Former Happy Mondays singer Rowetta insists she ‘would not lie’ over claims that bandmate Shaun Ryder ‘punched’ her and ‘knocked her out’.
The shock accusation comes just two months after it was announced she would be leaving the band after three decades with the Step On hitmakers.
Rowetta, 59, joined the group in 1990, along with the original lineup which consisted of Shaun, Paul Ryder, Mark ‘Bez’ Berry, Gaz Whelan, Paul Davis, and Mark Day.
At the time, they issued a joint statement in which the band wished her the best and thanked the former X Factor star ‘for her service’.
Now, she has claimed that lead singer Shaun, 62, ‘punched’ her and ‘knocked her out’ leaving her with a black eye.
Shaun has denied this, with a spokesperson for Happy Mondays telling Metro he is ‘shocked’ by the claims.
Rowetta initially took to X with her claims, writing: ‘When I speak about Happy Mondays and it will always be true. I’m not a liar.
‘Shaun Ryder punched me, knocked me out & there were lots of witnesses & my son had to see me with a black eye! Don’t call me a liar threatening with defamation! Should have called the cops!’
The alleged incident is thought to have happened while Happy Mondays were performing at Dublin’s Witness Festival in 2000.
After Shaun’s denial, Rowetta then told Metro: ‘I would not lie about this. I am seeking legal advice and will be going to the police. I am not a liar.’
At the time, it was reported by NME that Bez and Rowetta would not join Shaun on stage after a fight on the ferry over.
This was confirmed by a spokesperson for the ship who told The Sun: ‘A female and one of the group had a fight. The captain threatened to turn the ship around unless they behaved.’
On top of this incident, Rowetta claimed her treatment on tour was not equal to the other band members.
It’s unclear if this was Happy Mondays’ most recent UK tour last year, ahead of their hiatus, or a historic tour.
Rowetta told us she was sleeping on a 16-bed bus with ‘mainly men I hardly knew’ while others – including Bez and Shaun – ‘were in lovely hotels’.
She added that she had correspondence which detailed ‘everything that happened’ between herself and the band’s manager.
‘I also have witnesses and evidence,’ the singer continued. ‘I’m not saying anything further at this time, but they need to stop calling me a liar.’
Rowetta was the second vocalist and percussionist, rejoining the Happy Mondays each time they split – which happened multiple times.
In 2012, the full original lineup reformed with Rowetta also back on board for their world tour the following year.
In response to the claims, a spokesperson for Happy Mondays told Metro: ‘This matter is now in the hands of Shaun’s lawyers.
‘He is shocked by Rowetta’s reported claims, but in the circumstances there will be no further comment.’
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