Shaun Ryder Needs 'Clean' Team

Shaun Ryder Needs 'Clean' Team

Shaun Ryder insists on having a "clean living" team with him on the road.

The former Happy Mondays frontman - who was renowned in the late 80s and early 90s for his excessive, drug fuelled lifestyle - has revealed he has to have a sober touring band and crew around him when he tours.

He said in an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper: "These days I insist on having a clean firm on the road. The kids I have working with me are good and clean living. We have a great, happy vibe. As I've got older I realise it's much easier to work with clean, sober people. It doesn't bring any baggage.

"I'm not born again - I don't mind a few pints or smoking the odd bit of weed, but hardcore people that need a drug bring problems."

As well as being a member of the reformed Happy Mondays, Shaun is also planning a new album with his other band, Black Grape, and a solo record with Sunny Levine, who is the grandson of legendary producer Quincy Jones.

He also recently married on the same day as the christening of his daughter, Lulu, without announcing it beforehand to any of the guests, which he admits came as a shock to everyone even his own mother.

Shaun explained: "Our Lulu was getting christened so we thought we'd get wed. People started walking off and I said, 'Wait! We're getting married!' My mum and her mum were telling everyone, 'He's only joking,' because they didn't know either."