Book description
Shaun Ryder has lived a life of glorious highs and desolate lows. As
lead singer of the Happy Mondays, he turned Manchester into
Madchester, combining all the excesses of a true rock'n'roll star with
music and lyrics that led impresario Tony Wilson to describe him as
'the greatest poet since Yeats'. The young scally who left school at
fifteen without ever learning his alphabet had come a very long way
indeed. Huge chart success and a Glastonbury headline slot followed,
plus numerous arrests and world tours - then Shaun's drug addiction
reached its height, Factory Records was brought to its knees and the
Mondays split.
But was this the end for Shaun Ryder? Not by a long shot. Two years
later he was back with new band Black Grape, and their groundbreaking
debut album topped the charts in possibly the greatest comeback of all
time. Even his continuing struggle with drugs did not stem the tide of
critically acclaimed tracks and collaborations as he went on to prove
his musical genius time and again. And then there was the jungle...
Rock'n'roll legend, reality TV star, drug-dealer, poet, film star,
heroin addict, son, brother, father, husband, foul-mouthed
anthropologist and straight-talking survivor, Shaun Ryder has been a
cultural icon and a 24-hour party person for a quarter of a century.
Told in his own words, this is his story.
Sean Ryder was a founding member and lead singer of both the Happy
Mondays and Black Grape. He is now a solo artist. He lives in Salford
with his wife Joanne and their children.
