Happy Mondays legends Shaun Ryder and Bez have opened up as they prepare to hit the road again for a major anniversary tour
The pair spoke about a variety of topics at the Tena Men event last night(Image: TENA Men)
Happy Mondays icons Shaun Ryder and Bez have spoken candidly about ageing, health scares and the lifestyle changes that are keeping them going. It comes as their 2026 UK and Ireland tour nears.
The pair – best known for fronting the legendary Salford band behind Step On, 24 Hour Party People, Loose Fit and Kinky Afro – took part in the Tena Men In Conversation event in Manchester this week, opening up about men’s mental and physical health with their trademark honesty and humour.
Bez shared his thoughts on sobriety, ageing and why he believes changing his lifestyle has helped him turn back the clock. The 61-year-old said people even say that he looks younger now compared to when he was in his forties.
He said: “I’m doing a sugar and cake free January. I’ve given up the Persian rugs and drink. The sugar and cake addiction that I’ve got is out of order.”
Bez revealed he stopped drinking on Boxing Day after months of heavy alcohol use. He said: “I was sinking a bottle of tequila a night running right up to Boxing Day. I was tanning everything like you wouldn’t believe. But you think, that’s enough of that rubbish.”
What has helped him stick with it, he said, is intermittent fasting. He said: “I’ve started fasting for 16 hours a day and I’m four weeks in now and I can feel my energy returning. At the same time I’m missing having a drink, but I’m determined to get through to the end.
“I’ve been on this juicing journey for over 12 years now and I’ve done it every day. To try and go into my old age as healthy as I can be I put these steps in place. From 48 to now, people actually say to me I’m going the other way. I’m not getting older, I’m getting younger. I looked worse when I was 48 than I do now.”
The band are going back on tour in March(Image: TENA Men)
Despite that confidence, Bez admitted he recently decided to confront the reality of his health after years of avoiding it. He said: “I took the first steps today to finding out the truth because I’ve been lying to myself for years. I saw the doctor and had my blood tests so I’m going to finally find out if I’ve broken down or if there’s something going on.
“The first thing that I noticed when things started going wrong was when I started noticing grey hair on my temple when I was about 26 and I thought, oh no it’s started. And that was the most devastating moment, when you spot the first grey hair, that’s when you know when it’s going wrong.”
While Bez is focused on actively reversing the clock, Shaun’s recent experiences have forced him to confront his own health in a different way. The 63-year-old frontman, who has openly battled various health issues over the years, revealed he’s struggled with urinary retention – a common problem for men as they age.
He said: “I’m gonna tell you all a secret now, but don’t tell anyone. I can’t piss. I wish I could. I was wearing Tena Men so I could leak, but I can’t piss.”
Dr Hilary Jones, present at the event, explained that an enlarged prostate can prevent the bladder from emptying properly – something worth getting checked early to avoid kidney problems.
Shaun shared that the first big sign of ageing hit him in his fifties, recalling the moment he walked on stage and suddenly couldn’t lift himself up as his hip gave out. And in more recent years, Shaun has also spoken about a serious bout of pneumonia that left him unable to attend Stone Roses legend Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield’s funeral.
It comes as Happy Mondays have confirmed a 2026 UK and Ireland tour starting in March to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their iconic album Pills ’n’ Thrills and Bellyaches. The band will hit the road for a string of shows – including a massive homecoming date in Manchester – joined by guitarist Mark Day, drummer Gary Whelan, keyboardist Dan Broad and backing vocalist Firouzeh Berry.