Whether it is tales of writing genre-defining music, lost days and wild nights or eating questionable parts of a kangaroo, the memories and stories should come flooding back, when one of the iconic singers of the time hosts a live interview.

Shaun Ryder, the infamous frontman of the legendary Manchester band the Happy Mondays and the 90s band Black Grape, is returning to the island to host an evening of conversation and chat, beginning with an informal interview, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.

Since breaking through to mainstream success with the Happy Mondays in the late 80s, Shaun (below) has lived his life fully in the public glare.

Whether it was being the face that defined the blissed out ’Madchester’ scene at the start of the 1990s, or the notoriously bad-mouthed guest of TV shows The Word and TFI Friday, Shaun was as much known for his wild and drug-hazed lifestyle as he was for his joyful and infectious music.

To most, such a life and reputation must make taking part in appearances like this a nerve-wracking experience.

However, like everything else Shaun has done in life, from huge concerts to TV appearances, and from spending time in jail through to charming the nation by taking part in ’I’m a Celebrity...’ on ITV, it’s one more thing that he takes in his stride.

’I really don’t mind what I get asked. Honestly, you can ask me anything, and I’m dead happy to answer it,’ said Shaun.

’And people do, too! You wouldn’t believe what some people ask.

’I’m not one of those types of people with a ready-prepared list of demands or questions. Y’know, some stars and the like who do these type of things like to know exactly what they’re going to be asked and what answers they are going to give. I’m not like that.

’Mostly people want to know about the 90s, and all the things that went on around that time.

’I mean, most of the 90s are a blank, but that is the good thing about releasing my autobiography recently. That helped to fill a lot of the gaps in. I had to go over a lot of things again, and that brought a lot back.

’But I get a real mix of people at my events, from all sorts of backgrounds, and some of the questions can be really way out.’

The variety of people who claim to be fans of Shaun’s pays testament to his incredible and hard-won longevity in the music industry.

Once the Happy Mondays had disintegrated, Shaun and his side-kick, dancer Bez filled dance floors across the world with Black Grape, and brought much-needed colour to the fairly dour world of Britpop.

Two scene-defining bands, coupled with tabloid notoriety, means that Shaun has fans spanning many generations.

’I guess I have a real schizophrenic audience at the moment,’ he said.

’We always get the guys and girls who were at uni in the 80s, who are big Mondays’ fans, and then we have the people who were well into Black Grape in the 90s.

’The Mondays weren’t a 90s band, or really part of the whole Britpop thing. We came way before all of that. We released Pills ’N’ Thrills and Bellyaches and we were done by ’92.

’But I guess its the time most people remember me for. All we ever did was write and play music that to us was simply good music.

’And people are still really into those sounds. You just have to look at this whole thing with Factory records now.

’There are Factory nights and Hacienda nights all the time now, and they are all full of kids. No one is twisting their arms and forcing them to go.

’It’s all about the music, and it’s still good. People are still really into it.’

Shaun last performed on the Isle of Man in 2010, with a reformed Happy Mondays at the Villa Marina.

Not that there is much point in bringing it up on the night, as he admits he doesn’t really remember it.

’To be honest I don’t remember much about playing here, as it was about 10 or so years ago. Its the way of playing and touring, that you just go through places without seeing them.

’But there is one thing I have seen about the Isle of Man that I like the look of.

’I’ve been watching that Jurby prison programme and, I tell you what, I wouldn’t mind doing a bit of time in there. It looks a right laugh.

’I got locked up in Jersey once, and that was no fun, let me tell you.

’Jurby prison, though, that looks a great place. I’d be happy to spend a couple of weeks in there.’

’An Evening with Shaun Ryder’ takes place at the Promenade Suite at the Villa Marina on Tuesday, November 19, from 8pm.

Tickets are £25, with VIP tickets £55, available from the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety box office, on 600555, and from villagaiety.com

by Mike Wade

Twitter:@iomnewspapers