Happy Mondays

Happy Mondays is an alternative rock band formed in Manchester, England in 1985.

The band was fronted by Shaun Ryder, who formed the band with his brother Paul Ryder, who played bass, plus guitarist Mark Day (aka "Moose" or "Cowhead"), keyboardist Paul Davis (aka P.D), and drummer Gary Whelan. Bez would later famously join the band onstage during a live performance after befriending Shaun Ryder (known to him as "X") and served as a dancer/percussionist. Rowetta joined the band to provide backing vocals in the early 90s. They have stated that the band name is a take on the title of New Order's timeless classic, "Blue Monday."

Manchester pop impresario Tony Wilson discovered the Mondays at a battle of the bands contest held at his Haçienda nightclub. The story goes that Wilson signed them to his label, Factory Records, even though they came in last. Their first album, Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out), debuted in 1987. A number of other albums followed, most of which were released in the United States on the Elektra Records label. By the la...