Madchester legend Shaun Ryder is the next musician to receive the biopic treatment, with the Happy Mondays frontman the subject of the upcoming film, Twisting My Melon.
If you’ve ever looked at the history of England’s Madchester scene, then you’d likely be aware that the Happy Mondays played a rather crucial role.
Fronted by the enigmatic Shaun Ryder, the group were one of the best-known artists on Tony Wilson’s Factory Records label, with albums like Pills ‘n’ Thrills And Bellyaches going on to define not only their sound, but the era as well.
While the band originally split following their 1992 album Yes Please! (which actually bankrupted Factory Records), the subsequent decades have seen a new album, alongside numerous live shows, and their continued reputation as one of the wildest live bands on the scene.
Now, Shaun Ryder is headed for the big screen with the new biopic, Twisting My Melon.
Check out Happy Mondays covering ‘Step On’:
Named after Ryder’s 2011 biography (which was in turn taken from a lyric in ‘Step On’), The Guardian reports that Matt Greenhalgh is set to helm the project, which serves as his directorial debut.
“Shaun and the last true working-class band – the Happy Mondays – mainlined into my musical DNA when I was 16 years old,” he explained. “Ryder is the son of John Lennon, Johnny Rotten with a few kilos of John Belushi stamped in.”
Production of the film is set to kick off in January, with Jack O’Connell set to star in the title role. Meanwhile, Jason Isaacs is reportedly in talks to play Ryder’s father, Derek, while Maxine Peake is being considered for the role of his mother.
This won’t be the first time that Shaun Ryder has been portrayed on the big screen though, with Danny Cunningham having played the musician in 24 Hour Party People, a film which focused on the Madchester scene, including Factory Records and bands like Joy Division and New Order.
Matt Greenhalgh seems to be a fine choice to direct the film, too, having previously written the screenplay for Control, a 2007 biopic that focused on the life and death of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis.
Check out Happy Mondays’ ‘Kinky Afro’:
