Twisting My Melon

Shaun Ryder's life has been a tumultuous journey of glorious highs and desolate lows. As the lead singer of the Happy Mondays, he was instrumental in transforming Manchester into 'Madchester', embodying all the excesses of a true rock 'n' roll star while crafting music and lyrics that led impresario Tony Wilson to describe him as 'the greatest poet since Yeats'. The young scally who left school at fifteen without ever learning his alphabet had certainly come a very long way.

Huge chart success and a Glastonbury headline slot followed, alongside numerous arrests and world tours. Then, Shaun's drug addiction reached its peak, Factory Records was brought to its knees, and the Mondays split. But was this the end for Shaun Ryder? Not by a long shot. Two years later, he was back with his new band, Black Grape, and their groundbreaking debut album topped the charts in possibly the greatest comeback of all time. Even his continuing struggle with drugs did not stem the tide of critically acclaimed tracks and collaborations, as he repeatedly proved his musical genius. And then there was the jungle...

A rock 'n' roll legend, reality TV star, drug-dealer, poet, film star, heroin addict, son, brother, father, husband, foul-mouthed anthropologist, and straight-talking survivor, Shaun Ryder has been a cultural icon and a 24-hour party person for a quarter of a century. This is his story, told in his own words.