How to Be a Rock Star

By: Shaun Ryder

Narrated by: Shaun Ryder

Length: 8 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

As lead singer of Happy Mondays and Black Grape, Shaun Ryder was the Keith Richards and Mick Jagger of his generation - one of the last real rock 'n' roll stars. A true rebel, who formed and led not one but two seminal bands, he's had number-one albums, headlined Glastonbury, toured the world numerous times, taken every drug under the sun, been through rehab - and come out the other side as a national treasure. He's been the subject of several films, written a Sunday Times best-selling autobiography, was runner-up on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and is a star of Celebrity Gogglebox.

Now, for the first time, he lifts the lid on the real inside story of how to be a rock star. With insights from three decades touring the world, which took him from Salford to San Francisco, from working men's clubs to headlining Wembley, Shaun gives readers a fly-on-the-wall look at the rock 'n' roll lifestyle - warts and all: how to be a rock star - and also how not to be a rock star. From numerous Top of the Pops appearances to being banned from live TV, from being a figurehead of the acid-house scene to hanging with the Rolling Stones and Johnny Depp, Shaun has seen it all. In this book he pulls the curtain back on the debauchery of the tour bus, ridiculous riders, run-ins with record companies, drug dealers and the mafia, and how he forged the most remarkable rock 'n' roll comeback of all time.

©2021 Shaun Ryder (P)2021 W. F. Howes Ltd

Critic Reviews

"There are enough stories about Happy Mondays to keep people talking about them forever. Bands live on through the myth really, myth and legend." (Steve Lamacq) 

"If ever a book was meant to be read by its author, it's this one. Shaun Ryder's voice and delivery are perfect - so evocative. It's funny and irreverent as you'd expect but I loved hearing about how seriously the Mondays took the music, even if they didn't always take themselves seriously. Ryder says he's never cared about being cool which makes him the coolest bloke ever. Highly highly recommended." (Erin Kelly, Sunday Times best-selling author)

How to be a boomer

The author was an old school guy. Too much for my liking really. Didn't get as much out of this as I hoped.

What a humble genius.

I am here because I love The Mondays and his lead ( not the typical ) singer Shaun. The way he talks about his life within the music business away from any showing off attitude. This is what I did because that is how I felt my love for music and how I was able to make my dream come true approach is what makes this audible so easy to listen to. On top of that I love his voice, his sense of humor. Unique band, unique audible, unique Ryder. Thanks mate!

You know you talk so hip man!

I'm a huge Mondays fan from the beginning and lost count how many times I've seen them. Shaun Ryder and the Mondays are a huge part of my mad youth. Shaun gives a frank and honest account of what he can remember. Double Good

Loved every minute

Shaun Ryder telling us how to be a rock star in the way only Shaun Ryder can.

Loved the Mondays back in the day and still do. They were working class kids like us, who's talent and originality took them places we'd only dreamed of. This book is full of anecdotes from Shaun's very long career, and the ups and downs of life in the music business - and Shaun's had his fair share of them. Interesting too was the affect his ADHD - only recently diagnosed - has had on his life. I could really relate this having been diagnosed with Autism long after my kids were. Neurodiversity and the way people's brains are wired fascinates me.

What's really good about this book is it's narrated by Shaun Ryder himself. There's literally nobody else who tell his story.

Total F@kin LEGEND!!!

This man is a living legend. If you can appreciate that , give this a listen/read. Simple. He's an effortlessly funny man and he has his own style that really shouldn't work but totally does and made The Mondays the coolest band in the fkin world at one time. And this man kicked heroin and crack and barely mentions it here. legend. As a big time Mondays fan I love this, and am sure will listen to it more than once. Superb insight into Mondays life also, and it's fkin read by Shaun himself...legend!

Totally wonderful

This is just a joy from start to finish. Shaun is the real deal. Do yourself a favour and buy it, whether you’re a fan or not.

don't miss out on this book can't fault this book

very funny very honest shaun ryder at his best if your a big fan don't miss out on this book I loved it couldn't stop lol

Brilliant

Not a narration more like a conversation !!! Go on treat yourself and enjoy !!!

Great book. loved it listened over 2 days.

Shaun Ryder, brings the book to life , makes me want to go back and listen to my Happy Mondays and Black grape albums again.

Shaun Ryder national treasure..

worth a listen!
if you were there or even if you weren't.
Great Rock and Roll story.

Top One

Excellent, Shaun never lets you down when it comes too entertaining, funny an honest from start to finish.
Him an Bez could rite 10 books an it still wouldn’t be enough 😂
(Also great to hear Eddie B n Bobby G get a mention 😎😎)
Great memories X
DEANO

Not terrible not good

Some of the story’s are interesting but it’s hard to listen to it’s a bit all over the place his brains pickled with drugs and it shows

probably better as a book.

Shaun can barely read this properly.
the editing is poor as they are numerous moments when Shaun repeats himself.
his inflection and emphasis is flat or wrong for a large part. the content is ok and there are some good laughs but generally this is a bit so so.