Bez: ‘Driffield is better than The Bahamas’

Pop legend and media personality Bez has sent a special message of love to the people of Driffield – and says he prefers the town to The Bahamas.

The former dancer was visiting the anti-fracking protest site at Walkington, near Beverley, when he recalled his fondness for Driffield – the town he came to in 1988 when his band The Happy Mondays recorded an album at the former Slaughterhouse Studios.

Bez said: “I had a great time in Driffield. We recorded one of our greatest albums there. Lots of love to Driffield!”

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He said he remembered nights out at the nightclub opposite the recording studio - Odins, on Middle Street North - and that he remembered trying to impress the local girls with his moves on the dance floor.

Bez said: “I remember competing with the army lads across the dance floor.”

The former maracas player, who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2005, has now formed a political party, The Reality Party, and intends to stand as an MP for the Salford and Eccles constituency in next year’s general election.

An independent candidate, his agenda includes making a stand against fracking - the controversial technique for extracting gas from deep underground by fracturing rock.

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Joining the group of anti-fracking protesters at the Crawberry Hill site, at Walkington, Bez said: “It’s an unsafe technology. It’s been brought to us without consultation and there’s never been a debate on why we should frack and the dangers of fracking.”

East Yorkshire Fracking Site. -- Visit by Bez of the group Happy Mondays. --
NDTP PA1442-5hEast Yorkshire Fracking Site. -- Visit by Bez of the group Happy Mondays. --
NDTP PA1442-5h
East Yorkshire Fracking Site. -- Visit by Bez of the group Happy Mondays. -- NDTP PA1442-5h

Recalling Driffield, Bez also lamented the death of former record producer Martin Hannett, who produced the album at Slaughterhouse. Known as “Bummed,” it was the Monday’s second album, and was said to be distinctive because of Hannett’s pioneering use of electronics.

Bez added: “They were great times and I have great memories. Malcolm Hannett has died now so I hold those times with great fondess.”

Subsequent recording took place in The Bahamas, but Bez said: “it weren’t quite Driffield though, I tell yer!”

See the video of Bez and his message for Driffield on the Driffield Times and Post website.