Re-formed Happy Mondays to perform at Manchester Arena

May 3 2012 Flintshire Chronicle

HOT on the heels of The Stone Roses, another band that dominated the Madchester scene in the early 90s has re-formed.

The Happy Mondays announced they will be embarking on a month-long UK tour this month, including a massive homecoming show at Manchester Arena on Saturday.

The original line-up, consisting of Bez, Gary Whelan, Mark Day, Paul Davies, Paul Ryder, Rowetta and Shaun Ryder, will be performing together for the first time in more than 19 years – and this year marks 25 years since the release of their debut album, Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out).

Lead vocalist Shaun Ryder, who has enjoyed renewed fame in recent years, thanks to his TV jungle stint on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, said he and ‘the lads’ were looking forward to getting back together.

“Some of the lads haven’t seen each other in more than 10 or 15 years,” he said.

“It’s as if we’ve never been apart and it’s so good to all be in the same room again. We can’t wait now to get on tour and play the songs that made us famous.”

The Happy Mondays were discovered by Manchester music mogul Tony Wilson in the Hacienda and have become synonymous with the ‘Madchester’ alternative rock scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Fans can expect to hear classic tunes on the tour, including Step On, Kinky Afro, Hallelujah, 24 Hour Party People and many more.

Happy Mondays will be joined by special guests Inspiral Carpets. To buy tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk.