Award-winning production company Glistening has released a new podcast featuring rock and roll legend Paul Ryder telling his life story, recorded just 12 days before he passed away.
The series titled The Paul Ryder Tapes - Sex, Drugs, the Mondays and Me was recorded in July last year and released on the one year anniversary of Ryder’s death last week on 15 July. It features the late founder and bass player of iconic Manchester band the Happy Mondays speaking candidly to his ex-wife, journalist and Glistening Productions producer Angela Smith.
“This was always going to be an explosive series with Paul speaking out – often for the very first time – about some intensely personal issues and revealing secrets about his beloved Mondays that only a true insider could know – but the fact that he passed away just 12 days after finishing recording it makes it all the more poignant,” said Smith. “I’m still staggered by his level of honesty and that he was relaxed enough that his infectious sense of humour was able to shine through in the storytelling.”
“The guests too are incredible and it’s especially fun to hear from Paul and Shaun’s mum Linda with her wicked sense of humour. It’s an incredible legacy for Paul and one that I’m really honoured to be a part of – even though he did drive me a little bit insane at times when we were together!”
The series also features Ryder in conversation with a number of “people he rubbed shoulders with” including record producer Paul Oakenfold, The Stone Roses bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield, co-founder of rock bands Joy Division and New Order Peter Hook, fellow band members Mark Day, Mark "Bez" Berry, Rowetta, and his mum.
Episodes of the podcast will continue to release weekly on Saturdays and will uncover a number of serious themes including drug addiction, mental health breakdowns and infidelity.
