For the last five days of October, I’m remembering music artists that died in 2022 by celebrating the music and legacy that continues to live on.
Paul Anthony Ryder: Apr 24, 1964 – Jul 15, 2022
The bassist and one of the founding members of the Happy Mondays, Ryder was an important and influential artist in his own right. I still remember hearing songs from Pills ‘N’ Thrills and Bellyaches on my local alt rock station WDRE/WLIR and thinking that the songs stuck out like sore thumbs. Their upbeat vibe contrasted with the demeanor of bands from the same genre like The Stone Roses as well as bands from the same generation like the Pixies, Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana. I remember “Step On” with the utmost clarity.
“Step On” is a song that was played at a local club near my hometown. During my senior year in high school, we would show our terribly made fake IDs and get in on Friday night because that’s when they played the alt rock gems. The music ranged from industrial to goth to new wave to jangle pop to the burgeoning Manchester rock scene. Two songs ruled the dance floor from this era. The Stone Roses’ “Fools Gold” and the Happy Mondays’ “Step On”. These two songs could not sound more different, but on those Friday nights they seemed like they were on the exact same page.
“Gonna stamp out your fire. He can change your desire.”