HOW do you interview a musician like Shaun Ryder? With difficulty is the answer.

The Happy Mondays frontman has a foggier memory than most due to his infamous 24-hour party lifestyle. Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo, we pieced together the reasons for The Happy Mondays reunion and appearance at the O2 Academy Bournemouth this Wednesday.

“Yeah, I've got memories of going to Bournemouth on holidays when I was a seven year old kid with me mum and dad. There was a great big Royal Navy battleship in the middle of Bournemouth that we went on loads...No wait that might not have been Bournemouth after all,” says Shaun, 49.

After a few moments of contemplation, the affable Mancunian tried again to recollect his time at the seaside.

“No it's no good. I certainly can't remember playing Bournemouth with the Mondays at all,” he added.

The original Madchester misfits are back together for the first time in over 19 years to embark on an 11-date UK tour. Back in the 80s and early 90s, Manchester was the heart of the UK's music scene, nurturing bands like New Order, Happy Mondays, The Stone Roses and The Smiths.

The reunion comes three months after fellow Mancunians Ian Brown and John Squire buried their differences resulting in The Stone Roses selling-out a string of arena dates this summer.

“When news of The Stone Roses reforming broke, we got swamped with offers to get back together. We're not quite like the Stone Roses, in that we have been together over the years in various guises. But this is the first time that the full original line up has been together.”

The reformed Happy Mondays line-up will include Shaun Ryder, Bez, Gary Whelan, Mark Day, Paul Davies, Paul Ryder and Rowetta.

“It wasn't hard or awkward but actually pleasant. We all met up last week and some of the lads haven't seen each other in 10 or 15 years.

“It's as if we've never been apart, it's so good to all be in the same room again. The only person we had trouble with is Bez. In 2006, he told me he was too old for his freaky dancing and moving about all over the stage. I said this time we'd make it easier for him and he can do a bit of dj-ing. It'll be nice and relaxed.”

For Ryder, the touring lifestyle doesn't hold the same vices as their legendary hell-raising days.

“It's different when you're young and mad. We don't want to be seen as barmy old blokes, we're more refined especially as the egos have all calmed down. I swim everyday and bike ride, once you get past your mid-forties you've got to do it.”

The Happy Mondays were first discovered by the late broadcaster and Factory Records boss Tony Wilson in pioneering nightclub The Hacienda and became synonymous with the Manchester music scene.

Their first album in 1987 was Squirrel and G-Man Twenty Four Hour Party People Plastic Face Carnt Smile (White Out).

The band followed up with two classic albums, Bummed in 1988, then Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches which went on to achieve platinum status in the UK.

The hedonistic excesses finally caught up with the band and they split in 1993, with band members Shaun Ryder and Bez forming Black Grape. The pair has since found unlikely fame as contestants on reality TV shows such as Celebrity Big Brother and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here.

The Bournemouth show will see them doing what they do best, expect to hear melon-twisting classic songs such as Step On, Kinky Afro, Hallelujah, 24 Hour Party People and many more.

The Happy Mondays will be joined by the newly-reformed Inspiral Carpets as special guests.

“We can't wait now to get on tour and play the songs that made us famous.”