A working-class Mancunian whose fame is as beguiling now as it was when he rose to prominence in the ‘80s, Mark Berry is something of an enigma.
Neither a musician nor a dancer, Berry somehow landed himself as one of the most recognisable faces of the decade, sharing the stage with a band that defined a generation.
If Mark Berry doesn’t ring any bells, you will undeniably be familiar with the Madchester legends’ titular title, Bez.
The story of Bez is as ridiculous and inspired as it is fascinating and hilarious. Catapulted to fame with Happy Mondays, the maraca-swinging entity was more of a presence than a performer and remains to this day a character armed with charisma, charm and stories.
What’s astounding about Bez is that his star burns brightest now, after decades in the limelight. Now as a regular dweller on the Gogglebox sofa, with appearances on Celebrity Bake Off, Master Chef and his famous 2005 Big Brother win, there is something infatuating about Bez that the nation cannot get enough of.
The northern swagger and salt of the earth demeanour of Bez has lasted through the years, and as those years have progressed, his bastion of stories, scrapes and adventures has only grown.
As the poster boy of ‘90s Bohemia, there is nothing that Bez hasn’t experienced – and nothing he is shy to address.
With an extraordinary life and legacy, Bez has seen his life projectile in every direction. From financial ruin to unyielding adoration, from drug-laced escapades to a run for parliament, from raves to beekeeping, Bez has lived the life of a rockstar, a man and a hero.
Coming to Middlesbrough Town Hall for “A Conversation with”, this opportunity gives you, the audience, the full Bez experience.
With Happy Mondays being one of the North’s most famous rally cries, the trailblazing dance grooves of the indie band are still ringing out in bars and nightclubs alike.
The influence of Bez and his partner in crime, Shaun Ryder, still booms in the indie scene, as the hedonism, the poetry, the attitude and the euphoria epitomize the Madchester movement.
Through the years, Bez has been many things, but boring has never been one of them.
Catch Bez at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Wednesday 27th September.
Tickets, priced at £24.50 in advance, are available from middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk.
