'I was so out of control!' Bez on cocaine, Happy Mondays, his ‘sexless marriage’ to Shaun Ryder, organic courgettes…
Drugs, drink and dancing made Bez famous. Thirty-five years on, has he really swapped it all for filtered water, intermittent fasting and walks with the dogs?
TL;DR
- Bez, real name Mark Berry, has drastically changed his lifestyle at 62, adopting organic eating, filtered water, and intermittent fasting.
- He acknowledges his past excesses, including drug use and legal troubles, but states he never considered himself addicted.
- Bez maintains a strong, enduring friendship with Happy Mondays bandmate Shaun Ryder, describing their relationship as a 'sexless marriage'.
- He has embraced a permaculture lifestyle, growing his own vegetables and advocating for self-sufficiency.
- Bez holds unconventional political views, referencing conspiracy theories and expressing a desire for societal change, though he fears being labelled.
- Despite his past, Bez expresses gratitude for his life experiences, which he believes have expanded his awareness.
- He has found success beyond music through television appearances, which he notes have been more financially rewarding.
- Bez's iconic role in Happy Mondays began by chance when he joined them on stage, leading to a career he never anticipated.
- He currently reads extensively, finding escape in books and planning to build a personal library for future generations.