News broke early this year of the new single between Gallagher and the supergroup – which consists of Happy Monday bandmates Shaun Ryder and Bez, as well as former Oasis members Zak Starkey and Andy Bell.

‘Domino Blues (Gets Dangerous)’ was originally released this January where it was only available to purchase physically in vinyl form from Liverpool’s Cavern Club. The six-minute long psychedelic tune consists of Noel providing vocals for the chorus, with Ryder singing on the verses.

This single is only the third song released by the supergroup, following on from ‘Gorilla Guerilla’ and ‘X (Wot You Sayin?)’.

The mastermind behind the group is former Oasis and The Who drummer, Zak Starkey. As the son of legendary Beatles member, Ringo Starr, releasing the single at the iconic Cavern Club – where The Beatles famously cut their teeth – must’ve been a proud moment for Starkey. 

The group marked the release with two sold out shows at the storied Liverpool venue, with Starkey saying: “The Cavern Club gigs were amazing, as was the reaction to the vinyl release. 

“Working with people like Noel, Shaun, Andy and Bez is always a pleasure – these are the greatest musicians of their generation. We have more singles coming this year with some VERY special guests – this is the year of the Mantra!”

Noel Gallagher emphasised his excitement of joining Starkey and co on the single, telling The Times: “It’s Dylan, Dali, Ginsberg and a bit of cosmic jibber-jabber. Add in Bez, who dances like Zak plays the drums and Andy Bell plays all things stringed, and you have it.”

Although Mantra Of The Cosmos have only released three songs to date, there is optimism that much more is to come from the supergroup. 

Speaking in 2023, after the release of their first material, Shaun Ryder hinted at what they have locked in the vault, telling NME: “We’ve got a lot of material. If you want some songs that can go on for two and a half or three minutes, then I reckon we’ve got about 175 songs, haven’t we?”

You can check out the newly released music video for ‘Domino Blues (Gets Dangerous)’ below.

Gallagher is currently rehearsing for the massive Oasis tour coming up this summer. Although Mantra Of The Cosmos consists of two former members of the Britpop icons, only one of them will rejoin the Mancunian legends for the upcoming shows.

Andy Bell will play bass for Oasis, but Zak Starkey – who played drums between 2004 and 2009 for the band – will not join up with the Gallagher brothers. Former R.E.M drummer Joey Waronker will instead take on the job for the massive reunion.

Although disappointed to not receive the call, Starkey said he understood the decision, telling BBC Breakfast: “If you get a new drummer, you get comfortable, don’t you? You get comfortable with new musicians and I think that’s what’s happened and I’m alright with that.”

Oasis are kicking off their shows on July 4 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, before heading to Manchester and London and finally embarking on a sold-out worldwide tour.

“There’s talk of a new album to come, which I’m really f***ing looking forward to,” Bez told The Sun. “It’s going to be visionary. It’s going to be massive. With all my heart and soul, I want it more than anyone.”

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Although there is no information on when fans can expect this album, it would be their first studio outing since ‘Uncle Dysfunktional’ in 2007. That release also came after a barren period of 15 years following 1992’s ‘Yes Please!’, often considered the last in the classic period of the band. Peaking at a disappointing 73 in the UK Album Chart, ‘Uncle Dysfunktional’ received criticism and was described as “directionless,” however it would springboard The Happy Mondays into a festival mainstay. The band has played almost 300 live shows since the album’s release.   

The influences of The Mondays cannot be overstated. Fusing a variety of eclectic genres such as acid house, funk and psychedelic rock, they would come to help define the Madchester sound alongside bands like James and The Stone Roses, influencing them with tracks like ‘Step On‘ and ‘Kinky Afro‘. Further along the musical evolutionary chain, Oasis would emerge, inspired by the sounds of Manchester before them, and would go on to become one of the biggest bands of the 90s. Oasis were signed by Alan McGee, who was also managing the Happy Mondays. 

 

 

 

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Bez’s comments come at a busy time for both him and Ryder. The two have become mainstream figures thanks to their appearances on Celebrity Gogglebox, becoming fan favourites for their genuine, down-to-earth comments and observations. The pair also starred in a Channel 4 feature where Bez planned a mock funeral for Ryder, with the video reaching nearly a million views. Ryder also remains active with the Happy Mondays’ spiritual successor Black Grape, who will be heading out on tour this year to celebrate 30 years of their debut album ‘It’s Great When You’re Straight… Yeah’.

Meanwhile, Bez and Ryder’s other project, Mantra of the Cosmos—a supergroup featuring Oasis’ Andy Bell and Zak Starkey—has also been making headlines. The band debuted an exclusive vinyl-only single, ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’, co-written with Noel Gallagher, during their performances at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. According to Bez, Starkey has played a key role in reigniting their creative spark: “Zak is the driving force behind the creativity. It’s ignited us all and got us all excited again.”

The Happy Mondays are set to take the stage at Forever Now 2025 this coming June, sharing the bill with the likes of Johnny Marr, The The, and recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee, Billy Idol. 

Whether the new album comes before or after this year’s festival season, Bez has promised “the most magic s**t you’ve ever heard.” Only time will tell if it ranks among their greatest albums, but 2025 promises to be a great year for fans of Bez and Ryder, and their various projects.

The drummer’s issue didn’t stop the celebratory atmosphere, with the gig being part of a wider party celebrating the release of their new, vinyl-only single ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’, co-written by Noel Gallagher. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Starkey shared a digital bootleg of the track taken from spotify, humorously endorsing it by saying, “I’m totally down,” before making clear that the only official release is the vinyl copy available from the Cavern Club website.

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Mantra of the Cosmos performed at the iconic Cavern Club just days earlier, playing two sets for fans and debuting the new track. The vinyl single was initially only available to purchase at the shows, ironically being sold in red and blue pressings. Their appearance on the venue’s website suggests that the band weren’t able to sell all 1000 pressings, though the performances were a hit, with one X user saying that both he and his daughter loved the show.

Me and my daughter loved the gig yesterday afternoon thanks a lot Shaun (and all of you)

— Paul Meagher (@PaulMeagher20) January 20, 2025

Noel Gallagher’s role in ‘Domino Bones’ is particularly understated with the Oasis legend writing the chorus and contributing vocals remotely. Starkey took the vocal contribution and built the rest of the song around the chorus, and that disjointed approach is noticeable on the track. Gallagher is still yet to publicly comment on the single despite his involvement. 

The Soho event welcomed several notable attendees, including Yungblud and Louie Starkey, Zak’s nephew, and an actor in his own right, alongside Dan Parker of Liverpool-based indie band Keyside. Parker performed Gallagher’s vocal parts during the Cavern shows, as Gallagher wasn’t present. Keyside are a growing band from Liverpool, and recently sold out the Art Club Theatre in the city, and added additional shows in Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow.

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While fans took to social media to offer well wishes, bandmate and former Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder took the opportunity to have a light-hearted joke at Starkey, telling the audience “as soon as I get out of here I’m going to take some tights to get on Zak’s legs.” Starkey’s road to recovery should be fairly straight forward, and there are currently no plans for tours in the near future. 

With new music reportedly in the pipeline for 2025, Mantra of the Cosmos have definitely made a name for themselves, be it high profile collaborations or being supported by some of the North West’s most exciting bands. While Starkey won’t be able to get behind the drum kit for a few weeks, his involvement in different capacities will still be felt by fans.

The band’s setlist featured eight original tracks, including the only two that have been released, in ‘X (What You Sayin?)’ and ‘Gorilla Guerilla’, both released in 2023. The performance was the debut of ‘Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous)’, their exclusive vinyl-only single penned with Noel Gallagher, which could only be bought at the shows. 

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Gallagher’s involvement with the track led to speculation that he could play alongside the band, with fans and even an Oasis podcast taking to X to question whether he would show up. In the end, Gallagher didn’t turn up, leaving the lead singer from support act Keyside to fill in on backing vocals on the new track.  

No sign, Liam from Keyside stepped in for Domino Bones. Met Digsy though! — Richard Bowes (@rbmusicwriter) January 20, 2025

The rest of the set was packed with high-energy performances of original songs, with tracks like ‘Put The Boot In (Evil Mother Fucker)’ and ‘Flash Dragons (Beast From The East)’ making their live debut, and possibly hinting at an upcoming album. Either way, Gallagher’s brother, Liam, made his opinion of the band known, saying “[they’re] out there”.  

There out there

— Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher) January 19, 2025

Starkey also took part in a separate show with the Cavern’s own Beatles tribute band. Speaking about the experience of drumming Beatles classics, Starkey said: “We set up two kits and we double drummed the Beatles show. It was amazing because I was shitting it. I’ve never been nervous in my life – I’ve been on stage since I was 12 years old – but it’s holy music.”    

The drummer also used the opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges facing grassroots music venues. With funding for small venues dwindling, Starkey highlighted the disparity between investment in large arenas and the neglect of smaller spaces: “It’s alright spending billions on great big arenas like they have in Manchester, but no one’s looking after little venues… great big arenas are great for big, boring bands but they’re not for upcoming bands.”

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The issue of funding for grassroots venues is currently under review by the UK government, with a voluntary £1 levy to be added to tickets for shows at arenas and large-scale tours. The funds will be distributed by a new charity which will ensure funds will be directed where they are needed most.    

Meanwhile, Ringo Starr has also been busy with new music, recently releasing his album ‘Look Up’, which sees him return to country music after 50 years. Supporting the album, Ringo performed two shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on January 14 and 15, making it a busy week for the Starkey’s.

Ringo Starr joined on stage by Jack White, Billy Strings, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow, BRENDA LEE and more at the debut of his new country album, “Look Up” at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville tonight pic.twitter.com/DI4NDxkwVO — Justin Barney (@JBarney) January 15, 2025

Starkey’s comments about grassroots venues underscored how vital they are for acts like Mantra of the Cosmos. In contrast to massive arenas, small stages foster creativity and help artists connect directly with fans, be that through intimate performances or exclusive releases.

Unlike their two previous singles, ‘Gorilla Guerilla’ and ‘X (Wot You Sayin’)’, Domino Bones will not be released digitally. Instead, it will be available exclusively on vinyl and sold only at Liverpool’s iconic Cavern Club. This limited release coincides with the band’s two shows at the venue on January 19.

Mutual admiration seems to have laid the groundwork for the surprise collaboration. Mantra of the Cosmos have posted photos of Gallagher on their Instagram, captioned “Noel of the Cosmos.” Gallagher previously praised the band’s artistry, likening them to “Dylan, Dalí, and Ginsberg on a rocketship to the moon to have it with the Clangers.”

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Zak Starkey, the group’s leader, shared his excitement at the collaboration: “It’s not every day that the greatest songwriter of my generation – not to mention Shaun, the greatest beat poet of our times – sends a tune to me.” Gallagher heaped even more praise on Ryder, “Noel texted me saying, ‘Do you know what you’ve got? The British Bob Dylan.’”  

The song’s creative process suggests the partnership will be a one-off collaboration. Gallagher sent his recorded vocals for the chorus to Starkey, who then built the track around them. With Gallagher’s commitments to upcoming Oasis dates, any long-term involvement with Mantra of the Cosmos seems unlikely.  

The Cavern Club holds personal significance for Starkey, who wasn’t shy about his family’s connection to the venue: “There’s a great deal of family heritage at the Cavern aside from the Beatles. My parents courted there. Who knows, I may have even been conceived there!”  

 

 

 

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This marks Starkey’s first performance at the Cavern Club, a venue that will always be synonymous with his father, Ringo Starr. In fact, Ringo was the first of the four Beatles to play at the Cavern, doing so in July 1957. The original venue was demolished in the 1970s to make way for Merseyrail infrastructure, but rebuilt in the 1980s, preserving much of its original footprint.  

Mantra of the Cosmos has split opinions. While one X user described their music as “like walking into a northern pub at 4am which smells horrible with several men half asleep lying on the sticky floor singing madchester tracks but totally out of tune,” Gallagher included ‘Gorilla Guerilla’ in his ‘Summer 2023 Playlist’ on Spotify. 

mantra of the cosmos songs are like walking into a northern pub at 4am which smells horrible with several men half asleep lying on the sticky floor singing madchester tracks but totally out of tune

— carol (@magicalspring) January 8, 2025

The choice to release ‘Domino Bones’ exclusively on vinyl aligns with buying habits in the UK. Vinyl sales in 2024 hit almost £200 million, making it the most premium format despite being outsold by CDs in volume. Fans are happier to buy quality over quantity, especially when it comes to exclusive releases. Limiting sales to the Cavern ensures the track reaches die-hard fans.
Whether ‘Domino Bones’ signals the end of the band’s erratic journey or the start of a prolific year remains to be seen. For now, fans can look forward to seeing the group—and Gallagher’s contribution—in the intimate, historic setting of the Cavern Club. Tickets for the event have sold out, however fans can join the waiting list here.

Happy Monday and Black Grape members Shaun Ryder and Bez have teamed up with former Oasis and The Who drummer Zak Starkey, and Oasis bassist and Ride guitarist Andy Bell to form the supergroup.

On the chaotic and fun-filled single “Gorilla Guerilla” Ryder’s cries of “Gorilla!” echo over Bez’s energetic maracas, repetitive guitar riffs, and thumping drum beats. Released alongside the hallucinogenic single is a colourful animated music video created by Ryder’s son Olli. Watch the trippy video for “Gorilla Guerilla” below:

Mantra of Cosmos features baggy icon Shaun Ryder on vocals, Welsh musician Andy Bell on guitar, Ringo Starr’s son Zak Starkey on drums, and everyone’s favourite cheeky chappy Bez on percussion.

Ryder revealed the group’s formation to The Sun in early May spilling to the publication that the band had been secretly working on a debut album that would be “coming out very soon”. The 90s star continued, “It doesn’t sound like the Mondays or Black Grape or Oasis or The Who, it’s what we’re doing all together.”

Channel 4 herded together the fantastic four for a TV interview in which Bez revealed, “for the first time ever I’ve actually got maracas solos”! Watch the whole interview here.

In a video shared to the band’s Instagram, when asked who would be in his fantasy supergroup dead or alive, Ryder replied, “John Lennon, Paul McCartney, every member of the Rolling Stones past and present. Sly Stone, the Pistols, the Kinks, both brothers and all the rest of the band. Funkadelic-Parliament! Every member of Parliament!”

The band made their debut live appearance at The Box in London on the 5^th June giving an intimate performance at the venue.

Mantra of The Cosmos will be taking Glastonbury Festival’s Glade area by storm on Sunday 25^th June at 8.20 pm.

Bez and Ryder will also be playing as part of the Happy Mondays later this year. The band will be playing Dreamland in Margate alongside Primal Scream and Crystal Palace Bowl in London with James in August. A month later they will appear at the Rock N Roll Circus festival in Sheffield.

See below for Mantra of the Cosmos UK dates:

25/06/23 – Glastonbury Festival – Glastonbury