Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder ‘left just £6,000 to his daughter’ after his shock death at the age of 58 just hours before a gig

Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder 'left just £6,000 to his daughter' after his shock death at the age of 58 just hours before a gig

As a lifestyle expert with years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of sadness when I read about the life and death of Paul Ryder, the Happy Mondays bassist who passed away without leaving a will. Life, as we all know, is unpredictable, and it’s always heart-wrenching to see someone who contributed so much to music leave behind such a small estate.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share this astonishing fact: The legendary bassist of the Happy Mondays, none other than Paul Ryder, parted ways with merely £6,000 from his estate upon his passing. Sadly, it seems he didn’t pen a will before his departure.

In 2022, the musician, who was the sibling of well-known vocalist Shaun Ryder, passed away at the age of 58. Tragically, this happened only a few hours prior to when their band was scheduled to perform a concert in Sunderland.

Evidence from documents uncovered by The Sun reveals that Paul didn’t compose a will in Britain, and his total assets at the time of his death were only £13,262. After deducting debts and legal fees, these assets were eventually reduced to £5,978.

It is believed that much of Paul’s earnings, including royalties, were registered overseas following his relocation to Los Angeles in the later part of the 2000s.

The High Court granted probate to his daughter Amelia last week.

Shaun, age 59, along with Paul, are the inaugural creators of the band known as The Happy Mondays, which originated in Salford back in 1980.

Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder 'left just £6,000 to his daughter' after his shock death at the age of 58 just hours before a gig

Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder 'left just £6,000 to his daughter' after his shock death at the age of 58 just hours before a gig

Paul was found dead in July 2022, before the band were due to play at Kubix Festival in Sunderland.

‘We, the Ryder family and members of Happy Mondays, are profoundly dismayed and stunned to announce that our beloved Paul Ryder passed away this morning.’

‘An extraordinary trailblazer and icon whose absence we deeply feel. Our gratitude goes out to everyone honoring the privacy of those affected during this difficult period.’

A coroner ruled Ryder died of Ischaemic heart disease and diabetes. 

Although Shaun maintained that his brother’s demise wasn’t drug-related, it’s important to note that Paul had been candid about his past struggles with drug addiction, particularly during the initial phase of their band when he battled a heroin habit.

He told The Mirror in 2019: ‘We couldn’t have Calpol for the kids. I’d drink the lot.’

In a straightforward interview held in 2007, he openly discussed his drug use, stating, “It was quite intense. At age 18, while recording an album, I was receiving my true education on Monday nights.

For over a decade, I had been relying on substances that I started using at age 17. In my profession, if one has the financial means and the appropriate social circle, drug use becomes an inherent aspect – even more so when peers in the industry generously provide it without charge.

Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder 'left just £6,000 to his daughter' after his shock death at the age of 58 just hours before a gig
Happy Mondays star Paul Ryder 'left just £6,000 to his daughter' after his shock death at the age of 58 just hours before a gig

In America, it was particularly noticeable that when there were no drugs involved, there was simply no entertainment or performance taking place.

His brother Shaun has also opened up about his 20-year drug addiction in the past.

In 2014, Paul told TopMob how he treated his now 16-year-old son’s cancer with cannabis.

He had said that as a recovering addict he would never have encouraged Chico to take drugs.

However, upon learning about their son’s uncommon soft tissue cancer diagnosis, the musician shared that he and his spouse opted to employ cannabis oil.

In the year 2010, Paul tied the knot with music journalist Angela Smith, following eleven years of companionship. Together, they welcomed two beautiful kids into their family, but parted ways in 2016.

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2024-12-17 20:05

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