Sean Ryders’ brother, the Happy Mondays bassist Paul Ryder, died suddenly at the age of 58. Sean Ryders and his brother Paul were founding members of the band. Paul Ryder was born in Little Hulton, Salford in April 1964 and founded Happy Mondays with his brother Sean in the early 1980s.
The Ryder family and members of the Happy Mondays band are deeply saddened and shocked by the news that Paul Ryder died on Friday morning, a true pioneer and legend.
Paul was one of the original members who started Happy Mondays. In addition to his brother Sean, his band members include Gary Whelan, Mark Bez Berry, Paul Davis, and Mark Day. On January 29, 2012, singer Sean Ryder announced on XFM radio that Happy Mondays would return with an initial and final lineup that included himself, his brother Paul Ryder ) on bass, Bez, Gary Whelan, and Rovetta as backing vocals, with guitarist Mark Day and Rowett’s keyboardist Paul Davies as backing vocals. That’s not the case, singer Sean Ryder said in his autobiography Twistin My Melon.
From 1983’s Happy Mondays to the present, Ryder has been an active member and is often considered the signature beat on which some of their best singles are based. Paul Ryder did not reunite again in 2004 but returned in 2012 when the band members Reformed Happy Monday: Happy Monday continued to tour to this day. Paul Ryder also formed the band Big Arm, released an album called Radiator in 2008, and DJs all over the world. He also played with the New York funk band Tom Tom Club, whose members Chris Frantz and Tina Weymuth (also of Talking Heads) produced Yes Please!.
“Very sad news indeed. RIP Paul. My thoughts are with the Ryder family, friends, and the band,” one fan said.
Another added: “Very sad news, Paul was a wonderful person and great bass player x thoughts to all the Ryder family.”
“Such sad news. A wonderful bass player who helped shape the soundtrack of my life. My condolences to the Ryder family and friends. May he rest in peace x,” one posted.