See all 8 photos

Play Happy Mondays Radio

Happy Mondays

On Tour

1,258,823 plays
125,970 listeners
In your library (0 plays)

Add to my Library Share

Salford, Greater Manchester, UK (1985 – 1992, 1999 – 2000, 2004 – present)

Happy Mondays are an alternative rock band formed in Salford, Greater Manchester, UK in 1985. The band is fronted by Shaun Ryder, who formed the band with his brother Paul Ryder, who played bass. The rest of the band consists of their friend Bez, who danced and played percussion, plus guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan. The band’s name is the phrase used by the unemployed in Manchester to refer to Mondays, the day of the week when welfare checks were handed out.

First incarnation
Manchester pop impresario Tony Wilson discovered the Mondays at a battle of the bands contest held at his Hacienda 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 1980s, the Happy Mondays were an important part of the madchester music scene and personified rave culture. Shaun Ryder fought against a serious drug problem which typified the scene and the era.

Musically, the band fused indie pop guitars with a rhythmic style that owed much to house music, techno and northern soul. Much of their music was remixed by popular DJs, emphasizing the dance influences even further. In terms of style and dress, they crossed hippy fashion and ideals with 1970s glamour. Sartorially and musically, the band helped to encourage the psychedelic revival associated with acid house.

Tagged as:

madchester, indie, alternative, new wave, rock
See more…

1	Step On	691
2	Kinky Afro	607
3	Donovan	394
3	Loose Fit	394
5	24 Hour Party People	343
6	Bob's Yer Uncle	260
7	God's Cop	206
8	Hallelujah	172
9	Dennis and Lois	165
10	Grandbag's Funeral	148
11	Holiday	145
12	Harmony	134
13	Hallelujah (club mix)	124
14	Mad Cyril	122
15	Wrote for Luck	116

Shoutbox

Leave a comment. Log in to Last.fm or sign up (it’s free).

Chadderbomb wrote:
Wednesday afternoon

In response to the quote "nothing bad comes out of manchester" there is a difference between Salford and Manchester. Many Good things come from Salford except for one shite football club!

View Profile | Leave Chadderbomb a shout
IndiePuesta wrote:
last week

sad monkeys is a tribute band or something?

View Profile | Leave IndiePuesta a shout
Shih-Tzu wrote:
20 days ago

Hi there! Visit the Sad Monkeys place at... http://www.lastfm.se/music/Sad+Monkeys You might like it. Have a nice day!

View Profile | Leave Shih-Tzu a shout
raimorrison wrote:
last month

Bob's Yer Uncle is one of the best songs ever written.

View Profile | Leave raimorrison a shout
withgod wrote:
last month

http://www.lastfm.com.tr/group/music+born+was+Manchester

View Profile | Leave withgod a shout
mmlodz wrote:
last month

photo from lodz http://www.mmlodz.pl/2077/2008/10/4/vena-music-festival--dzien-drugi-foto?category=pics

View Profile | Leave mmlodz a shout
[deleted-user] wrote:
last month

good band
tyang wrote:
September 2008

I take it Red Devils included!!! How beautiful was Wayne Rooney's finish against Bolton!!!

View Profile | Leave tyang a shout
tor4nado1 wrote:
September 2008

nothing bad comes out of manchesta!!!!

View Profile | Leave tor4nado1 a shout
rock666 wrote:
September 2008

Hey, You might like to join the last.fm group for the new station being formed by the presenters from The Revolution : http://www.last.fm/group/Radio+Republic

View Profile | Leave rock666 a shout
just_1988 wrote:
September 2008

how can a band with so little talent be so fucking good? you've gotta love 'em

View Profile | Leave just_1988 a shout
Ticklefish wrote:
September 2008

You've got to love Happy Mondays!

View Profile | Leave Ticklefish a shout
bliss7 wrote:
September 2008

come to Turkey!!!!!!!!!!

View Profile | Leave bliss7 a shout
storvikarn wrote:
August 2008

For Those Who Probably Will Die While Listening To Music

View Profile | Leave storvikarn a shout
Timbo93 wrote:
August 2008

http://www.last.fm/music/Weekend+Revolutionaries/Trouble+in+Paradise

View Profile | Leave Timbo93 a shout
joshlanjaron wrote:
August 2008

Their new album Unkle Dysfunktional is bloody good.

View Profile | Leave joshlanjaron a shout
shecanfilmit wrote:
August 2008

I never get sick of the Happy Mondays and their awesome bass player.

View Profile | Leave shecanfilmit a shout
storvikarn wrote:
August 2008

Are you a working class hero? Join Working Class Heroes! (note that this group do not support any kind of government)

View Profile | Leave storvikarn a shout
storvikarn wrote:
August 2008

Join the group:Rave on Manchester

View Profile | Leave storvikarn a shout
SrtaPelo wrote:
July 2008

Wow. I like this.

View Profile | Leave SrtaPelo a shout

12…8 Next

Events

Dec 13 Fac 51 Haçienda Tour The Print Factory, Glasgow, United Kingdom
1 shout | 5 attendees

Add event See more

Listeners

Empty_dream
Listening now
to Step On
axyiasak
Top Listener
upperstreet
Top Listener
munieca
Top Listener
dekkutree
Top Listener
ChoKito
Top Listener

Recent Activity

thebett420, u2fan71, Dylog and 2 other people added Happy Mondays to their libraries. 21 minutes ago
apocalypse_chu tagged Happy Mondays with ‘madchester’. 3 hours ago
LaMicina, Rotxasoc, catherinoch and 7 other people added Happy Mondays to their libraries. 4 hours ago
Hackpastete tagged Happy Mondays with ‘madchester’. Saturday morning
yorkiered added Happy Mondays to yorkiered’s library. yesterday evening
kleshikuh connected Happy Mondays to the group Soy del Montón. yesterday evening
pupupunky, ikincikatarakt, ciakkariello and 52 other people added Happy Mondays to their libraries. yesterday evening
chiiili created the Portuguese wiki page for 24 Hour Party People. September 2008
chiiili created the Portuguese wiki page for 24 Hour Party People. September 2008
kenenre tagged Happy Mondays with ‘madchester’. August 2008