.Rowetta joined the band back in 1990 and was featured on the band’s single ‘Step On’, which peaked at Number Five on the charts. She went on to appear on their third and fourth studio albums, ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ and ‘Yes Please!’, and joined the band for three world tours.At the time of her departure, things seemed amicable, with the band sharing a statement that said: “Happy Mondays thank Rowetta for her services and wish her the best for the future.”Now though, Rowetta has accused Ryder of punching her during an incident that allegedly occurred while Happy Mondays were performing at Dublin’s Witness Festival in 2000.On Wednesday (February 26), she took to Twitter/X to share a screenshot of an NME report published at the time that detailed an alleged fight that had broken out between the two at the festival.Witnness Festival 2000I am not a liar.I also have correspondence detailing everything between myself & the band management during the tour where I was on a 16 bed bus with mainly men I hardly knew.Neetsy & her boyfriend , Bez & his dogs & Shaun + 1 were in lovely hotels.

Bez has teased plans for a new Happy Mondays album – their first since 2007’s ‘Uncle Dysfunktional’.Last November, NME spoke to Shaun Ryder and his maraca shaking sidekick about the band’s plans to get “back at it” with music in 2025.Asked at the time how 2024 had been for the Mondays, Ryder replied: “Quiet, because we kind of knocked it on the head in 2024. We went out doing Black Grape and Mantra Of The Cosmos, so in 2025 we’ll be back at it.”Bez added: “We’re getting the band back together again…again!”Now, Bez has said the band are working on a new album after being persuaded to get back into the studio by their manager Alan McGee.A post shared by NME (@nmemagazine)He told The Sun: “There’s talk of a new album to come, which I’m really fucking looking forward to. It’s going to be visionary.

Black Grape have announced details of a new UK tour, celebrating 30 years of ‘It’s Great When You’re Straight, Yeah’.The record was shared by the duo – comprised of Shaun Ryder and Paul Leveridge (aka Kermit) – back in 1995 as their debut album. It soon went on to top the charts in the UK and eventually gathered a Platinum certification.Now, marking three decades since the album was first shared, the band have confirmed that they will be hitting the road for a UK tour.Taking place across November and December, 11 shows have been announced, kicking off in Glasgow with an opening night at the QMU venue on November 28.

Shaun Ryder has responded to rumours that Zak Starkey is rejoining Oasis, after the drummer suffered a blood clot in his leg earlier this week.Ryder performs with Starkey (The Who) in the supergroup Mantra Of The Cosmos along with Bez and guitarist Andy Bell (Oasis, Ride). The band recently collaborated with Noel Gallagher on a new single, ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’.On Tuesday (January 21), Mantra were forced to cancel a secret gig in London due to Starkey suffering a blood clot in his right leg.Ryder has since spoken to the Daily Star‘s ‘Wired’ column about Starkey’s condition, and addressed reports about his possible Oasis return.

Mantra Of The Cosmos have been forced to cancel a secret gig in Soho after drummer Zak Starkey was revealed to be suffering from a serious leg condition.The supergroup – consisting of Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays, Black Grape), drummer Zak Starkey (The Who, Oasis), guitarist Andy Bell (Oasis, Ride) and Bez (Happy Mondays, Black Grape) – were due to perform at the Karma Sanctum Soho on Tuesday night (January 21), but had to cancel at the last minute.Per a press release, Starkey is suffering from a blood clot in his right leg, and has been ordered by a doctor to take blood thinners for the condition and to rest for two weeks. The diagnosis forced the cancellation of their performance, though the Soho party still proceeded with several A-listers in attendance.The cancelled gig came just days after Mantra Of The Cosmos performed a pair of shows in Liverpool on January 19 after releasing the psychedelic single ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’ with Noel Gallagher.

Noel Gallagher has joined Mantra Of The Cosmos for a collaborative new single called ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’.The supergroup – featuring Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays, Black Grape), drummer Zak Starkey (The Who, Oasis), guitarist Andy Bell (Oasis, Ride) and Bez (Happy Mondays, Black Grape) – will release the song exclusively at the legendary Cavern Club in Liverpool.You can also purchase it via the venue’s official website – visit here to do so. The project is available on either red or blue vinyl.Ryder and co.

Tributes have poured in for legendary Ibiza DJ Alfredo Fiorito amid reports that he has died, aged 71.

Shaun Ryder biopic Twisting My Melon – in which he was due to star as the Happy Mondays frontman – has been halted due to creative disputes.Speaking to NME, the SAS Rogue Heroes actor revealed that he had laid down vocals for the Mondays’ Madchester anthems in preparation. “We even started recording some of the tunes like ‘Step On’ in the studio, so the train had left the station.

A legend in the jungle – with viewers, at least – I’m A Celebrity South Africa’s Gillian McKeith, 65, was known for being one of the show’s most divisive, drama-prone celebs. During series in 2023, we saw her rub her fellow stars up the wrong way with her sneaky stash of contraband – and who could forget her infamous ‘fainting’ episode back in 2010? Whatever your views on Jungle Gill, her quirky habits made for great telly. Her awkward reunion with former nemesis Shaun Ryder, 60, was hilarious to watch, with the Happy Mondays singer telling his fellow campmates, “Last time I wanted to kill her.” Here, in our exclusive interview, which took place after she’d secretly filmed the ITV1 show in 2023, the nutritionist told us her debilitating spider phobia showed no signs of going away and opened up on her salary… Hi, Gillian.

Happy Mondays have spoken to NME about the scrapped Shaun Ryder biopic and plans to get “back at it” with music in 2025. Watch our interview below.Before their “hysterical” appearance with Rita Ora during the ceremony went viral, Ryder and Bez from the indie icons caught up with NME on the red carpet of the MTV EMAs on Sunday (November 10) – held at the Co-Op Live arena in the band’s native Manchester.Asked about how 2024 had been for the Mondays, Ryder replied: “Quiet, because we kind of knocked it on the head in 2024.

Blossoms have spoken to NME to reveal their favourite famous figures named Gary, and talked about their upcoming shows with Inhaler. Watch our interview below.The band caught up with NME on the red carpet of the MTV EMAs on Sunday (November 10), with the ceremony held in Manchester near their native Stockport.Asked what they loved most about Manchester, drummer Joe Donovan replied: “The best thing for me personally is the people.

Shaun Ryder and Bez’s cameo during the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards, with some describing it as one of the highlights of the night.The 30th anniversary of the ceremony was held at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester last night (November 10) and hosted by Rita Ora for a record-breaking third time.While it featured live performances from Benson Boone, RAYE, Shawn Mendes, Teddy Swims, The Warning, LE SSERAFIM, Peso Pluma, Tyla, Busta Rhymes and Pet Shop Boys, it was an appearance from the Happy Monday stars that got fans talking on social media.During one segment, Ora went to speak to both Ryder and Bez, who were in the audience, and introduce them to viewers as “Manchester royalty”. Soon afterwards, Bez went on to take hold of the microphone and address the crowd.“Rita, let me tell you how lovely you are.

James have announced a huge summer 2025 UK tour – check out details below.The Manchester rock band will be kicking off a run of summer dates across the UK next year, with the tour featuring support from indie heavyweights Razorlight, Happy Mondays Shed Seven and more across various shows.The run begins with a slot at Cheltenham’s Wychwood Festival on May 3, followed by stops in Halifax, London, Plymouth, Lincoln, Thetford Forest, Croyde Bay and their previously announced slot at the Isle Of Wight Festival.From there, the tour will continue throughout June and July before concluding with a slot at the Colchester Castle Summer Series on August 22.Tickets for the 2025 UK tour go live next Friday (November 15) at 10 am. Fans who pre-order their new live album and BluRay ‘JAMES, Live at the Acropolis’ in any format by 12 pm on Tuesday, November 12 will gain exclusive early access to tickets for select dates of the 2025 live shows.Visit here to purchase yours and find a full list of upcoming shows below.We are excited to announce 2025 outdoor shows.

Blitz Vega‘s Kav Sandu has told NME about their new album made with the late The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, and how he made an emotional promise to continue the band after his friend’s death from cancer.Rourke suffered from pancreatic cancer for five years before his death in 2023. When he became too ill to continue recording, he urged Sandhu to continue Blitz Vega, and to ensure the duo’s album ‘Northern Gentlemen’ would get released.“When Andy made me aware he wasn’t going to get through his cancer, he wanted me to promise him two things: to make sure the album would come out, and to take Blitz Vega on the road,” Sandhu told NME.

Happy Mondays star Bez appeared to land himself in hot water on a previous episode of Bargain Hunt for what he insists was simply "an honest error," and not a deliberate attempt to cheat. Caught up in an auction mix-up, his girlfriend - who is now his wife after tying the knot in 2022 - Firouzeh Razavi ended up bidding for items that belonged to Bez's red team.The confusion arose when Bez shared interest in a 100-piece tea set unrelated to the show.The Gogglebox star recalled the incident from 2018, explaining: "I said, 'I want this, this is ours'.

It's been 25 years since the city lost a nightspot that's now legendary for its incredible contribution to Manchester's status as a music mecca. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, countless Manchester bands learned their craft on stage at The Boardwalk before finding stardom.

Happy Mondays legend Shaun Ryder says he doesn't expect to live much longer after he planned his funeral with bandmate Bez as part of a new Channel 4 series. The Salford-born star, who also fronts Black Grape and is a regular of Celebrity Gogglebox, has struggled with a number of health issues in recent years, and lost his brother Paul in 2022 - aged 58.