Shaun Ryder, a well-known figure in the music industry, recently revealed in an interview that he used to consume a staggering 50 rocks of crack cocaine per day. The former Happy Mondays frontman, now 63, caused a stir with his anecdote about narrowly avoiding arrest during a drug raid while his band Black Grape was being considered for an award back in 1996.

Although this revelation was cut from the show, Shaun has revisited the story, recounting how he was caught in a police raid while attempting to buy drugs. He managed to evade trouble by claiming he was attending the Brit Awards, a claim that persuaded the officers to let him go.

Shaun’s battle with substance abuse lasted two decades before he managed to kick the habit at the age of 40. He vividly recalls a time during the recording of the Happy Mondays’ fourth album in 1992 when he was in Barbados and consuming an alarming amount of crack cocaine daily, reaching up to 50 rocks.

During his stay in Barbados, Shaun had a surreal encounter with what he claims was a real-life orangutan, not a product of drug-induced hallucinations. This incident occurred amidst reports of a dangerous orangutan named Jack the Ripper being on the loose in the area.

In another unexpected turn of events, Shaun found himself held captive by an armed robber during a brief stay in Amsterdam. Fortunately, he managed to talk the assailant into releasing him and his companions unharmed.

Reflecting on his tumultuous past, Shaun credits his third wife, Joanne, for helping him break free from his destructive lifestyle. Thanks to her support, he was able to overcome his addiction and turn his life around. Shaun acknowledges that without Joanne’s influence, he might have continued down a path of self-destruction, but her unwavering support prompted him to make a positive change.

Shaun’s story serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of substance abuse and the transformative power of love and support in overcoming addiction.