Ex-Happy Mondays singer Rowetta is imploring her fellow bandmate and long-time friend Bez to rally by her side after making a number of claims about frontman Shaun Ryder.
Speaking out for the first time back on 26 February, the 59-year-old screenshotted an old NME headline touching on a previous split, where they wrote about a “tussle” on a ferry to Ireland before Dublin’s Witness Festival 2000.
Having posted a series of messages on her X account since then, Rowetta has gone on to make more specific claims that Shaun Ryder not only assaulted her but even rendered her unconscious.
Rowetta left the band once again back in December of last year without offering much detail on the situation. The Manc music icon is continuing to both thank as well as share her own messages of support to victims of domestic violence and remains steadfast in her allegations.
Imagine if it was your Mother, your daughter, your sister, your loved one.
If you punch a woman, be man enough to admit it and apologise to my children.
Clarifying what reportedly happened two and half decades ago, Rowetta said on social media: “When I speak about Happy Mondays it will always be true. I’m not a liar.
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“Shaun Ryder punched me, knocked me out […] there were lots of witnesses and my son had to see me with a black eye! Don’t call me a liar threatening with defamation! Should have called the cops!”
Nevertheless, this hasn’t stopped the Crumpsall native from reiterating her claims, writing in a subsequent post: “Everybody stop saying I’m lying. I’m speaking to my lawyer this afternoon. I have witnesses, photos and press.
“It’s not a new story. He didn’t deny it when it happened. Ask Bez why he didn’t go on stage [at Dublin’s Witness Fest 25 years ago].” Many people online have taken issue with how the story has been reported by some outlets so far too:
Just another sloppy unsubstantiated article . Fact check atleast
Crucially, it seems Rowetta is banking on her Bez – real name Mark Berry – to back up her claims as the case unfolds, addressing him directly in her most recent post: “Anyone who knows my kids knows they would never lie.
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“I do hope Bez doesn’t let my kids down. I’ve always been there for him and his”, she went on to add. Her children, now in their 40s, have also expressed their shock at Ryder‘s denial.
Rowetta also shed some light on the most recent tour before leaving after 34 years, claiming that she stayed on a “16-bed bus on the last tour with mainly men [she] didn’t know, while Bez and his dogs, Neetsy and her merchandise-selling boyfriend, and Shaun + 1 stayed in luxury hotels.”
Although it’s hard to confirm details at this stage, it seems some have already made their minds up, with one user commenting: “It’s time for all the band to move on from Shaun Ryder, after listening to the Paul Ryder podcast, it highlights what a nasty self-centred bully he is. No doubt more skeletons in his closet.”
11 arrested and £70k cash seized during early-morning police drug raids across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
11 people have been arrested, as well as a large amount of cash and drugs seized, during early-morning raids across Greater Manchester.
The raids took place during the early hours of the morning yesterday (Thursday 19 March 2026), where Greater Manchester Police (GMP) successfully executed eight warrants simultaneously across Tameside, Oldham, and Rochdale to tackle a ‘suspected criminal network’ involved in the distribution of class A drugs and firearms.
Officers from Tameside Programme Challenger team, the District Intelligence Unit (DIU), and GMP’s Tactical Aid Unit (TAU) were deployed to each of the addresses.
Following weeks of intelligence gathering and preparation, a total of 11 people – each aged between 24 and 77 – were arrested on suspicion of drug-related offences during the raids.
Eight men and three women were arrested on suspicion of a range of offences, including conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs, being part of an organised crime group, possession with intent to supply, money laundering, and possession of an offensive weapon.
They all remain in police custody for questioning at this time, GMP confirmed.
During searches of the addresses, various class A, B and C drugs – including crack cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and nitrous oxide – were seized, while further recoveries of £70,000 in cash, a zombie knife, a BB gun, and four vehicles were also made at the same time.
Speaking following the success of the raids yesterday, Chief Superintendent Shan Nasim, District Commander for Tameside, said: “[This] operation has been a powerful example of our continued, determined effort to dismantle organised crime in our district and Greater Manchester.
“We have 11 people in custody being questioned by our investigation teams in relation to an organised crime group (OCG) that have been causing widespread harm across our communities.
“This action caused significant disruption of an organised crime group (OCG) and has prevented drugs and weapons from reaching the streets, as well as the associated harms that come hand in hand with organised crime.
“Organised criminals exploit vulnerable people and blight our communities; we will take robust action to catch offenders, keep our communities safe, and protect vulnerable people across Greater Manchester.”
Featured Image – GMP
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The Premier League is keeping its crucial cap on away game ticket prices – for now
Danny Jones
The Premier League has announced it is extending its crucial price cap for away games, as the general cost of match tickets continues to creep up all over the country.
Most season card holders, be they here in Greater Manchester or elsewhere, are likely looking at their annual spending going up simply, so steps like these are key in keeping first division football as affordable as possible.
And that’s just the ongoing cost of living, let alone the clubs that are continuing the trend of charging more each year and, unfortunately, even pricing some supporters out entirely.
With that in mind, the news of England’s top-flight sides voting unanimously to keep the £30 cap intact for at least another two years comes as relief to those who spend most of the year putting their hard-earned cash towards following their team home and away.
BREAKING: The Premier League extend £30 cap on away tickets for another two seasons 🚨 pic.twitter.com/L336aZwmn3
Now confirmed to remain in place until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, travelling fans obviously still spend plenty of money on transport and so on every year, but at least they don’t have to worry about rising general admissions.
At least not for the time being…
Writing in a statement, the Premier League said: “Away fans help create the incredible atmosphere Premier League matches are renowned for. Since the cap’s implementation in 2016, it has contributed to attendance at away games increasing from 82% to 91%.”
They also acknowledged the significant and regular funds that supporters still spend on these trips, with plenty of people online also praising the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), which helped spearhead the campaign over a decade ago.
With so many other obstacles still getting in the way of fans making it to games either at their usual stadium or on an away day – not least of all the constant and increasingly frustrating rescheduling of fixtures – it’s good to see this isn’t an area the Prem are trying to target.
As always, the multi-billion-pound business can always seek out other, newer money spinners, and we’re absolutley certain they will. For instance, there’s at least one happening over in Spain that we’d happily see carried over here.
Following the news, this now means that fans will ultimately have enjoyed 12 back-to-back seasons of the benefit, and long may it continue.
Nevertheless, the biggest barrier for people to watch the beautiful game at its highest level in the UK remains the cost of standard tickets.
The likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Leeds and more have already let matchgoers know that their season ticket prices will be going up, and the likes of Man City have already seen backlash for increasing rates amid the expansion of the Etihad Campus.
Danny Jones -
4th March 2025 
