Ep415: Gaz Whelan of Happy Mondays

The Vinyl Guide Interview - For Record Collectors & Music Nerds

Gaz Whelan of Happy Mondays shares memories of early records, recordings, Manchester, Factory Records, The Hacienda, Martin Hannett, John Cale, Paul McCartney, the upcoming Aus/NZ tour & lots more.

• Welcome Gaz to the show
• Touring after Paul Ryder passed away
• The Paul Ryder Tapes Podcast
• Picking up drums after watching the Beatles on TV
• Paul McCartney commenting on Happy Mondays
• Sex Pistols and 1st wave punk in Manchester
• Soul and Northern Soul records
• Talking to Noel Gallagher about the “Get Back” Television series
• Earlier Manchester bands – Joy Division, The Smiths, etc
• Forming Happy Mondays, early band names
• Getting the attention of Factory Records
• Memories of The Hacienda – FAC51
• The story of the “Forty Five EP”
• Tony Wilson testing Happy Mondays before making an album
• "Freaky Dancing" single
• Working with John Cale on the 1st album
• Gaz has some original tapes from Tony Wilson
• Making up the album title for the 1st album
• The track “Desmond” was removed from the 1st album
• 24 Hour Party People single creating opportunity for 2nd album
• Bez joining the band
• Memories of Martin Hannett as producer
• Rumours of Happy Mondays selling pills
• The design of Happy Mondays products and the Factory Records aesthetic
• Northen Soul records turning up in UK
• Does Paul have many records?
• Did “Yes Please” bankrupt Factory Records?
• Post Happy Mondays activity, Black Grape, etc
• Will there ever be another Happy Mondays album?
• Many Happy Mondays tapes were likely destroyed with the Hacienda
• Interview wrap up

Happy Mondays Aus/NZ 2023 tour tix & info

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