August 18, 2007 21:20

Happy Mondays 'have it!' for Tony Wilson at V Festival

Dedication comes during greatest hits set at Chelmsford

Happy Mondays played a greatest hits set tonight (August 18) at the V Festival in Chelmsford, paying tribute to Factory Records legend Tony Wilson, who died recently.

The band, led by Shaun Ryder, opened with recent single 'Jellybean' at 8.15pm as the sun was setting.

Ryder was wearing a buttoned-up strip polo shirt with dancer Bez sporting combat shorts and a long-sleeved shirt, carrying and shaking his trademark maracas.

Following 'Jellybean' the band performed a greatest hits set, with tracks including 'Kinky Afro', 'Step On' and 'In The Name Of The Father', originally a song by Ryder's former band, Black Grape.

Before playing closer '24 Hour Party People' Ryder declared, "I was gonna say let's have a one minute's silence for Tony Wilson, but if he was here he'd be para - so let's have it!"

Despite the upbeat dedication, two thirds of the way through the song Ryder donned his jacket and left the stage, leaving his band to finish the song without him and say their goodbyes to the crowd.

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