Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder has died aged 58.
The bassist was found dead on Friday (July 15) hours before he was due to play with the band at a festival in Sunderland. The cause of death is currently unknown.
Ryder, who was the younger brother of bandmate Sean, co-founded the band, whose official Facebook page announced the news.
A statement read: “The Ryder family and members of the Happy Mondays band are deeply saddened and shocked to say that Paul Ryder passed away this morning.”
Taking to Twitter, Sean hailed his brother as a “true pioneer and legend”, adding: “He will be forever missed. Thank you for respecting the privacy of all affected at this time.”
Happy Mondays are best known for the songs ‘Step On’ and ‘Loose Fit’.
Ryder was also an actor who had film credits including The Ghosts of Oxford Street and Michael Winterbottom’s 24 Hour Party (2002).
He was also a character in the film which tells the story of Manchester’s popular music community from 1976 to 1992. He was played by Paul Popplewell.
Paul and Sean Ryder perform together as Happy Mondays in 2012
(Ken McKay/Shutterstock)
At the time of his death, Ryder, who lived in California, was still on tour with Happy Mondays and was scheduled to play hours after his death at the Kubix festival.
The Independent has contacted the festival for comment.
Speaking about the time he was recording the band’s fourth album, titled Yes Please!, in 1991, Ryder debunked the “crazy stories about what we were up to” in the press as “myths and fabrications”.
In a separate interview with live4ever.co.uk, Ryder said that David Bowie inspired him to become a musician. He said: “When I was eight I saw David Bowie on Top of the Pops looking like an alien, that’s when I knew I wanted to be a musician.
“When I was 13 my dad bought me a bass and I thought it must be easier than playing a guitar as it only has four strings.”
Add Comment