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 and 2004) were unsuccessful. However since 2012 the band's original members have reunited again and continue to tour. Both lead singer Shaun Ryder and Bez (Mark Berry) were renowned for their drink & drug fueled antics, and Bez's sole purpose was to dance on stage at their live gigs. When the band 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: they subsequently recorded two Peel sessions (in 1986 and 1989). Peel narrated on the TV documentary Rock Family Trees: And God Created Manchester, the subject of which was the Madchester scene: the Mondays featured on the show. Their biggest chart successes featured in four Festive Fifty entries, and JP saw them live, commenting on their rather fearsome retinue. During the period of their greatest chart success, he was prone to playing some of their earliest recordings on BFBS, sardonically promoting them as a cheat for those who wished to pretend they had liked the band all the time. They disbanded for the first time in 1992 as a result of the failed LP Yes Please!, which is credited with bankrupting Factory Records. Shaun Ryder and Bez united with members of Ruthless Rap Assassins and Paris Angels to form Black Grape. The Mondays reformed in 1999 and went on tour supporting Oasis but split again the following year. 
==Festive Fifty Entries==
*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==
*thumb|330x330pxTwo sessions. Their 1986 session is available on the Happy Mondays - The Peel Sessions (1991, Strange Fruit) and their 1989 session is available on the Happy Mondays - The Peel Sessions (1990, Strange Fruit).
1. Recorded: 1986-04-01. First Broadcast: 09 April 1986. Repeated: 22 April 1986, 22 December 1986
*Kuff Dam / Freaky Dancin' / Olive Oil / Cob 20
2. Recorded: 1989-02-21. First Broadcast: 27 February 1989. Repeated: 27 March 1989, 24 July 1989, 27 December 1989
*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.)
thumb|330x330px|'Wrote For Luck', #48 in the 1988 Festive Fifty. The 'Vince Clarke Mix' version reached #04 in the 1989 Festive Fifty.
;1985
*09 December 1985 (BBC World Service): Delightful (12" - Forty Five EP) Factory
;1986
*25 February 1986: Delightful (single) Factory
*11 August 1986: Freaky Dancin' (12" - Freaky Dancin'/The Egg) Factory
;1987
*25 March 1987: Tart Tart (12") Factory
*08 April 1987: Tart Tart (12") Factory
*04 May 1987: Little Matchstick Owen [LP - Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)] Factory
*12 May 1987: 'Enery [LP - Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)] Factory
*15 May 1987 (Radio Bremen): Little Matchstick Owen (album - Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)) Factory
*02 June 1987: Russell [LP - Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)] Factory
*15 June 1987: 'Enery (LP-Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out))' (Factory)
*24 June 1987: Russell (LP - Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)) Factory
*22 September 1987: Moving In With (v/a 7" - Sonic Sounds 3) Sounds SONIC 3
*14 October 1987: 24 Hour Party People (12") Factory
*04 November 1987: 24 Hour Party People (12") Factory
;1988
*12 January 1988: Cob 20 (LP - Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)) Factory
*28 October 1988 (BFBS) (Peel 092 (BFBS)): 'Wrote For Luck (7")' (Factory)
*29 October 1988 (BFBS): Wrote For Luck (single) Factory
*31 October 1988: Wrote For Luck (single) Factory 
*08 November 1988: Wrote For Luck (7") Factory 
*14 November 1988: Wrote For Luck (7") Factory
*15 November 1988: Country Song (LP - Bummed) Factory
*22 November 1988: Moving In With (LP - Bummed) Factory
*28 November 1988: Fat Lady Wrestlers (LP - Bummed) Factory
*29 November 1988: Performance (LP - Bummed) Factory
*02 December 1988 (BFBS) (Peel 094 (BFBS)): Fat Lady Wrestlers (LP-Bummed)' (Factory)
*05 December 1988 (BBC World Service): Moving In With (LP - Bummed) Factory
*06 December 1988: Bring A Friend (LP - Bummed) Factory
*12 December 1988: Country Song (LP - Bummed) Factory
*16 December 1988 (BFBS) (Peel 095 (BFBS)): 'Performance (LP-Bummed)' (Factory)  (JP: 'These are the Happy Mondays: I saw them playing last night in London as well, and very good they were too. Of course, (there were) some very dangerous looking lads who hang around with them, and sort of tend to rather dominate the stage later in the evening: the band disappear and these people carry on without 'em. But disconcerting-looking boys, I must say.') (JP: 'Well worth catching live, if you ever get the chance.')
*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.' )
*23 December 1988 (BFBS) (Peel 095 (BFBS)): 'Bring A Friend (LP-Bummed)' (Factory)
*06 January 1989 (BFBS) (Peel 096 (BFBS)): Do It Better (album - Bummed) Factory
thumb|330x330px|'Kinky Afro', #32 in the 1990 Festive Fifty.
;1989
*11 May 1989: 'Lazyitis (7")' (Factory) (with Karl Denver)
*16 May 1989: Lazyitis (7") Factory FAC 222/7 (with Karl Denver)
*19 May 1989 (BFBS) (Peel 104 (BFBS)): 'Lazyitis (7")' (Factory) (with Karl Denver)
*Peel 096 (BFBS): 'Do It Better (LP-Bummed)' (Factory)
*Peel Summer 1989: Hallelujah (12" version)
*09 August 1989: W.F.L. (The Vince Clarke Mix) (12") Factory
*24 August 1989: W.F.L. (7") Factory
*31 August 1989: W.F.L. () Factory
*09 September 1989 (BFBS) (Peel 116 (BFBS): 'W.F.L. (The Vince Clarke Mix) (7")' (Factory)
*13 September 1989: W.F.L. 'Think About The Future' (The Paul Oakenfold Mix)  (12") Factory
*16 October 1989: W.F.L. 'Think About The Future' (The Paul Oakenfold Mix)  (12") Factory FAC 232
*07 November 1989: Clap Your Hands (12" EP - Madchester Rave On) Factory FAC 242
*08 November 1989: Hallelujah (12" - Madchester Rave On) Factory
*15 November 1989: Hallelujah (In Out Mix) (CD EP - Madchester - Rave On (Remixes)) Factory
*16 November 1989: Holy Ghost (12" EP - Madchester Rave On) Factory FAC 242
*20 November 1989: Clap Your Hands (12" - Madchester Rave On EP) Factory 
*21 November 1989 (Radio Bremen): Clap Your Hands (12" - Madchester Rave On) Factory 
*02 December 1989 (BFBS) (Peel 125 (BFBS)):  'Clap Your Hands (12"-Madchester Rave On E.P.)' (Factory) 
*09 December 1989 (BFBS) (Peel 126 (BFBS)): 'Holy Ghost (12"-Madchester Rave On E.P.)' (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) 
thumb|330x330px|'Step On', #08 in the 1990 Festive Fifty.
;1990
*02 January 1990: Hallelujah (Club Mix) (12") Factory
*08 January 1990: Rave On (Club Mix) (12" - Madchester Rave On (Remixes) Factory
*10 January 1990: Hallelujah (7") Factory
*13 January 1990 (BFBS): Hallelujah (Club Mix) (12") Factory
*14 February 1990: Little Matchstick Owen (LP - Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)) Factory
*24 February 1990 (BFBS): 'Cob 20 (LP-Squirrel And G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out))' (Factory) (JP: 'One of the great non-voices, really.')
*01 March 1990: Rave On (v/a 7" - The Fame And Fortune EP) Record Mirror 
*13 March 1990: Step On (One Louder Mix) (12") Factory
*15 March 1990: Step On (One Louder Mix) (12") Factory
*27 March 1990: Step On (7") Factory
*04 April 1990: Step On (Twisting My Melon Mix) (CD maxi single) Factory
*05 April 1990: Do It Better (7" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit 677022
*14 April 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 140 (BFBS)): Step On (One Louder Mix) (12") Factory
*21 April 1990 (BFBS): Mad Cyril
*02 May 1990: Step On (Twistin My Melon Mix) (12") Factory
*09 May 1990: Do It Better (7" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
*19 May 1990 (BFBS): Do It Better (7" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
*11 June 1990: Tart Tart (7" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
*04 August 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 153 (BFBS)): 'Delightful (12"-Forty Five EP)' (Factory)
*11 August 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 153 (BFBS)): 'The Egg (Mix) (12"-Freaky Dancin')' (Factory)
*15 August 1990: 'Delightful (12"-Forty Five EP)' (Factory)
*16 August 1990: 'Freaky Dancin' (Live) (12")' (Factory)
*27 September 1990: Kinky Afro (7") Factory
*29 September 1990: Kinky Afro (7") Factory
*06 October 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 159 (BFBS)): 'Kinky Afro (7")' (Factory) (JP: 'It'll be interesting to see if that shifts units, as they say in the record industry, in the quantities that their previous records have done.')
*21 October 1990: Tokoloshe Man (v/a 2xCD - Rubáiyát (Elektra's 40th Anniversary)) Elektra
*27 October 1990: 24 Hour Party People (12") Factory
*03 November 1990 (BFBS) (Peel 162 (BFBS)): 'Tokoloshe Man (2x Compilation CD-Rubáiyát (Elektra's 40th Anniversary))' (Elektra)
*10 November 1990: Tokoloshe Man [v/a LP - Rubáiyát (Elektra's 40th Anniversary)] Elektra
*HO John Peel 26 1990: Tokoloshe Man (v/a album - Rubáiyát (Elektra's 40th Anniversary)) Elektra 7559-60940-2
*14 December 1990 (BFBS): Mad Cyril
*23 December 1990: 'Kinky Afro (LP-Pills'N'Thrills And Bellyaches)' (Factory) FF #32
*30 December 1990: 'Step On (Stuff It In Mix) (12 Inch )' (Factory) FF #08
*Peel Festive Period 1990 Part 1: Kinky Afro (album - Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches) Factory 
;1991
*10 February 1991: Loose Fit (7") Factory
*16 February 1991: Loose Fit (7") Factory
*23 February 1991 (BFBS) (Peel 171 (BFBS)): Loose Fit (7") Factory
*24 March 1991: Loose Fit (The Grid Remix)
*06 July 1991: Tokoloshe Man (v/a album - Rubáiyát (Elektra's 40th Anniversary) Elektra
*06 October 1991: Freaky Dancin' (7" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit SFPS 084
*18 October 1991 (BFBS): Freaky Dancin' (7" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
;1996
*08 July 1996: Freaky Dancin' (John Peel's Classic Sessions)
*02 December 1996: Mad Cyril (John Peel's Classic Sessions)
;1997
*27 November 1997: Kinky Afro (7") Factory
;2004
*30 December 2004 (Rob Da Bank): 'Step On (CD-Pills 'N' Thrills And Bellyaches)' (Factory)
;Others
*29 October 2004 (Annie Nightingale): Freaky Dancin' (Peel Session) (12") Strange Fruit
*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
== See Also ==
*Gigography 1988 
==External Links==
*Wikipedia
*Discogs
*Official Website
Category:Artists