Happy Mondays and Black Grape frontman Shaun Ryder is set to publish a new memoir titled 24 Hour Party Person, promising a raw and unfiltered look into his tumultuous life and career. The book will be personally signed by Ryder, adding a unique touch for fans eager to own a piece of music history.
From Hedonistic Highs to National Treasure Status
In 24 Hour Party Person, Ryder delves deep into his hedonistic days with the Happy Mondays, recounting wild stories such as taking crack cocaine for the first time in New York while on tour. The memoir also covers his more recent appearances on Celebrity Gogglebox alongside his bandmate Bez, showcasing a journey from rock star excess to beloved television personality.
Bullet-Dodging Adventures and Hallucinogenic Tales
According to the publisher, A Way With Media, the book is packed with gripping narratives, including dodging bullets in Jamaica, surviving a gunpoint ordeal in New York, and escaping a kidnap attempt in Amsterdam. One particularly madcap tale involves Ryder and Bez watching Watership Down in the 1970s while on acid, a experience Ryder describes as decidedly ill-advised. "I'm telling you, when you're on an acid trip, this hallucinogenic story about rabbits trying to escape destruction from human bulldozers is definitely not the fucking film to watch," he quips.
Studio Sessions, Bust-Ups, and Benders
The memoir promises to explore the behind-the-scenes chaos of Ryder's career, detailing studio sessions, explosive band arguments, and legendary benders that defined an era. It also touches on the importance of family, offering a more personal glimpse into the life of a man often portrayed as a wild rock star. Ryder reflects on his previous books, How to Be a Rock Star and Twisting My Melon, joking that he's "done more books now, I think, than Shakespeare, sort of."
Ryder's Evolution and Legacy
Ryder formed Black Grape in 1993 after the initial disbandment of Happy Mondays, though both bands have reformed multiple times since. The most recent Black Grape album, Orange Head, was released in 2024, proving his enduring influence in the music industry. His status as a national treasure was cemented after he came runner-up on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! in 2010, a label he now embraces with characteristic humour. "I'll take it. Better than being called a crackhead or a smackhead, innit?" he remarked in a 2024 interview.
Ryder believes that television appearances have helped introduce his music to younger generations, noting that "a kid sees us on TV and the next minute he's pressed his thumb and downloaded all the back catalogue." With 24 Hour Party Person, he aims to share even more mad tales, ensuring his legacy continues to captivate audiences old and new.
