TIME OUT
Legendary 80s indie frontman reveals band is retiring from touring after 44 years
The musician has appeared on a number of hit reality shows
LEGENDARY 80s frontman Mark 'Bez' Berry has revealed that Happy Mondays is set to retire from touring after 34 years.
Shaun Ryder formed the band in 1980 alongside his late brother Paul Ryder and their friends friends Mark Day, Paul Davis and Gary Whelan.
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Bez, 60, joined the band as the percussionist for their debut live show at The Hacienda nightclub in Manchester later that year.
After nearly 40 years of performing on international stages and gigs around the UK, musician Bez has now confirmed that they're set to take a break.
Due to various health issues with individual band members, Bez also admitted that their most recent tour may have been their last one.
He said on the White Wine Question Time podcast earlier this year: "We're in a tour at the moment - possibly our last tour because it's getting put to bed for a while because we've been out with the Mondays for ever.
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"It needs to go to bed for a while, and in two years' time when we maybe think about getting it back together again who's going to be left, that's what the question's going to be."
Asked by Kate Thornton if he really thought it would be the end, he replied: "Yeah. I'm 60 now. Shaun's like 18 months older than me.
"If it goes to bed for two years, none of the band are exactly healthy.
"We're all falling to bits in some way or another."
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He admitted he would be sad to call it a day but hopes it won't come to that.
He added: "I love touring. If you've got to have a job in life, what a job to have.
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"It's been great for me. It's like a job made for me.
"I've been really, really happy in it.
"I feel a little sad feeling like it could be the last. "I hope it isn't."
They had top 10 hits with 'Step On' and 'Kinky Afro', 44 years ago.
The group - who helped pioneer the Madchester sound - released a slew of hits including Step On, Kinky Afro and 24 Hour Party People.
In 1995 Shaun founded group Black Grape, whose first album, It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah, shot to the top of the British chart.
Unfortunately, the band's follow-up album, Stupid Stupid Stupid, didn't achieve the same success leading to their split in 1998.
In 2017, the group released Pop Voodoo, their first full album since 1997.
Shaun also enjoyed monumental chart success when he lent his vocals to Gorillaz hit Dare in 2005.
While Bez also features on Celebrity Gogglebox with Shaun.
In 2021, Bez showed off his impressive cooking skills in Celebrity MasterChef.
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He also appeared on the revamped version of Never Mind The Buzzcocks alongside Shane, and popped up on The Real Housewives Of Cheshire.
And last year he gave ITV skating show Dancing On Ice a go, but was eliminated in week five.
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