Shaun Ryder
Encyclopedia
Shaun William Ryder, aka X, (born 23 August 1962 in Salford
, Greater Manchester) is an English musician, occasional newspaper columnist
, actor, author, singer-songwriter and television personality
, best known as lead singer for Happy Mondays
and Black Grape
– and more recently as the runner-up of the 2010 version of the British TV Show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.
, Ryder's "often witty lyrics are the stuff of legend". Tony Wilson
is known for having compared Ryder's lyricism to the work of W.B. Yeats. Ryder's struggle with drugs led to the break-up of the Mondays in 1992.
The film 24 Hour Party People
featured the (semi-fictional) story of Shaun Ryder's youth and the life of Happy Mondays whilst signed with Factory Records
in the late eighties and early nineties. In the film Ryder is portrayed by Danny Cunningham.
, an immediate short-term success whose first release, It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah
, topped the British album chart for a week. However, the follow-up album, Stupid Stupid Stupid
, did not achieve the same critical or commercial success, and the group split in 1998.
Ryder has taken part in two reformations of the Happy Mondays (1999–2000 and 2004–) and released a solo album, Amateur Night in the Big Top
, to mixed critical acclaim. He was involved in litigation with former Black Grape management, which he eventually lost.
In 2000 following The Big Day Out Festival in Australia with Happy Mondays, Ryder stayed on in Perth, Western Australia with Pete Carroll who had a label called Offworld Sounds. While in Perth he recorded Amateur night in the Big Top, an album of punk electronica with Carroll, Shane Norton, Stephen Mallinder
from Cabaret Voltaire
and Lucky Oceans
from American country band Asleep at the Wheel
.UnCut Magazine called it"Exhilarating stuff. Another wildly implausible Ryder comeback" while Ministry of Sound said it was "A remarkable album. The most vitriolic lyrics this side of Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man" and the Sex Pistols "EMI". The album was recorded quickly during a few late night sessions in Carroll's garage studio during an extremely hot Perth summer. The album was subsequently released on Offworld Sounds.
In 2004, The Mondays reunited to play a comeback gig called "Get Loaded In The Park" on Clapham Common
with the only original members being Bez, Shaun Ryder and Gaz Whelan. Two years later they released the single "Playground Superstar", used in the football movie Goal, which was released after Bez had won Celebrity Big Brother.
In 2004, Ryder landed the job of a voice actor in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
in which he played Maccer, a washed-up, self-abused musician who was planning a major comeback tour in 1992.
In 2007 the Happy Mondays produced yet another album, Uncle Dysfunktional
., In 2009 he made a cameo appearance (Ryder later revealed that it was also a non-speaking role) as himself in Channel 4
drama Shameless
.
In 2010, he supported The Charlatans on a UK tour, as well as one off headline show at The Assembly, Leamington Spa
.
Ryder was a contestant on the tenth series of ITV's reality game show I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, where he finished second behind Stacey Solomon
. In 2011, he published his autobiography, Twisting My Melon.
In January 2011, Ryder appeared on the 1st series of the ITV programme "That Sunday Night Show
", and again on the 2nd series in September 2011.
on "DARE
", a song on their Demon Days
album. In the music video, he is featured as a large disembodied head kept alive through a series of tubes and electronic wires, living in animated band member Noodle's closet. It was stated by the commentator on the 2006 BRIT Awards
that the song's name came from Ryder's inability to pronounce the word "there".
Ryder also collaborated with ex-Talking Heads
Jerry Harrison
, Tina Weymouth
and Chris Frantz
on their post-David Byrne
album No Talking, Just Head
. He has also collaborated with Intastella
and appeared on Peter Kay
's "Is This The Way to Amarillo?" charity music video.
Ryder’s most unusual collaboration is his appearance on the British tenor
Russell Watson’s
2001 debut album The Voice. Ryder lent his vocals to the Freddie Mercury
and Montserrat Caballé
song "Barcelona". Russell Watson claimed on Never Mind The Buzzcocks
that he recorded some of Ryder's vocals himself.
Ryder also collaborated with fellow 'I'm a Celebrity' contestant Stacey Solomon at the 2011 National Television Awards on 26 January 2011
Black Grape
Solo
Compilation
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
, Greater Manchester) is an English musician, occasional newspaper columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, actor, author, singer-songwriter and television personality
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
, best known as lead singer for Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
and Black Grape
Black Grape
Black Grape were a 1990s rock band from England, featuring former members of Happy Mondays. The group's music was funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples.-History:...
– and more recently as the runner-up of the 2010 version of the British TV Show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.
1980–92
As the singer for Happy MondaysHappy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
, Ryder's "often witty lyrics are the stuff of legend". Tony Wilson
Tony Wilson
Anthony Howard Wilson, commonly known as Tony Wilson , was an English record label owner, radio presenter, TV show host, nightclub manager, impresario and journalist for Granada Television and the BBC....
is known for having compared Ryder's lyricism to the work of W.B. Yeats. Ryder's struggle with drugs led to the break-up of the Mondays in 1992.
The film 24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People
24 Hour Party People is a 2002 British film about Manchester's popular music community from 1976 to 1992, and specifically about Factory Records. It was written by Frank Cottrell Boyce and directed by Michael Winterbottom...
featured the (semi-fictional) story of Shaun Ryder's youth and the life of Happy Mondays whilst signed with Factory Records
Factory Records
Factory Records was a Manchester based British independent record label, started in 1978 by Tony Wilson and Alan Erasmus, which featured several prominent musical acts on its roster such as Joy Division, New Order, A Certain Ratio, The Durutti Column, Happy Mondays, Northside and James and...
in the late eighties and early nineties. In the film Ryder is portrayed by Danny Cunningham.
1993–98
Despite rumours of how his substance abuse had finally caught up with him, Ryder returned to the spotlight in 1995 with his new project, Black GrapeBlack Grape
Black Grape were a 1990s rock band from England, featuring former members of Happy Mondays. The group's music was funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples.-History:...
, an immediate short-term success whose first release, It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah
It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah
It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah is the first album by British band Black Grape. It was released in 1995. The album was seen as something of a triumphant comeback for both Shaun Ryder and Bez...
, topped the British album chart for a week. However, the follow-up album, Stupid Stupid Stupid
Stupid Stupid Stupid
Stupid Stupid Stupid was the second and final album by British band Black Grape. It was released in 1997. The original UK CD release of the album had hollow plastic "googly eyes" glued to the front of the CD cover...
, did not achieve the same critical or commercial success, and the group split in 1998.
1999–present
Ryder wrote a column for the Daily Sport newspaper in which he gave his own take on current news events and celebrity goings-on. It was in this column that Ryder famously announced his intention to reform the Happy Mondays before even making any fellow former members aware of this.Ryder has taken part in two reformations of the Happy Mondays (1999–2000 and 2004–) and released a solo album, Amateur Night in the Big Top
Amateur Night in the Big Top
The NME said "It's genius. His talent is akin to Eminem. He's a great chronicler of down and dirty street life".Uncut said "It's terrifying, exhilarating stuff. Another wildly implausible Ryder comeback. Just when we needed one. Embrace his soul vision".Ministry of Sound said "A remarkable album...
, to mixed critical acclaim. He was involved in litigation with former Black Grape management, which he eventually lost.
In 2000 following The Big Day Out Festival in Australia with Happy Mondays, Ryder stayed on in Perth, Western Australia with Pete Carroll who had a label called Offworld Sounds. While in Perth he recorded Amateur night in the Big Top, an album of punk electronica with Carroll, Shane Norton, Stephen Mallinder
Stephen Mallinder
Stephen William Mallinder was a founding member of Cabaret Voltaire, Sassi and Loco and the Ku-Ling Bros. While in Cabaret Voltaire he contributed lead vocals, bass and occasional keyboards.-Biography:...
from Cabaret Voltaire
Cabaret Voltaire (band)
Cabaret Voltaire were a British music group from Sheffield, England.Initially composed of Stephen Mallinder, Richard H. Kirk and Chris Watson, the group was named after the Cabaret Voltaire, a nightclub in Zürich, Switzerland that was a centre for the early Dada movement.Their earliest performances...
and Lucky Oceans
Lucky Oceans
Lucky Oceans is a pedal steel guitarist and a former member of Country/Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel. He is now a broadcaster in Perth, Western Australia with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
from American country band Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel is a American country music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas. Altogether, they have won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception. In their career, they have released more than twenty studio albums, and have charted more than twenty...
.UnCut Magazine called it"Exhilarating stuff. Another wildly implausible Ryder comeback" while Ministry of Sound said it was "A remarkable album. The most vitriolic lyrics this side of Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man" and the Sex Pistols "EMI". The album was recorded quickly during a few late night sessions in Carroll's garage studio during an extremely hot Perth summer. The album was subsequently released on Offworld Sounds.
In 2004, The Mondays reunited to play a comeback gig called "Get Loaded In The Park" on Clapham Common
Clapham Common
Clapham Common is an 89 hectare triangular area of grassland situated in south London, England. It was historically common land for the parishes of Battersea and Clapham, but was converted to parkland under the terms of the Metropolitan Commons Act 1878.43 hectares of the common are within the...
with the only original members being Bez, Shaun Ryder and Gaz Whelan. Two years later they released the single "Playground Superstar", used in the football movie Goal, which was released after Bez had won Celebrity Big Brother.
In 2004, Ryder landed the job of a voice actor in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
in which he played Maccer, a washed-up, self-abused musician who was planning a major comeback tour in 1992.
In 2007 the Happy Mondays produced yet another album, Uncle Dysfunktional
Uncle Dysfunktional
Uncle Dysfunktional is a studio album from Happy Mondays. Their first album since Yes Please! in 1992. The album has a hidden track which is the second of the two untitled tracks...
., In 2009 he made a cameo appearance (Ryder later revealed that it was also a non-speaking role) as himself in Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
drama Shameless
Shameless
Shameless is a British television drama series set in Manchester on the fictional Chatsworth council estate. Produced by Company Pictures for Channel 4, the first seven-episode series aired weekly on Tuesday nights at 10pm from 13 January 2004...
.
In 2010, he supported The Charlatans on a UK tour, as well as one off headline show at The Assembly, Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
.
Ryder was a contestant on the tenth series of ITV's reality game show I'm a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, where he finished second behind Stacey Solomon
Stacey Solomon
Stacey Solomon is a British singer, television presenter, model and reality TV star. She rose to fame during her time on the sixth series of The X Factor, coming third overall on the show...
. In 2011, he published his autobiography, Twisting My Melon.
In January 2011, Ryder appeared on the 1st series of the ITV programme "That Sunday Night Show
That Sunday Night Show
That Sunday Night Show is a British television chat show presented by Adrian Chiles. It was first broadcast on ITV on 9 January 2011. Each episode is 45 minutes long....
", and again on the 2nd series in September 2011.
Collaborations
In 2005, he collaborated with the GorillazGorillaz
Gorillaz is an English musical project created in 1998 by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. This project consists of Gorillaz music itself and an extensive fictional universe depicting a "virtual band" of cartoon characters...
on "DARE
DARE (song)
"DARE" is a song by Gorillaz and is featured on their 2005 album Demon Days. It was released 29 August 2005 as the second single from the album and became the first Gorillaz single to hit number one on the UK Singles Chart. On online music stores such as iTunes, the radio edit of the song was...
", a song on their Demon Days
Demon Days
Demon Days is the second studio album by British virtual band Gorillaz, released in May 2005. The album features contributions from De La Soul, Neneh Cherry, Martina Topley-Bird, Roots Manuva, MF DOOM, Ike Turner, Bootie Brown of the Pharcyde, Shaun Ryder, Dennis Hopper, the London Community Gospel...
album. In the music video, he is featured as a large disembodied head kept alive through a series of tubes and electronic wires, living in animated band member Noodle's closet. It was stated by the commentator on the 2006 BRIT Awards
2006 Brit Awards
The 2006 BRIT Awards were the 26th edition of the biggest annual pop music awards in the United Kingdom. They are run by the British Phonographic Industry and took place on 15 February 2006 in Earls Court Exhibition Centre im London. It attracted 4.70 million viewers, one of the lowest viewed...
that the song's name came from Ryder's inability to pronounce the word "there".
Ryder also collaborated with ex-Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
Jerry Harrison
Jerry Harrison
Jerry Harrison is an American songwriter, musician and producer...
, Tina Weymouth
Tina Weymouth
Martina Michèle "Tina" Weymouth is an American musician, best known as a founding member and bassist of the New Wave group Talking Heads and its side project Tom Tom Club .-Profile:Weymouth is of French heritage on her mother's side. Weymouth was a cheerleader in high school...
and Chris Frantz
Chris Frantz
Chris Frantz is an American musician and record producer. He was the drummer for both Talking Heads and the Tom Tom Club.-Career:...
on their post-David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
album No Talking, Just Head
No Talking, Just Head
No Talking, Just Head is an album by The Heads, a band composed of Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Frantz of Talking Heads, joined by a variety of guest singers...
. He has also collaborated with Intastella
Intastella
Intastella were an alternative rock band from Manchester who evolved from the earlier band Laugh. They had four top-75 hits in the UK during the 1990s.-History:...
and appeared on Peter Kay
Peter Kay
Peter John Kay is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing , Phoenix Nights , Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere , Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours.-Early career:Peter Kay...
's "Is This The Way to Amarillo?" charity music video.
Ryder’s most unusual collaboration is his appearance on the British tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
Russell Watson’s
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
2001 debut album The Voice. Ryder lent his vocals to the Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
and Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé is a Spanish operatic soprano. Although she sang a wide variety of roles, she is best known as an exponent of the bel canto repertoire, notably the works of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi....
song "Barcelona". Russell Watson claimed on Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Never Mind the Buzzcocks is a comedy panel game television show with a pop music theme, currently without a permanent presenter. It stars Phill Jupitus and Noel Fielding as team captains. The show is produced by Talkback Thames for the BBC, and is usually aired on BBC Two...
that he recorded some of Ryder's vocals himself.
Ryder also collaborated with fellow 'I'm a Celebrity' contestant Stacey Solomon at the 2011 National Television Awards on 26 January 2011
Discography
Happy Mondays- 1987 – Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out)Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile was the first album by British band Happy Mondays. It was released in 1987 on Factory Records and was produced by John Cale....
- 1988 – BummedBummedBummed was the second album by British band Happy Mondays. It was released in November 1988.Warner later released a 2CD Collector's Edition on . This release collected the original 1988 album with a second disc of remixes from the era.- Production :...
- 1990 – Pills 'n' Thrills and BellyachesPills 'n' Thrills and BellyachesPills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches was the third album by British band Happy Mondays. It was released in 1990 and was produced by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne at Eden Studios in London....
- 1992 – Yes Please!Yes Please!Yes Please! was the last studio album that the British band Happy Mondays recorded before leaving Factory Records. Generally seen as their poorest work, it was released in 1992 and was produced by Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads...
- 2007 – Uncle DysfunktionalUncle DysfunktionalUncle Dysfunktional is a studio album from Happy Mondays. Their first album since Yes Please! in 1992. The album has a hidden track which is the second of the two untitled tracks...
Black Grape
- 1995 – It's Great When You're Straight... YeahIt's Great When You're Straight... YeahIt's Great When You're Straight... Yeah is the first album by British band Black Grape. It was released in 1995. The album was seen as something of a triumphant comeback for both Shaun Ryder and Bez...
- 1997 – Stupid Stupid StupidStupid Stupid StupidStupid Stupid Stupid was the second and final album by British band Black Grape. It was released in 1997. The original UK CD release of the album had hollow plastic "googly eyes" glued to the front of the CD cover...
Solo
- 2003 – Amateur Night in the Big TopAmateur Night in the Big TopThe NME said "It's genius. His talent is akin to Eminem. He's a great chronicler of down and dirty street life".Uncut said "It's terrifying, exhilarating stuff. Another wildly implausible Ryder comeback. Just when we needed one. Embrace his soul vision".Ministry of Sound said "A remarkable album...
Compilation
- 2010 – Shaun William Ryder XXX: 30 Years Of Bellyaching
Awards
- NME Single Of The Year 1996 – Black Grape's "Reverend Black Grape"
- Godlike Genius – NME Awards 2000
- John Peel Music Innovation Award (for Gorillaz) – Shockwaves NME Awards 2006
External links
- A new Shaun Ryder fan website (shaunryder.net) created after his 2010 success in the ITV series "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here".
- Shaun Ryder narrowly escapes a heavy fine after giving evidence at a trial
- Grape Minds: Shaun Ryder is up there with Dylan
- Straight but not great: Shaun Ryder
- Interview with Shaun Ryder in LeftLion magazine 2007
- Shaun Ryder at Biogs.com