SHAUN RYDER - RYDER DEFENDS DECISION TO REFORM THE HAPPY MONDAYS

SHAUN RYDER has defended his decision to reform British rock band THE HAPPY MONDAYS - as he always intended to play one-off gigs.

The STEP ON star has reformed the STEP ON group to perform at the one-day festival GET LOADED IN THE PARK in London on 22 August (04) as "it's somewhere good".

Ryder explains, "I said I'd never do tours again but I never said I wouldn't do the odd gig, especially if it's somewhere good.

"It's me and BEZ (MARK BERRY) and GAZ WHELAN, our original drummer, too.

"This time we're going into the back catalogue, doing stuff off BUMMED, YES PLEASE and a couple of BLACK GRAPE tunes.

"If I thought we were over the hill, I wouldn't have done it. It's not a big corporate event - it's a bunch of mates having fun."