BBC Breakfast presenters Jon Kay and Sarah Campbell found themselves in a deeply awkward situation after making a painful on-air blunder during an interview with Happy Mondays legends Shaun Ryder and Bez.
The Unfortunate Question
The presenting duo were speaking with the iconic musicians, who were promoting their upcoming 35th-anniversary tour for the album Pills ‘N’ Thrills And Bellyaches. The tour is set to begin in March. However, the conversation took a cringe-worthy turn when Sarah Campbell, 50, asked if the "whole band" would be reuniting for the stage performances.
Shaun Ryder, 63, was quick to correct her, bluntly pointing out that the band would naturally be missing one key member: his brother and band co-founder, Paul Ryder, who died in July 2022 at the age of 58. Paul had reportedly been suffering from ischaemic heart disease and diabetes.
"Well, apart from our kid, because he's dead," Shaun stated, leaving a palpable stunned silence in the studio that lasted several seconds. His bandmate Bez (real name Mark Berry, 61), along with Jon and Sarah, were visibly taken aback.
Moving Past the Awkwardness
Attempting to brush past the uncomfortable moment, Shaun continued to explain that musician Mikey would be stepping in, as he had done previously. "But we have Mikey - he was in the band before our Paul came back for about ten years, then Paul came back, and died... so Mikey got his job back," he said, inadvertently prolonging the awkward atmosphere.
Presenter Jon Kay swiftly steered the conversation towards safer ground, asking about the album tour details and Shaun's recent health. The singer revealed he had been battling pneumonia while on tour before Christmas, forcing him to take strong painkillers to perform.
His health declined so rapidly that he collapsed the day before the funeral of his friend, Stone Roses bassist Mani, and was unable to attend. "Like I say, you have to get the job done on the tour, we're old school you know," Shaun remarked. Bez added that it took Shaun about six weeks to listen to advice to get better, eventually requiring a "nuclear bomb" course of antibiotics.
Legacy and The Upcoming Tour
Shaun and his younger brother Paul were the original founders of The Happy Mondays, formed in Salford in 1980. Paul was found dead just before the band were due to play at the Kubix Festival in Sunderland in 2022. A coroner later ruled his death was due to ischaemic heart disease and diabetes.
While Shaun has insisted his brother's death was not drug-related, Paul had been open about past heroin addiction during the band's early years. In a 2007 interview, Paul said drug use was "part and parcel of the job" with the lifestyle they led.
The upcoming 22-date tour, celebrating their seminal album, will see Shaun and Bez reunite with Mark Day, Dary Whelan and Dan Broad. They will perform across the UK, including London, Nottingham, Newcastle, and their hometown of Manchester, playing classic hits like:
- Step On
- Kinky Afro
- Loose Fit
- 24 Hour Party People
The band previously paid tribute to Paul Ryder on social media, calling him a "true pioneer and legend" who would be "forever missed."
