Happy Mondays make major band announcement as member departs

Manchester music legends Happy Mondays have made a major band announcement just before Christmas. The band, fronted by Shaun Ryder, were founded in Manchester back in the 1980s.

But now, one of the band's most iconic members has announced they are no longer to perform with the Mondays. Singer Rowetta, famed for her vocals on some of the band's biggest anthems including Step On, Loose Fit and Kinky Afro, is parting ways with the group.

Issuing a statement on their social media accounts on Monday, the band said: "Happy Mondays and Rowetta announce that Rowetta will no longer be performing with the band."

It went on to say: "Happy Mondays thank Rowetta for her services and wish her the best for the future."

Rowetta also shared the statement on her social media accounts. No further comments have been made on the decision, although Rowetta has since posted on her X account: "Thanks for all the love. Really looking forward to a very special 2025."

The announcement comes amid a busy year for Rowetta. As well as touring with the Happy Mondays, the Bury singer had also toured and performed with fellow indie band Shed Seven across 2023, amid a huge year for the group in which they scored their first two number one albums in their 30th anniversary year.

The Happy Mondays were first formed in Salford in 1980, with brothers Shaun and Paul Ryder as vocalist and bass guitarist respectively, Gaz Whelan on drums, Mark Day on guitar and Paul Davis on keyboard. They would go on to be signed by Manchester's legendary Factory Records.

The band's talismanic dancer, and Shaun's best friend, Bez would later join the band, while Rowetta joined as second vocalist in 1990 just as the Mondays were about to break into the mainstream with seminal