Following last year’s long-awaited reunion of the one and only Stone Roses, fellow Mancunians the Happy Mondays have followed suit with their own Second Coming. Actually, it’s more like their Third or Fourth coming, depending on whether or not you consider their previous reincarnations to be the “real” Happy Mondays. This time around, however, the full original line-up are together again for the first time in almost 20 years. That’s right - Madchester is well and truly back!
The last time all seven members of the band, including both Ryder brothers Shaun and Paul, were together was shortly after the release of their fourth album, 1992’s ‘Yes Please!’. Sadly, many critics at the time said “no thanks” to the follow-up to the Mondays classic ‘Pills N Thrills and Bellyaches’ and it wasn’t long until the band were no more. Fast-forward six years past Bez and Shaun’s hugely-successful Black Grape to 1999, when the Happy Mondays announced their first official reunion, albeit without guitarist Mark Day and keyboard player Paul Davis.
Despite a single release, some successful touring and a few festival appearances at the likes of Glastonbury 2000, the band’s Second Coming was relatively short-lived and the Happy Mondays soon parted ways once more. After a brief solo career from Shaun Ryder, which saw him release his first album ‘Amateur Night in the Big Top’, the band reformed yet again in 2004. Despite a line-up that included only three of their original members – Shaun Ryder, Bez and drummer Gary Whelan – this would be the Mondays’ most long-lasting reunion to date and even included the release of their first album in 15 years, 2007’s ‘Uncle Dystfunktional’.
This, of course, brings us to the present day and this week’s news of a proper Happy Mondays reunion tour, including all seven of the band’s original line-up. Even their former bass player Paul Ryder has agreed to return to the band for the first time in over 10 years, having previously vowed never to perform with the Mondays again.
The Happy Mondays have also confirmed that they are to be taking their old Madchester mates Inspiral Carpets out on the road with them for the forthcoming tour. This, along with the upcoming dates from New Order – also on sale today – is sure to be great news for all you Madchester fans, and with The Stone Roses’ long-awaited reunion also in progress, it seems like what might have been a long-forgotten genre last week has finally returned for a full-on revival.
So what is to be expected from the new Happy Mondays tour? Bez and Shaun may both be pushing 50, but surely we can still look forward to at least a few of the old antics, not to mention some of the usual Ryder wit. More importantly, of course, are the old favourites – ‘Kinky Afro’, ‘Step On’ and the rest. That’s enough to keep any Mondays fan happy. Going by their previous reincarnations, it’s difficult to judge how long this one is likely to last and whether or not there’s going to be a new album in the works. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Happy Mondays UK & Ireland Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu May 3rd 2012 - O2 Academy Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Fri May 4th 2012 - O2 Academy Glasgow, Glasgow
Sat May 5th 2012 - MEN Arena Manchester, Manchester
Sun May 6th 2012 - O2 Academy Sheffield, Sheffield
Wed May 9th 2012 - O2 Academy Bournemouth, Bournemouth
Thu May 10th 2012 - O2 Academy Brixton, London
Fri May 11th 2012 - O2 Academy Brixton, London
Sat May 12th 2012 - O2 Academy Birmingham, Birmingham
Tue May 15th 2012 - Olympia Theatre, Dublin
Thu May 17th 2012 - O2 Academy Leeds, Leeds
Fri May 18th 2012 - Rock City Nottingham, Nottingham
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