Happy Mondays disbanded in 1993, and Shaun Ryder and Bez formed Black

Happy Mondays disbanded in 1993, and Shaun Ryder and Bez formed Black Grape with ex- Paris Angels guitarist “Wags” (who would later go on to serve in the 1999–2000 reincarnation of the Mondays) and ex- Ruthless Rap Assassins star Kermit. Seven years passed, and in 1999 Happy Mondays re-formed, with founding members Shaun Ryder, Paul Ryder, Gaz Whelan and Bez but without Paul Davis and Mark Day. In the place of Day and Davis were Wags and a number of other session musicians including Ben Leach who had once been a member of The Farm , percussionist Lea Mullen, and rapper “Nuts”. Also appearing with the new line-up was soul singer Rowetta Satchell (who sang back-up on Pills, Thrills, and Bellyaches , as well as Yes Please! ). The band toured extensively in the UK and internationally, selling out the 20,000 capacity Manchester Arena and two nights at Brixton Academy , and released a new single, a cover version of the Thin Lizzy hit “The Boys Are Back in Town”. The single reached number 24 in the UK Singles Chart . In 2000, they provided support for Oasis on their Standing on the Shoulder of Giants Tour , played at the Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, at numerous European festivals including T in the Park, and also toured Australia. The band once more ceased their activity in 2001 following the departure of bass player and founding member Paul Ryder.