Shaun Ryder denies “punching” and “knocking out” Rowetta after former bandmate’s accusations

3 March, 2025

Shaun Ryder has denied allegations of “punching” and “knocking out” from his former Happy Mondays bandmate Rowetta.

Back in December the band announced that they had parted ways with the vocalist and percussionist after 34 years.

Rowetta joined the band back in 1990 and was featured on the band’s single ‘Step On’, which peaked at Number Five on the charts. She went on to appear on their third and fourth studio albums, ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ and ‘Yes Please!’, and joined the band for three world tours.

At the time of her departure, things seemed amicable, with the band sharing a statement that said: “Happy Mondays thank Rowetta for her services and wish her the best for the future.”

Now though, Rowetta has accused Ryder of punching her during an incident that allegedly occurred while Happy Mondays were performing at Dublin’s Witness Festival in 2000.

On Wednesday (February 26), she took to Twitter/X to share a screenshot of an NME report published at the time that detailed an alleged fight that had broken out between the two at the festival.

“When I speak about Happy Mondays and it will always be true. I’m not a liar,” she wrote a few days earlier. “Shaun Ryder punched me, knocked me out & there were lots of witnesses & my son had to see me with a black eye! Don’t call me a liar threatening with defamation! Should have called the cops!”

Ryder has since denied the accusations to Metro, with a spokesperson for Happy Mondays reportedly saying he is “shocked” by the claims.

“This matter is now in the hands of Shaun’s lawyers,” they told the newspaper. “He is shocked by Rowetta’s reported claims, but in the circumstances there will be no further comment.”

Since Ryder’s denial, Rowetta has taken to Instagram to write: “Now my children are in their 40s and cannot believe that he is denying it. They took photos and there were plenty of witnesses on the ferry to Witnness.”

She continued: “I was just sticking up for Bez’s mate Shaky, who Shaun wanted to kick off the bus on the way to Holyhead. Stop calling me a liar.” She went on to say that she has “proof and witnesses and press cuttings”.

On top of this incident, Rowetta has claimed that treatment on tour was not equal to the other band members, though it isn’t clear which tour she is referring to.

She wrote on X that she was sleeping on a 16-bed bus with ‘mainly men I hardly knew’ while others – including Bez and Shaun – “were in lovely hotels’.

NME has reached out to representatives for Ryder and Rowetta for comment.

For help, support and advice regarding domestic abuse, visit Refuge here or call the freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

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