WITH the kind of chaotic rock and roll lifestyle Shaun Ryder has led for the last 20 years, it’s no small wonder he’s still with us.

The tales of drug taking excess and extreme hedonism have hung over the Happy Mondays since their earliest days.

From the Ecstasy-fuelled haze of their spiritual home at Manchester’s Hacienda nightclub, to nearly bankrupting their former record label while recording in Barbados – their misadventures as the original 24 Hour Party People are legend.

But to their credit, their back catalogue of maraca shaking dance anthems has stood the test of time. There’s still much love out there for their loose grooves that moulded a generation of Northern indie bands.

Somewhat against the odds, the group’s lead singer is back from the brink to pen material for their latest album, Uncle Dysfunktional, which has given them renewed focus.

Cleaning up his act, he’s embarked on an unlikely fitness regime. These days you’re far more likely to find Mr Ryder out cycling rather than living it large.

"I’m still stuck up in bumpkin land here in the Peak District. It’s very quiet which is how I like it," explained Shaun sounding in upbeat form.

"We’ve just got back from doing some touring before we’re off to Japan. At home I just like to watch the news," he added on how he’s presently spending his down time in Derbyshire with his girlfriend, Jo. It’s a picture of domestic calm that’s a little too hard to visualise.

The 44 year-old revealed Hail Marys and exercise have somehow helped conquer his substance abuse.

However, he’s admitted that he’s struggled with his emotions, especially over his family life. He has three children, Jael, Coco, and Joseph through three different women with whom he has little contact.

Despite this it seems he’s genuinely positive about events, bar the debts which have built up due to a horrendous management deal he misguidedly signed up to in the mid 1990s when he formed chart-topping spin-off group Black Grape. Life is certainly a whole lot more complex than in his youth.

Growing up as a son of a Salford postman in the 1970s, he followed in his dad’s footsteps as a teenager. But an eclectic music taste of rap, funk and soul led to him forming a band with several school mates plus his older brother Paul.

They were spotted by Factory Records boss Tony Wilson, who made his name spotting Joy Division’s potential. By his own admission Shaun says he was always far happier messing around in the rehearsal room than playing gigs. When they eventually graced the Hacienda they famously came last in a battle of the bands.

"All the other bands that night were rubbish and just doing cover versions," he said. "We got up there and came last, probably because we were rubbish as well. But Tony was great. He moved things around for us a bit and we ended up winning," recalled the Mondays’ frontman.

His rasping vocals were given some sympathetic production treatment in the studio by New Order’s Bernie Sumner.

The band came to the attention of the masses with a memorable appearance alongside the Stone Roses on Top of the Pops with one of their earliest tracks, Hallelujah, in 1989.

"Nobody knew who we were, so we were going to switch with The Roses - I was going to be their drummer and Mani was going to come and play bass for us. But Ian Brown wouldn’t let him do it. They were fun times though."

At the heart of the Happy Monday’s charm was a certain Bez, whose maraca-waving dancing continues to whip up crowds. As a cult favourite he claimed the Celebrity Big Brother title two years ago. But where did their percussionist learn his moves?

"I think he just took some acid and started moving," laughed Shaun, who recently scored a number one contributing to Damon Albarn’s Gorillaz single, Dare.

"Bez is the boy. In his head he still thinks he’s 19. He loves the touring lifestyle. I have never really felt comfortable being a frontman so having someone else up there too really took the pressure off. I’m pleased he won Big Brother – what else is a dancer in a band going to do?"

There will be plenty more from Shaun and Bez as they take to stage headlining Electric Gardens.

"Festivals are always fun. Everything is pretty much up in the air and no-one has time to soundcheck, but it’s all good. I think Electric Gardens will be a good day out."

- The Happy Mondays headline the Electric Gardens Festival on Sunday, August 5. Tickets are £40 per day, £75 for the weekend.