Rowetta Satchell joined Manchester’s Happy Mondays after the first two albums in 1990, for the hit album “Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches”, and sang on their biggest hits “Step On” and “Kinky Afro”. Rowetta appeared in the Steve Coogan film “24 Hour Party People” in 2002, as herself.
Happy Mondays were from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band’s original line-up was Shaun Ryder (vocals), his brother Paul Ryder on bass who sadly died in July 2022 at 58-years-old, Mark Day (guitar), Paul Davis (keyboard), and Gary Whelan (drums). Mark “Bez” Berry later joined the band onstage as a dancer/percussionist. Rowetta Satchell joined the band as a guest vocalist in 1990.
Rowetta has recently performed with James and the Joe Duddell Orchestra, and she joins the Happy Mondays for their headline UK tour throughout March and April. Rowetta has several house music collaborations for release this summer, supported by live dates in Ibiza, across Spain and the UK.
She will appear at Glastonbury and a bunch of other festivals; including the famed Mucky Weekender in Hampshire in September. Rowetta will join Shed Seven for part of their winter tour, celebrating the band’s recent # 1 album “A Matter Of Time”, which Rowetta features on.
Rowetta has not really stopped working in her own right since the Monday’s heyday. She is often in Ibiza and Majorca for her own dance club gigs, and she fronts Peter Hooks’ band The Light and his Hacienda Classical project with an orchestra.
There’s house music producers queuing up to get her voice on their cuts. But she is very choosy as to what projects she says yes to. Not wanting to ever regret anything she does. She sets the bar high. Rowetta, who her friends call Ro, sometimes sings at after show parties with Bez on hand too.
Rowetta hit the headlines back in 2004, when she entered the X Factor on TV, came fourth and was the last woman standing. Simon Cowell loved her. Is she glad did it? “The biggest thing that came after the X Factor was the Black Eyed Peas using a sample of mine on their hit ‘Boom Boom Pow’, which gave me more work”. That song was their first US number one in 2008.
Funny factoid: Rowetta was in a Search for a Star contest in Salford as a youngster, two years after Lisa Stansfield won it. Rowetta beaten by a duo in her year. She did win a singing competition when she was 12, and she got binned by the choir she was in for standing out too much!
- Rowetta will be performing with Bez at Mucky Weekender Festival in September. Other headliners include The Dualers, Dreadzone, Dutty Moonshine Big Band, Congo Natty, Marshall Jefferson, LTJ Bukem, General Levy, Irvine Welsh and much more @ Vicarage Farm, Winchester. https://mucky-weekender.co.uk
Rowetta’s Track Record
1. First song you recall hearing as a child?
“Dr Kitch” by Lord Kitchener.
2. First single you owned?
“My Boy Lollipop” by Millie Small.
3. First LP/album you owned?
Crass: “Stations Of The Crass”
4. First CD you owned?
“Legend” by Bob Marley and The Beatles: “Revolver” – I bought both at the same time.
5. Last music you bought and in what format (CD/vinyl/digital download)?
I downloaded Teddy Swims: “Lose Control”. I love his voice and songs, and would love to work with him and his band. I also bought James: “Is This Love”, as I had to learn the lyrics to sing with the band. Stunning song and so beautiful to sing. I pre-ordered the new James album “Yummy”.
6. Which album would you be happy to receive as a gift?
Anything by Marvin Gaye or Grace Jones on vinyl. Ike & Tina Turner. I am looking forward to Pastel’s album.
Also anything by Ian Brown; he’s real and I learn a lot from his lyrics and love his music.
7. Favourite album? (Choose more than one if need be…)
Shed Seven: “A Matter Of Time”, as I’m on it and it reached # 1. Great album.
“Revolver” by The Beatles. Anything by Marvin Gaye. Crass : “Stations of the Crass”. “Travelogue” by The Human League.
8. Best record ever made (can be single/album/EP – and choose more than one if need be)?
“You” by Marvin Gaye. “Tomorrow Never Knows” by The Beatles. “Colony” by Joy Division.
“Breathing Underwater” by Emeli Sande. “Blank Expression” by The Specials. Loads of Bowie, Blondie and Bob Marley. Anything by Prince.
9. Guilty secret (or anything unusual or perhaps unexpected) in your music collection?
I love Becky Hill’s voice. Esther Ofarim. “Justify My Love” by Madonna.
10. What does music mean to you and how does it make you feel?
I’d be lost without it – without singing and writing. It’s my everything.
11. Which song or album is a guaranteed mood booster?
“Love You I Do” by Jennifer Hudson. “Love’s In Need Of Love Today” by Stevie Wonder.
12. Which song or album would be the soundtrack to a film about your life?
“Anti Love Song” by Betty Davis, “Living Tree” by Never The Bride (sung by me), “Breathing Under Water” by Emeli Sande, “Misty Blue” by Dorothy Moore,
“The Morning Of My Life” by Esther Ofarim, “Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin, “Melody Cool” by Prince with Mavis Staples, “Love To Love You Baby” by Donna Summer.
13. Your favourite driving track – or music to exercise to?
“Pull Up To The Bumper” by Grace Jones.
14. Best song or album for a romantic moment?
“You” by Marvin Gaye.
15. Which song was played for the “First Dance” at your wedding (if you are married) or which song would you choose if you did get married?
“Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off”: Fred Estaire and Ginger Rogers.
16. Your choice of song to sing at karaoke?
I don’t do karaoke, but if I had to it would be an Etta James song.
17. Which song takes you back to your childhood – and to which specific memory/memories?
“River Deep Mountain High”: I am just really excited by Tina Turner and The Ikettes’ energy and performance.
18. Favourite band (or bands)?
Fontaines D.C. and Pastel.
19. Favourite singer (or singers)?
Kimberly Davis (Chic), Becky Hill, Esther Ofarim, Marvin Gaye, George Michael, Prince, Ian Curtis and loads more.
20. Which song would you like played at your funeral?
“The Morning Of My Life” by Esther Ofarim, “Take My Breath Away” by Eva Cassidy, and one of my own songs.
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