Bez makes vocal debut on brand-new house collaboration
Replacing maracas with a microphone
Last updated 26th Jul 2021
Bez has announced his vocal debut on brand-new collaboration ‘Flying Bus’. The legendary Happy Mondays party machine has teamed up with acclaimed house producer DJ Doorly on the new track, alongside vocalist Firouzeh.
‘Flying Bus’ pays homage to Bez’s beloved Flying Bus stage at Glastonbury, which is renowned as the place to be for the hardcore party people who don’t want the night to end.
The track is the first time the dancer and maraca-player has lent his vocals to a record, after being the Happy Mondays’ treasured mascot since the band formed in 1980.
The dance record is accompanied by a bonkers animated music video, which sees Bez bring the mad party to public transport as the 57-year-old plays the role of bus conductor whilst DJ Doorly takes the wheel.
Bez said: “It was a brilliant work trip to Ibiza to collaborate with Doorly at his studio that created this tune. My Flying Bus stage at Glastonbury is really special to me and a great hangout for the hardcore party people. I’ve been missing it so much and this track conjures up that Flying Bus magic.
“The song is about that freedom you feel when you’re gathered with like-minded people. This is the first vocal track I’ve ever brought out and I’m nervous and excited at the same time. I hope people will get ‘on the bus’ and enjoy it, get lost in a moment in time, that’s the whole vibe!”
The duo will be taking the party on the road this summer for a limited run of shows celebrating the magic of acid house.
Bez recently starred in the music video for Euro 2020 anthem ‘Vindaloo Two’, a modern remake of the legendary track, where he appears alongside Will Mellor, Danny Dyer, Paddy McGuinness, Keith Lemon and Happy Mondays bandmate Rowetta.
'Flying Bus' will be released on Friday 30th July.
Check out these Factory Records artists, including Happy Mondays:
Joy Division
Formed in Salford in 1976, Joy Division changed music forever. The group consisted of lead vocalist Ian Curtis, guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris.
Sumner and Hook were inspired to form a band after attending a now-historic Sex Pistols concert at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1976. They were inspired by the early Punk movement and went on to become post-Punk pioneers with songs like 'Love Will Tear Us Apart', 'Disorder' and 'Transmission'.
New Order
New Order was born out of the demise of Joy Division, following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis in 1980. Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook and Stephen Morris continued to make music, before being joined by keyboardist Gillian Morris later that year.
They were the flagship band for Factory Records and the Hacienda nightclub. Their masterpiece 'Blue Monday' became the top-selling 12" single of all time and continues to be a favourite of music fans today. Although Peter Hook left the outfit in 2007, New Order continue to play shows to huge crowds.
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, or OMD, were formed in Merseyside in 1978 and signed to Tony Wilson's Factory Records in 1979 prior to the release of their debut single 'Electricity'.
The band created forward-thinking electronic music and were inspired by artists including Kraftwerk, David Bowie, Brian Eno and label-mates Joy Division. Their stand-out track 'Enola Gay' was released in September 1980.
Happy Mondays
Formed in Salford in 1980, the band's original line-up consisted of Shaun Ryder, Paul Ryder, Mark Day, Paul Davis and Gary Whelan, before Mark 'Bez' Berry joined shortly after the vocalist Rowetta joined the band in 1990.
Their music helped create a bridge between the UK's independent scene and the dance and rave culture which was emanating out of Manchester's legendary Hacienda nightclub.
They released a total of five studio albums, most notably 'Bummed' in 1988 and 'Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches' in 1990.
The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column formed in Manchester in 1978 and were one of the first acts to be signed to the Factory label.
Lead by guitarist Vini Reilly, he was also joined by Bruce Mitchell on drums and Keir Stewart on bass, keyboards and harmonica.
James
Although not officially signed to Factory, James released their first two singles 'Jimone' (1983) and 'James II' (1985) on the label, before signing with Sire Records.
They have had huge hits during their career including 'Come Home', 'Sit Down' and 'Laid'.