Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder has suddenly died aged 58. The bassist and the brother of Shaun Ryder was found dead just hours before they were due to perform at Kubix Festival in Sunderland.
The sad news was announced on the group's official Facebook page.
The statement read: "The Ryder family and Happy Mondays band members are deeply saddened and shocked to say that Paul Ryder passed away this morning. A true pioneer and legend. He will be forever missed. We thank you for respecting the privacy of all concerned at this time."
His cause of death is unknown. Paul previously discussed his drug addiction during his early days in the band, writes The Mirror.
"It was wild," he said in 2013. "I was 18 and recording an album. I'd learnt how to read and write at school but my real education began with the Mondays.
"I'd been using drugs since I was 17. If you have the money and the lifestyle it's part and parcel of the job, especially when people in the industry are giving it to you for free.
"That was especially the case in America. They learned pretty quickly that if there were no drugs, then there was no show."
The bass player also opened up about his rocky relationship with his brother and previously called him a "k**b" who always twisted his melon.
"Our Shaun should change his name by deed poll to Walter Mitty. I’m gonna need four years away from them all to get over it," he said.
Talking of the late Factory Records co-founder Tony Wilson, he said: “Tony told the world we were scum and that was how he marketed us.
“Sure, we took loads of drugs and had a good time. But Shaun went over the top. He started telling lies and spoofing me. He loves the limelight and hijacks history to make out he was first to do this, that, the other.
“For 30 years I’ve bit my tongue. But not any more. The tour is starting, our fans are back and people deserve to know my story. Yes, Shaun is a lyrical genius but sometimes I look across at him on stage and think, ‘What a knob.’”
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