Shaun Ryder, the 63-year-old Happy Mondays star, recently revealed in an interview about his past struggles with substance abuse, including smoking 50 rocks of crack cocaine daily. He shared a story about narrowly avoiding arrest during a police raid while he was at a house to “score” drugs, claiming he convinced the officers he was attending to receive a Brit Award, which allowed him to escape.
Ryder, who battled addiction for two decades before quitting at age 40, recounted a shocking incident during a trip to Barbados in 1992, where he claimed to have consumed a large quantity of crack cocaine daily. He also mentioned a peculiar encounter with what he believed was a real orangutan in Barbados, not a hallucination as some local reports suggested.
In another episode from his tumultuous past, Ryder recalled being held hostage by an armed robber in Amsterdam, with whom he managed to negotiate his release. Additionally, he described a harrowing experience in Jamaica witnessing a violent gun battle while trying to buy drugs. Ryder credited his third wife, Joanne, for helping him overcome his addiction, stating that her influence was pivotal in his decision to quit drugs.
Reflecting on his turbulent past, Ryder emphasized the positive impact Joanne had on his life, preventing him from spiraling further into drug abuse. He expressed gratitude towards her for her unwavering support and guidance, acknowledging that reaching the age of 40 was a turning point in his determination to break free from addiction.