BIG ARM   

DEBUT ALBUM " RADIATOR" OUT ON 5 NOVEMBER 2007. 

Click here to read about Paul Ryder's encounter with the cops in New York ( from BBC Manchester)

Click above to watch the " Sunrays" music video. 

Paul Ryder, the man who formed, named and helped create a sound for a generation with his old band Happy Mondays, is back with new band Big Arm. This time the Ryder brother with the good voice supplies lead vocals, and the dynamic and iconic bass sound that is Ryder’s own, firmly underpins the debut Big Arm album "Radiator".

Curiously his vocals sound like himself, his brother Shaun, with a pinch of the legend that is Ian Curtis. With his track record of co-writing four top 10 albums and seven hit singles, Ryder’s new outfit is destined to follow suit with its ground-breaking grooveful fusion of electro-funked-up upbeat tunes that get right under your skin. As one fan so aptly put it: “The songs are all having a funky afro party in a two man tent with a box full of Wigan Casino classics mixed with Mike Pickering’s selection for election on a hazy Hacienda Club Nude night.”

Old Skool Mondays fans will not be disappointed and Northern Soulers will get on the groove in this hybrid fusion of f**ked-up fatness and souled-up chill. 

Paul is joined by fellow Big Arm founder and legendary techno guru Pete Smith, aka DJ Blue, mastermind of Manchester hip hop outfit P Love and Blue. Pete has written with Moloko’s Roisin Murphy and has collaborated with St. Etienne, ACR, Mike Joyce, Lamb and Icelandic groovesters Gus Gus. Manchester luminary Daz Gilkinson adds slick guitar riffs to the Big Arm sound in his own unique and funky style while drum veteran Danny Short keeps the beat and his ass on the seat whilst delivering backing vocals. Lea Mullen, former Happy Mondays percussion player completes the rhythm section. 

Production on the debut album was by Manchester’s most wanted Producer, Martin Hannett protege and Moby’s favourite, John Pennington. John is well known for working alongside acts like New Order, The Housemartins, Inspiral Carpets, The Smiths, Sisters of Mercy, Killing Joke and many more. 

Their unique blend of infectious melodies, funked-up rhythm and trip hop tunes has already begun to infiltrate. 

Be warned. BIG Arm. It’s large.

WATCH THE BAND LIVE IN ACTION 

THE EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 

1. Tell us how Big Arm came together and what you were all up to before this band ? 

Big Arm came about after I got back in contact with Pete Smith who I’d written stuff with a few years earlier. The projects started off with just Pete and myself and serendipity then stepped in and Danny Short (drums) appeared along with Daz Gilkinson (guitar). I’d been mates with Lea Mullen (percussion) ever since we’d been in the Happy Mondays together so having him in the line-up was a given. Before Big Arm I was of course in the Mondays with Lea, Pete had worked with Roisin Murphy, Lamb, Gus Gus and P Love and Blue and Daz and Danny have been in various Manchester bands and have definitely served their apprenticeship.

2. Who or what are your influences ? 

Funkadelic, northern soul, punk, hip hop – the list goes on and on!

3. What modern artists do you like? What are you all listening to at the moment ? 

Paul – Maximo Park, The Rapture and I’ve just dug out all my Echo and the Bunnymen stuff
Pete – Electro 3
Daz – Santana
Danny – The Fall’s new album
Lea - Jukes

4. If you could choose to record a song with any other artist/band alive or dead who would it be and why ?

I’d love to with Steve Jones and Paul Cook from the Sex Pistols maybe together with my great friend Ian Brown – wow that would be great! As for dead people, it would have to be Phil Lynott – an all-time hero of mine, and George Harrison, who I had the privilege to meet several years ago.

5. What inspires you to write your music/lyrics ? 

Writing this album helped me get out of a dark place and into somewhere that’s much happier and I think this comes across in the music. I’m inspired by the good people around me and their positivity that’s so refreshing.

6. Name your all time fave track by another artist ?

This changes every day depending on the time and mood I’m in. Right now it’s Good Times by Chic, tomorrow it might be something by New Order.

7. What sort of sound can we expect from your forthcoming album ? 

Up up up and more ups.

8. What is the strangest thing a fan has said to you after a gig ? 

What time are you on stage?

9. How would you describe your music and what genre do you think it fits into ? 

Modern day northern soul with a groove – some have dubbed it Northern Groove. 

10. Where is your forthcoming album being recorded and who is producing ? 

It was recorded in Salford, Greater Manchester and Normandy, France. It’s being produced by Pete Smith and John Pennington who’s worked with Moby on and off for the past 10 years. I first worked with John when he was a 17-year old studio engineer working on the Mondays’ “Wrote For Luck” single and the Bummed album. He’s a Martin Hannett protégé.

11. What's your favourite Big Arm lyric ? 

The keyword is Survival in the new frontier.

12. Describe your best gig ever, and why ? 

It will probably be Big Arm at the G-Mex in Manchester later this year, opening the show for Ian Brown.

13. You recently supported Ian Brown on tour. What was that like and how many people in total have you played to so far with Big Arm ? 

Supporting Ian was fantastic, he’s a truly a beautiful human being and a good friend. We go back a long way and I’m really grateful for the support he continues to give us and also for christening me “Big Arm”!
I’d say we’ve played to around 30,000 people so far.

14. Paul, In your opinion , what are the differences in launching a band today as compared to when the Happy Mondays first started out ? Do you think the Internet has made things better or worse. 

The industry’s still dominated by the major labels which are run by accountants, but the internet’s great as it’s allowing independent music to break through and putting more choice back into the hands of the listeners. It’s got the majors running scared as it’s the modern day equivalent of what happened in ’77 in the punk days when people started their own indie labels and began to have some success, showing that things can be done without major labels.

15. Describe an average day for Big Arm ? 


It depends whether we’re on tour or in the studio. If not, I can usually be found at 8.30 every morning doing the school run, but back in bed by 8.45 for a couple of hours! The day’s punctuated by spurts of checking our myspace which I like to personally manage when I can. Sometimes I’m in the Turn On Tunes office helping out with the business side of things, other times I’ll be writing ideas for new stuff and getting my fix of music for the day. 

BIG ARM ON TOUR 

Nov 3rd ­ Hemsby on sea

Nov 17th ­ Blackburn ­ North Bar

Dec 14th ­ Leeds - Rios

Dec 21st ­ Barrow ­ The Canteen Media and Arts Centre

Jan 19th ­ Milton Keynes ­ Pitz Club

Big Arm will also be opening the show for  Stone Roses legend Ian Brown at the following dates. 

Nov 26th ­ Carlisle ­ Sands Centre

Nov 27th ­ Oxford - Academy

Nov 29th ­ Brixton - Academy

Dec 7th ­ Manchester Central