The Happy Mondays

The Band: The Happy Mondays
The Place & Time: Madchester, late-80s to mid-90s
The Sound: While influenced by funk and northern soul, the band actually helped form and popularize the “baggy” rave culture
The Song: Step On



Why Do We Care?
The band helped create a culture that paved the way for a ton of other great bands, including Blur, Oasis, Pulp & Suede. They, in turn, spurred The Libertines, Stereophonics, Super Furry Animals, etc.

I don't know any of those bands.
Ugh. They also influenced The Arctic Monkeys.

Ah! I love the Arctic Monkeys. Why else should I listen to the Mondays?
NME quoted Paul McCartney saying that the Mondays, "reminded [him] of the Beatles in their 'Strawberry Fields' phase. "

They are the most interesting part of one of the most interesting music pseudo documentaries ever 24 Hour Party People, which chronicles the Factory Records story. They were discovered by placing last in a battle of the bands.

The Stone Roses (the best band ever) considered them the best band in Manchester. Ian Brown added, "There's some mental stories going around about them. One story I heard was about the time that they bought a gun from a gun shop sale, took it back to school and sat on the school playing-fields all afternoon playing Russian Roulette with it." They also held the master copies of their upcoming CD for ransom to buy drugs. They are way cooler than that art band you just saw in that loft in Bushwick.

Dude, I Totally Know This Band!
Damon Albarn enlisted Shaun Ryder to play on Gorillaz's "Dare." The Prig saw their Harlem show live - Ryder had his fly down and stared intently at Rosie Wilson's ass the entire song. It was some rock star shit, even though he's mad old.

Dude, I love Gorillaz! Damon Albarn is a genius!
He is a genius, but not because of Gorillaz, ya prat.