Happy Mondays

The Happy Mondays are a British indie band formed in Manchester in 1985, founded by brothers Shaun and Paul Ryder (vocals, bass), Bez ('vibes', or dancing and playing the maracas), Mark Day (guitars), Paul Davis (keyboards) and Gary Whelan (drums). They released their first album, Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out) on Factory in 1987. The band's music fused indie pop with acid house, techno and northern soul, spawning Britain's burgeoning, E-drenched Madchester scene. The Mondays disbanded in 1992, and Shaun Ryder and Bez formed Black Grape. Subsequent Mondays reunions, (in 1999, 2004 and 2012) have thus far proven to be unsuccessful. Legendary for their on/off stage antics, usually fueled by drink and/or drugs. Both lead singer Shaun Ryder and Bez (Mark Berry) were renowned for their drink & drug fueled antics. Bez being the legendary member whose sole purpose was to dance in his own inimitable style on stage at their live gigs. One story of interest was when they went to record in Barbados in the early 90's at the studio at Eddy Grant's house, which ended-up being on the album ''"...Yes Please!". ''Their managers thought it would be good to get them away from the drink/drugs scene they were surrounded by in the UK, not realizing the massive drugs problem Barbados had at the time, meaning band members were found trying to sell much of the studio equipment to continue their binge.

Links To Peel
Peel discovered the band through Factory record label in the mid 80's. The band have done two sessions for Peel's show in 1986 and 1989. Peel narrated on the TV documentary about the Madchester scene featuring the Happy Mondays on the programme Rock Family Trees: And God Created Manchester.

Festive Fifty

 * 1988 Festive Fifty: Wrote For Luck #48
 * 1989 Festive Fifty: WFL (Wrote For Luck) (Vince Clark Mix) #04
 * 1990 Festive Fifty: Kinky Afro #32
 * 1990 Festive Fifty: Step On #08

Sessions
1. Recorded: 1986-04-01. Broadcast: 09 April 1986. Repeated: 22 April 1986, 22 December 1986 2. Recorded: 1989-02-21. Broadcast: 27 February 1989. Repeated: Mostly Peel Spring 1989, 24 July 1989, 27 December 1989
 * Both sessions are found available on the Happy Mondays - The Peel Sessions (1991, Strange Fruit) and the Happy Mondays - The Peel Sessions (1990, Strange Fruit).
 * Kuff Dam / Freaky Dancin' / Olive Oil / Cob 20
 * Tart Tart / Mad Cyril / Do It Better

Other Shows Played
(The following list was compiled only from the database of this site and Lorcan's Tracklistings Archive and is certainly incomplete. Please add further details if known.)

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 2004 Others
 * 25 February 1986: Delightful (single) Factory
 * 15 June 1987: 'Enery (LP-Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out))' (Factory)
 * 31 October 1988: Wrote For Luck (single) Factory
 * Peel Late 1988: Wrote For Luck (7") Factory
 * 20 December 1988: 'Wrote For Luck (7 inch)' (Factory) FF #48 (JP: 'The NME thought pretty highly of their LP as well, as indeed I did, and I suspect some of you did as well. I forget exactly where it was in the chart, and it doesn't matter. I do wish I'd brought it down with me, it's most annoying,knowing that it's straight through the floor above me actually. If it was possible to whizz through the floor I could get it.' )
 * 27 December 1988 (BFBS): Bring A Friend (album - Bummed) Factory
 * 27 December 1988 (BFBS): Do It Better (album - Bummed) Factory
 * 09 August 1989: W.F.L. (The Vince Clarke Mix) (12") Factory
 * 31 August 1989: W.F.L. Factory
 * 13 September 1989: W.F.L. 'Think About The Future' (The Paul Oakenfold Mix)  (12") Factory
 * 15 November 1989: Hallelujah (In Out Mix) (CD EP - Madchester - Rave On (Remixes)) Factory
 * 20 November 1989: Clap Your Hands (12" - Madchester Rave On EP) Factory
 * 18 December 1989: Hallelujah (Club Mix) (12" - Madchester Rave On (Remixes)) Factory
 * 28 December 1989: 'W.F.L.-Vince Clarke Mix (7 inch)' (Factory) FF #04
 * Peel Festive Period 1989-1990: W.F.L.-Vince Clarke Mix (7 inch) (Factory)
 * 08 January 1990: Rave On (Club Mix) (12" - Madchester Rave On (Remixes) Factory
 * 15 March 1990: Step On (One Louder Mix) (12") Factory
 * 04 April 1990: Step On (Twisting My Melon Mix) (CD maxi single) Factory
 * 09 May 1990: Do It Better (7" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
 * 11 June 1990: Tart Tart (7" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
 * 15 August 1990: 'Delightful (12"-Forty Five EP)' (Factory)
 * 16 August 1990: 'Freaky Dancin' (Live) (12")' (Factory)
 * Peel Festive Period 1990 Part 1: Kinky Afro (album - Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches) Factory
 * 10 February 1991: Loose Fit (7") Factory
 * 16 February 1991: Loose Fit (7") Factory
 * 24 March 1991: Loose Fit (The Grid Remix)
 * 30 December 2004 (Rob Da Bank): 'Step On (CD-Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches)' (Factory)
 * Rock Family Trees: And God Created Manchester
 * John Peel: In Session Tonight: Kinky Afro
 * Peel Snubbed 1990: Do It Better
 * Peel Snubbed 1990: Hallelujah
 * Peel Snubbed 1990: Step On