HAPPY MONDAYS legend Shaun Ryder has paid an emotional tribute to his brother Paul, who died suddenly yesterday at the age of 58.
Paul passed away just hours before the band was due to take the stage in Sunderland.
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Post on his social media after the tragic news, Shaun wrote: “The Ryder family and Happy Mondays band members are deeply saddened and shocked to say that Paul Ryder passed away this morning. A true pioneer and legend. He will be missed forever
“Thank you for respecting the privacy of everyone involved at this time. Long live its funk x”
Fans were quick to share their condolences on the post, which featured a photo of Paul posing against a rock.
One follower wrote: “Sorry to hear this from everyone at Shiiine. Thoughts with all of you. Four-string pioneer… long live the music.”
Another added: “RIP Paul, another legend gone too soon.”
And a third weighed in: “This is sad to hear, condolences to your families, what a mint funky bassist, rest well Paul ❤️”.
Shaun and Paul were the original founders of the Happy Mondays and the band has had hits including: Step on and loose fit.
The circumstances of Paul’s death are unknown.
Paul previously struggled with addiction and was open about his heroin use in the band’s early days.
He previously said, “We couldn’t have Calpol for the kids. I’d drink a lot.”
Paul hit rock bottom when his youngest son, Chico, was diagnosed with cancer at age ten.
Paul said of that time: “I found myself coaching him in inhaling cannabis vapor from a vaporizing machine.
“My drug problems are well documented. I almost lost my life. But it was cannabis that saved my son’s.”
Paul also spoke openly about his brotherly rivalry with Shaun – with whom he started The Happy Mondays in 1980.
He said, “Yeah, Shaun is a lyrical genius, but sometimes I look at him onstage and think, ‘What a button.
“The wild stories about what we came up with to record our fourth album in Barbados were all myths and spoofs.”
Paul went on to say that the couple had a healthy sibling rivalry since childhood.
The guitarist, who is in . lived Francesaid of Shaun, “When I was three, he pushed me off my bike and I had to be treated in the hospital.
“I still have the scars on my hands and it still drives me crazy just looking at it.
“Things always went wrong between us.
“I was about nine years old when he took a psychosis on me with his new golf club and split my head.”
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