Happy Mondays

This article is about the English alternative rock band. For Monday holidays in Japan, see Happy Monday System.

Happy Mondays
The band onstage
Happy Mondays performing in 2006
Background information
OriginSalford, England
Genres
Years active
  • 1980–1993
  • 1999–2001
  • 2004–2010
  • 2012–present
Labels
Members
Past members

Happy Mondays are an English rock band formed in Salford in 1980. The original line-up consisted of brothers Shaun Ryder (vocals) and Paul Ryder (bass), Gaz Whelan (drums), Paul Davis (keyboard), and Mark Day (guitar). Mark "Bez" Berry later joined the band onstage as a dancer and maracas player. Rowetta joined as a second vocalist and percussionist in 1990.[1] They were initially signed to Tony Wilson's Factory Records label.

The group's work bridged the Manchester alternative rock music of the 1980s and the emerging UK rave scene, drawing influence from funk, house, and psychedelia to pioneer the Madchester sound.[2] They experienced their commercial peak with the releases Bummed (1988), Madchester Rave On (1989), and Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches (1990), with the latter going platinum in the UK.[2] Happy Mondays disbanded in 1993, but have since reformed several times and released the reunion album Uncle Dysfunktional (2007).

  1. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. pp. 421–422. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 November 2016.