Happy Mondays star Bez: ‘AI is like War of the Worlds unfolding in front of your eyes’

What’s the secret to a happy Monday (and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday etc)? Bez knows. The freaky dancer, whose manic moves and maracas have accompanied Happy Mondays’ music since 1980, reckons the key is to disengage with the news and get out on the road.

In 2025, Happy Mondays took classic songs, from Wrote For Luck to Step On, 24 Hour Party People to Kinky Afro and Hallelujah back out into the live arena. And for original member Bez, it was a reminder of the friendships that drove the band in the first place and the joy of touring.

Happy Mondays embark on another huge UK and Ireland tour in March 2026 as they celebrate 35 years since the classic Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches LP.

So we asked Bez about the highs and lows of a busy year, his views on the return of Oasis, and his plans for Christmas (if he can get away with them)…

What has been your standout moment of 2025? 

Going on tour again in Europe. I can’t remember the last time we went out as a band and we had such an amazing time. It was like a busman’s holiday, we all became really close pals again. I was gutted when it was over because it ended just as we were getting going! 

What do you know about yourself now that you didn’t this time last year? 

Well, I know one thing what ain’t changed, I’m still a top knobhead!   

What do you think the world got right this year?   

God, I don’t know, cos I’ve not actually engaged with any type of news in nearly two years now. Honestly, I decided to turn it off. I couldn’t bear it any more cos there was nothing I can do about it and I was just getting angry about all this shit. 

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What is your cultural highlight of 2025?

A book called Mutiny on the Bounty by Peter FitzSimons. The story is based on the actual historical records so it’s the true account from the people who were involved. One of the funniest things was that one of them was a Manc as well. And he was a right bastard apparently! What nobody knows about is when they get off with all these women on the Pitcairn Islands and the women have their own little mutiny and kill everybody, all the men on the island! 

Did you see Oasis? 

I did, yeah, I saw one of the Heaton Park shows and was absolutely blown away by the whole occasion. It was just phenomenal, it blew me away as I actually didn’t realise how huge Oasis are. It was great to see it unfold, it was almost a shock how incredible it was. 

Do you think your job is at risk from AI? 

You know what, possibly. I thought no way could AI actually do that, but it can just rob everyone and anybody’s life. It’s unbelievable that we’re actually witnessing the AI takeover, like War of the Worlds unfolding in front of your eyes and everyone’s invited it in to be the personal assistant. 

What is the oddest family Christmas tradition you keep? 

We don’t really have any Christmas traditions, most recently we have been going out every Christmas for dinner because the wife’s brother died and they don’t like having Christmas at home any more. We always go out at Christmas now so all the old traditions are gone. I don’t mind giving me missus a quickie under the mistletoe, but it’s not a tradition, only if I can get away with it! 

Are you more or less hopeful than at the start of 2025? 

Hopeful, I’m always hopeful, it’s one of my things that I like to remain at all times. There’ll always be something round the next corner. I’ve always lived my life that way, you’ve always got to live in hope. 

What one thing are you looking forward to in 2026?

Going on tour with the Mondays, another good year with my wife – just hoping for a good year all round and hope that the lunatics don’t take us to all-out war. 

What’s your big idea to make 2026 better than 2025? 

Drink a little more, smoke a little less. 

What’s your Big Issue for 2026? 

I’ll tell you what it is, I might take on my sugar addiction. It’s what I should be doing. 

Happy Mondays tour the UK in 2026 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their album Pills ’n’ Thrills And Bellyaches.

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