Paul Ryder

# Paul Ryder

Paul Ryder was a founding member and bassist of Happy Mondays, the influential Manchester collective that bridged acid house and alternative rock in the late 1980s and early 1990s. His driving bass lines were integral to the band's signature sound, anchoring tracks like "Step On" and "Kinky Afro" that became anthems of the Madchester movement. Working alongside producer Martin Hannett and his brother Shaun, Ryder helped define a generation of British dance-rock fusion.

Beyond Happy Mondays, Ryder's bass work exemplified the era's cross-pollination of electronic and live instrumentation, making him a key figure in the UK's post-rave cultural shift. His contributions to the band's studio albums, particularly *Bummed* (1988) and *Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches* (1990), remain touchstones for anyone exploring the intersection of electronic production and guitar-driven dance music.