by David Morgan

HE was synonymous with the party lifestyle and excess of the 'Madchester' scene.

But 20 years on after kicking various drug addictions, Shaun Ryder said he does not miss the "madness" of the 90s and is enjoying making music more than ever.

The Happy Mondays frontman is back on the road again as part of a Black Grape reunion tour.

"It feels great now," Shaun told Weekend.

"I can finally enjoy what I’m doing on stage. We’re older, wiser and don’t have as much madness going on.

"Well we have no madness going on really. It’s quite boring. Now it’s just rock and roll and the sex and drugs have disappeared."

But what does Shaun miss about the 90s when he was releasing hits like Step On and Kinky Afro?

"Nothing. I don’t miss any of it," the 52-year-old added.

"I really am in love with my age and what I’m doing now. I’d say to anybody go out and enjoy your youth.

"I was lucky enough to travel around the world playing rock and roll since I was 18. It goes really quick so enjoy it.

"That was then and I enjoyed every minute of it. But I was seven when the 1960s ended and I can remember the 1960s better than I can the 1990s."

Shaun recalled when the Happy Mondays headlined the Warrington music festival in 2013. It was one of the first times the original line-up had played together in nearly 20 years.

He said: "It’s like you go to bed for an eight-hour sleep and you wake up and 20 years have gone.

"That’s how fast it goes. It really does. Before you know it you’re coming up to 53."

Now Shaun has teamed up with rapper Kermit again. The pair managed to combine rap, house, rock, soul and pop as Black Grape but split up after just two albums.

He said: "With Black Grape and the Mondays, now we’re all compos mentis and a lot older and don’t have to deal with a lot of the rubbish which goes with being young, it really is a pleasure."

- Black Grape play Manchester Academy on Friday and Warrington's Parr Hall on July 12/