As bassist with the Happy Mondays, Paul Ryder experienced the highs and lows of a rock and roll lifestyle. Now he's back with a new band and, as he tells us, a new outlook on life.

IT'S not unusual for a Manchester band with a frontman named Ryder to create a stir within the music industry.

But this time it's Paul Ryder at the helm of an outfit called Big Arm which is generating the interest of those in the know.

Co-writing many of the Happy Mondays' biggest hits and performing around the world took a heavy toll on Paul, who became addicted to drink and drugs.

"When the Mondays reformed in 1999 I was off the drugs but still drinking," he recalls.

"By the end of the tour I was doing everything again."

Something had to give and Paul effectively dropped out of circulation for over three years.

"I was basically sectioned and spent the time sitting there wondering what to do with myself," he said.

Having kicked the drink and the drugs, Paul once again turned to song-writing.

"I really did it to cheer myself up," he said.

"It was my therapy. I must say I surprised myself."

The songs formed the basis for the Big Arm's debut album Radiator and its upbeat tone my surprise diehard Mondays fans.

"The name Happy Mondys was pretty ironic," said Paul, "considering how miserable so many of the songs were.

"The new songs are deliberately more upbeat and have a positive vibe to them."

The songs caught the ear of former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, who invited Paul to support him on his UK tour and who also asked him to play bass on his latest album.

"Ian has been a great help to me. I've known him for 20 years," said Paul.

"A couiple of years ago he asked me to get up and play bass with him on stage.

"I really didn't know if I could do it as I hadn't played live since 1999. I will be eternally grateful to him.

"He even helped name the band, as Big Arm was the nickname he and Mani gave me because they said that Mondays' basslines must be played by someone with 25 foot arms."

The decision to get back into the music industry was a big step for Paul.

"I knew that it was something I was good at and that I'd been a rubbish postman so I thought I'd give it a try," he said.

Big Arm are now beginning to tour around the UK and winning some rave reviews.

"The thing people coming to gigs will have to get used to is seeing me up front without a guitar," said Paul.

"I would have to spend another 20 years learning to play the bass and sing at the same time so I've recorded all the bass lines for the gigs.

"I never really wanted to have a singer in the band.

"We thought we could do it all with samples but the more the songs developed the more obvious the need for a lead singer became.

"I'm still learning to be a front man."

Although Paul is making a successful return to the music industry, he hasn't been able to heal the rift between himself and brother Shaun, nototious frontman of the Happy Mondays.

"I don't know what our kid thinks about the new album.

"He and I haven't spoken for some time. He thinks I abandoned the Mondays but to me I had to get out to save my life.

"I will never close the door to him and he knows where I am if he ever decides to get in touch.

  • Big Arm play Blackburn's North Bar tonight.