Ryder returns for Factory exclusive

BEATS: Love him or loathe him, there’s certainly no denying Shaun Ryder his place in Madchester’s iconic musical history.

The former frontman of both Happy Mondays and Black Grape was notorious for foul language and anthemic party songs in the early 1990s.

The 46-year-old, who got married for the second time earlier this month, had a well publicised struggle with drugs which was loosely documented in the film “24 Hour Party People”.

He survived the excesses and returns with an exclusive one-off gig at the The Factory, Princess Street, Manchester — a must for those who remember Manchester’s good old days.

There are only 400 tickets available for Sunday’s gig, which will see Shaun performing hits from both his groups alongside his solo stuff.

Ryder bounced back from the demise of Happy Mondays — whose biggest single “Step On” is still a clubbers favourite today — with Black Grape in 1995.

Their debut album, “It’s Great When You’re Straight...Yeah”, topped the charts and spawned several hit singles.

When the group split in 1998 Ryder, who won NME’s Godlike Genius Award in 2000, wrote a column for the Daily Sport where he was able to give his own take on current events and celebrity goings on.

Happy Mondays have reformed twice — in 1999 and again in 2004 — and Ryder has released a solo album.

In 2005, Ryder collaborated with Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s side project Gorillaz on “Dare”. In the video, he is featured as a large disembodied head kept alive through a series of tubes and electronic wires, living in an animated band member’s closet.

Ryder has also collaborated with Ex-Talking Heads Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz on their post-David Byrne album “No Talking, Just Head”.

Ryder’s most unusual collaboration is his appearance on the Salford tenor Russell Watson’s 2001 debut album “The Voice”. He lent his vocals to the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song “Barcelona”.

Tickets are £26.50 for the gig and this includes entry to the Hacienda club night after the gig. DJs will include Jon Dasilva, 808 State, Justin Robertson, Jon Carter, Murkage Cartell and Jay “Backchat” Fontaine. Find out more on the website: www.factorymanchester.com