Buzzin': The Nine Lives of a Happy Monday

by Bez

At the height of his initial, turn-of-the-1990's infamy as the maraca-wielding dancer with 'Madchester' giants Happy Mondays, the pop-eyed Mark Berry, forever known to the world as Bez, was visibly a danger to society. He became the so-called Chemical Generation's bug-eyed pied piper, every weekend leading millions out to oblivion and beyond, as they adopted his E-gobbling party lifestyle.

Neither an accomplished musician nor even a very good dancer, Bez was a prime candidate for fleeting celebrity, soon to sink into 'Where Are They Now?' obscurity. That, however, never happened, nor does it show any sign of happening. Through Black Grape, the second band he co-fronted with the Mondays' Shaun Ryder, and his ever-presence in the mass media, Bez's popularity has grown exponentially, his star rocketing ever upwards.

When he bowled into Celebrity Big Brother in 2005, he ended up winning the series, as viewers came to understand his fundamental decency and sunny outlook. His adult life has been unbelievable scrapes with mortality, periods of financial ruin, mindfuck moments like when David Bowie genuflected before him, and enough narcotic-strewn hi-jinx to fill several more volumes of memoir.

This is the story of a bad lad who has turned his life good, tracing his passage from early-thirty-something casualty to middle-aged politician, eco-warrior and bee-aficionado.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography, Autobiography

352 pages, Paperback

Published February 13, 2024

Reviews

[Mark Farley · Rating 3 out of 5]

BUZZIN' is the second outing for our Bez. I think I read his previous book, that was published a long time back. But I can't remember for a lot of the same reasons his memory is shot.

I was never a Happy Mondays fan back in the day. All that baggy shit and the whole rave culture was lost on me. I lived in rural North Yorkshire, where there were no raves, even if I wanted to go to a 'banging happening' in a muddy field in the middle of the night. You were lucky to find a pub open at 10 back then, or that wasn't closed in the daytime. Yes kids, that was a thing.

I occasionally heard one of their songs on John Peel or Steve Lamacq's shows on Radio 1 and I was like, 'Ok, that's groovy but not HEAVY enough' and besides, you also needed friends to go to raves. And those friends had to have cars and/or access to acid and ecstasy, which sounded like a bit of a chore to me and not the intended outcome that was advertised. So I never bothered.

I dug Black Grape in 1995 though, that was a great album. Very underrated.

I liked reading about Bez's adventures though, even though it is half-written with Shaun Ryder too. There's lots of tour stories, anecdotes, drug deals, Strictly, kidnappings, Big Brother and dancing maniacally around the world. He was great on Celebrity Masterchef too. I love that show.

People who keep bees will love this book. I will leave it at that.

[Richie Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really tough one to rate!

I have read a fair bit about the Happy Mondays and Black Grape even though their music didn’t exactly inspire me. Never the less, the band itself is intriguing from the perspective that they managed to ‘make it’ despite a seemingly lacking musical talent, just because they have a tremendous amount of character and determination.

It contains a lot of interesting facts about the band and the role of ‘Bez’ which mostly seems to involve… just being Bez.

He offers an insight as to his family life, political beliefs and some of his thoughts which includes a lot of conspiracy theories which are flying about.

It’s not all glamour, there is a lot of grit and some very honest - if somewhat unattractive - revelations in respect of drug taking/dealing, kidnaps and generally poor decision making and lifestyle choices. Less lucky people have died from a lot less than Bez has put his poor, tortured body though.

The thing that edges this book onto 4 stars is the fact that I see a lot of truth in what he reveals in this story. I see a lot of my friends characteristics along the way and there is more than enough to make you smile, even if you do have to bare the odd grimace here and there.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bez seems like a good bloke from what I know (and read) and do wish him the best, he's done some great work for charities. The stories of his early days and through the Happy Mondays are great and gripping, then it starts to dip off.

It depends where you stand on this as well, but personally when he starts going with his anti-vax stance, new age treatments and conspiracy theories (especially with COVID and the lockdowns), it gets very annoying very quickly. It's a whole lot of nonsense. It feels like you're reading the thoughts of someone who's only a few steps away from being a flat-earther.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read from Bez (And a bit of Shaun thrown in for free!)

This was a great book by Bez, an honest account of his true life and how he came to be in the Happy Mondays, his close relationship with Shaun Ryder and his life with drugs, rock and roll and accidents! I really enjoyed this read, it was good to read all about Bez's life and all the drama that undoubtedly went on in that scene back in the day.

Some of the tales were hilarious and some were sad, but I really enjoyed the read!

[Paul Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of the Happy Mondays or Bez for matter but having read Shaun Ryder’s book recently and also seen Bez on TV thought this might good reading. And I was pleasantly surprised. If you can get over his drug taking and dealing antics you might be surprised by this. And taking his somewhat strange on certain aspects regarding conspiracies overall this was a good read and fascinating insight into the culture of music within the UK at that period in time

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite some questionable antics in his youth, Bez seems like a decent sort of bloke overall. I found this interesting / enlightening, especially the stories about his time in the Happy Mondays and his crazy drug taking. It is quite surprising that he’s still alive. I got a bit bored by the later chapters about his reading and some of his views sound a bit bonkers but overall a decent enough read.

[Mikey James · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, I listen to this because it was free on audible and I’m double glad I did. An absolutely brilliant book that’s made me really appreciate the Happy Mondays a lot more. There was so many funny tales in this book and lots of things I didn’t even know about Bez, especially because I had the same preconceive notion as everybody else that he was just a backup dancer. Well worth a read/listen even if you’re not a fan.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a big fan of the Happy Mondays or Black Grape,but I did grow up in that era, I preferred the stone roses and the charlatans. I did like the occasional song, Bez always seemed entertaining. Some of this book is interesting, it definitely made me see more sides to Bez other than drugs and partying it did feel like half the book was written by Bez and half might have been a ghost writer, it didn't flow. I did get quite a sense of a very inflated ego, but I'm not sure what for. I enjoyed the passages from Shaun Ryder. Ok read, skimmed a bit.

2.5⭐️

[Alison Maloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bez is Bez so you get exactly what you would expect. Again, I find the lack of empathy for victims disturbing . Not everybody was as lucky as Bez & his family in emerging from an extreme drug culture relatively unscathed. Bez is a self confessed drug dealer so parents may want to be careful about whether this is OK for vulnerable teens.
.

[Kelly Rushby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never a Mondays fan when younger but I have always liked Bez and knew how colourful and engaging his autobiography would be. He didn’t let me down. Lots of near deaths and drug taking and partying and it was a joy to read. Quite a few surprises in there…things that you don’t expect from him, especially as he’s mellowed in later life. Would recommend

[D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading @bezmondays book #theninelivesofahappymonday. He really seems to have had nine lives. Some fascinating stories showed a different side of Bez and also some book suggestions. Seems also that Bez had a more enjoyable lockdown than some of us. Enjoyable book and would recommend.

[Spencer Preece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and loved his love of Herefordshire!

[Victoria Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened on audible and Bez and Shaun Ryder narrating make it hilarious.

[Jonathan Tabreham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. 10/10. Loved it 😍

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

How is this man still alive haha? Enjoyable read.

[Marmalade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Happy Mondays, I've read a book by Shaun Ryder so it was only right that I read 1 by Bez. It was a great read and will definitely read his earlier book so I can find out more about him.

[Nick Gummerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of it's interesting, i guess, on the whole he's a lovable idiot, it held my interest because as a child of rave, we walked the same paths.... But really not amazing..

[Neil Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not that great

[Andrew Hart]

Fun read, like having a conversation with your favourite bookie

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is written the way he has lived his life by totally winging it. Most of the late 80's and 90's he can't remember anyway. Waffly and repetetive.

[Helen Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive

[Lachie Macquarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blimey Bez, he nearly died on the same type of bike that I ride...... How is he still on this planet?

[Kat Noble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark ‘Bez’ Berry is a member of Happy Mondays and an entertainment personality. This is his second autobiography, and as his previous book covered his childhood and teenage years, it mainly covers his life from his early thirties up to the present.

Andrew Perry is an experienced popular music journalist whose work has been published in magazines such as Q and Mojo, and a ghostwriter who has worked with John Lyndon and Tricky on their autobiographies.

This is a wild ride of a book that has great heart and interesting perspectives. Bez recounts the story of joining the Happy Mondays and the rollercoaster of fame and fortune he found himself on as a young person. However, he is also aware that how he sees the past is not how others do, given the fallibility of memory, and so interspersed with his recollections are ones from Shaun Ryder, Bez’s son Arlo, and Bez’s partner Firouzeh.

It is a book about maturing too and finding new passions in life. Bez starts out reminiscing about the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the Madchester scene was starting up and new drugs were on the market and music was experimental, and the Happy Mondays were capturing stardom. Bez then describes his life after the band and his travels exploring new avenues of knowledge with ancient cultural practices and new age shamanism. His interest in living off the land and learning to care for bees and gardening, and how this connection to the land can be seen as a radical act.
Bez is an entertaining and seemingly well-loved person; he is warm and self-deprecating in his humour and is happiest having a party and enjoying the company of like-minded friends and family.

It was an interesting book to learn about the culture in Manchester in the 1990s and also how celebrity and entertainment culture works in the UK. Bez’s willingness to learn and keep discovering new knowledge and trying new things also makes him seem very youthful, and I hope that he is still DJing and bopping about the stage for years to come.

[Courtney Evason · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I don’t know what it is about Bez but I absolutely love him and always enjoy watching him. He has had such a colourful life and plenty of experiences that I hope to never experience 🤣

I really enjoyed reading this book, and particularly enjoyed reading about Bez’s early life. His time in the Happy Mondays was also great to read about and was as chaotic as I imagined it to be!

I didn’t think there was much structure to the book and I felt that it did jump between experiences/periods of his life at times. That being said, it was an interesting read and I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars

[Ray Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never a dull moment with Bez, best known as the mad dancer from Happy Mondays. He is so much more than that. Comes over on the telly as ebullient and equally so in this book. To say he has lead an interesting life, and still is, is very much an understatement. From Es to bees, it is all here.

[Dan Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. Bit repetitive but interesting to find out about how Bez lives his life now. Most of the Mondays’ stuff you’d know about already if you’ve been a fan. Liked the way it used other voices to give different views on situations - his son, wife and of course Shaun.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t think I would like Bez but, after reading this, I now ask myself: what’s not to like? He’s cheekily fun, taken a lot of risks, broken the law, liked his drugs… and come out the other side. A happy chappy for each day of the week, not just on Mondays!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

One thing you could never accuse Bez of is being boring.

[Andy Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read but very repetitive in parts.