In a startling new interview, Happy Mondays icon Shaun Ryder has opened up about the depths of his past drug addiction, admitting to smoking up to 50 rocks of crack cocaine in a single day. The 63-year-old musician, known for his wild lifestyle during the band's heyday, shared these revelations with The Sun, detailing how his substance abuse led to a series of dangerous and surreal encounters.
Confrontation with a Killer Orangutan
One of the most bizarre incidents occurred during a trip to Barbados in 1992, while Ryder was recording the Happy Mondays' fourth album. He insists that his encounter with a giant orangutan was not a hallucination, despite the animal not being native to the Caribbean. Local press had reported on a dangerous orangutan nicknamed Jack the Ripper that was on the loose at the time.
Ryder described the moment vividly: "This thing just dropped out of the trees right in front of me. It was a f***ing big orangutan." He recounted how he shouted commands at the animal, telling it to "f*** off," and claims it obeyed him. This face-to-face confrontation highlights the extreme risks he faced during his drug-fueled years.
Other Harrowing Experiences
Beyond the orangutan incident, Ryder's interview touched on several other life-threatening situations. He recalled being held hostage by an armed robber in Amsterdam, where a man from Manchester hijacked people and shot them before taking Ryder and others captive for a day or two. Ryder managed to talk the robber into releasing them, showcasing his survival instincts.
Another scary episode took place in Jamaica with bandmate Kermit, where they witnessed a gun battle while attempting to buy drugs. Ryder said, "I was going scoring and someone got shot, shot in the head. We just ran for it." These stories underscore the perilous environment he navigated as a result of his addiction.
Struggles with Substance Abuse
Ryder struggled with drug addiction for two decades, starting in his youth and continuing until he quit at age 40. He described using up "more than nine lives" during this period, with his crack use in Barbados being a peak of his dependency. The singer also mentioned a recent incident at the Brit Awards, where he told Jack Whitehall a story about almost being arrested during a drugs raid in 1996, though it was edited out of the broadcast.
Turning Point and Recovery
Ryder credits his third wife, Joanne, with helping him overcome his addiction. They have been together for over 20 years, married in 2010, and share two daughters, Pearl and Lulu. He admitted that Joanne "reeled me in and it's a good job," adding that she didn't let him get away with his destructive behaviors. Without her influence, Ryder believes he would have "just carried on with crashing," but he was determined to give up drugs by the time he turned 40.
Today, Ryder reflects on his past with candor, acknowledging the dangers he faced and the role his family played in his recovery. His story serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of extreme drug use and the possibility of redemption through support and personal resolve.
