Shaun Ryder and Bez perform in new supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos

It’s a Happy Monday! Shaun Ryder and Bez join Oasis’ Andy Bell and Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey for the first live performance of their new 90s supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos – ahead of Glastonbury show later this month

Shaun Ryder and Bez have joined Oasis’ Andy Bell and Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey for the first live performance of their new 90s supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos – ahead of their Glastonbury show later this month. 

The four 90s legends put on a raucous show at London’s The Box last night – with Bez, 59, relishing the chance to perform his first ever solo on the maracas.

It included an outing for their first single, Gorilla Gorilla, described by Starkey – who’s also drummer of The Who – as ‘a fantastic psychedelic groove from a band of misfits, outsiders and innovators’. 

Meanwhile, Bell, 59, said: ‘It’s a pleasure to be part of Mantra of the Cosmos. Four like minded souls who get off on the same music.’ 

Any band that incorporates stars from the likes of Happy Mondays, Black Grape, Oasis and The Who could leave fans expecting to hear a similar sound, but Ryder, 60, insists the new group will be totally unique. 

Bez on the maracas during the first performance of new supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos at The Box in London last night 

Andy Bell and Bez during last night’s performance – which was typically energetic 

Starkey – who is also drummer of The Who – puts his hands in the air during last night’s gig 

‘It doesn’t sound like them, it’s what we are doing all together,’ he told The Sun. 

Despite their wild reputations, the band say they’ve changed over the years, joking in a Channel 4 interview about their new habit of sitting down in the evenings to watch the news. 

The segment also saw Ryder reflect on the challenges facing the modern music industry, such as the rise of online streaming. 

‘The profits are really not good,’ he said. 

‘I know that over one million people went to download my solo album, but that made me about 50 pence. 

Mantra of the Cosmos will take Glastonbury by storm with a gig on the Glade Stage at 8.20pm on Sunday. 

Discussing the group, Manchester legend Bez previously said: ‘I always knew the best was yet to come.’

In an interview with Channel 4 ahead of their performance, the band spoke about why they came together.  

Andy Bell and Shaun Ryder yesterday. The new group has been described as ‘a band of misfits, outsiders and innovators’

Despite their wild reputations, the band say they’ve changed over the years, joking in a Channel 4 interview about their new habit of sitting down in the evenings to watch the news

Bez on the maracas. He said the gig saw his first solo live performance on the instruments 

Ryder said: ‘We have no diva strops with us lot. Absolutely not. ‘

Bell added: ‘We’re all very chill but we’ve had some runs ins in the past, apparently. We were just discussing that.’ 

Ryder explained: ‘We’re all old men, aren’t we?’

This prompted Bez to quip: ‘We’re so old we can’t even remember the run ins.’

The musicians also discussed their motivation in setting up the band. 

Starkey, who brought them all together, refused to describe their collective as a super group, though Ryder disagreed with his bandmate. 

‘I don’t mind calling it a super group,’ he joked. ‘Because we’re all so super, we’re all so wonderful.’ 

Bell, Bez, Starkey and Ryder pose backstage following their performance at The Box yesterday 

Bez chats with members of the audience at yesterday’s intimate London gig 

Mantra of the Cosmos will take Glastonbury by storm with a gig on the Glade Stage at 8.20pm on Sunday

In the interview, the band also took the time to criticise streaming and explain how they can’t make any money from it. 

Ryder said: ‘When we first did a streaming deal and realised what the artists get…I mean, that was just garbage. It really wasn’t good.

‘My solo album, more than one million people went to download that. But it pays me about 50p.’ 

Bez and Ryder also talked about their time on Celebrity Gogglebox, which has seen them return to the public eye in recent years. 

They acknowledged their rockstar past but said at their age they were happy to enjoy some ‘beers, cream cakes and chocolate’. 

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