BREAK out your maracas because the Happy Mondays are working on a new album – 18 years after their last record, Uncle Dysfunktional.
In an exclusive chat, Bez has revealed frontman Shaun Ryder, already has a slew of tunes ready to go.
And he said the group were persuaded to get back in the studio by their manager, Oasis supremo Alan McGee.
"There's talk of a new album to come, which I'm really f***ing looking forward to," Bez told me.
"It's going to be visionary.
"It's going to be massive.
"It's an idea and Alan normally gets what he wants.
"With all my heart and soul, I want it more than anyone.
"I want to hear the most magic st you've ever heard.
"And I'm sure we can deliver it."
The group, who had Top Ten hits with Step On and Kinky Afro, have five studio albums in all, but haven't put out an original body of work since 2007.
And Bez – real name Mark Berry – believes the party animals have finally got their act together because they're now in their sixties.
He explained: "We actually know what we're doing now.
"We were f***ing green when we started.
"We didn't even know what 'one, two, three, four,' was.
"That's how naive we've always been. We're still maturing and the best is yet to come.
"Shaun never stops being creative, it's in his f***ing blood.
"It always amazes me the st he comes out with. It's f***ing genius."
Alongside the Happy Mondays, Shaun has been hard at work on the debut record for super group Mantra Of The Cosmos, which features Bez, Andy Bell and Zak Starkey.
And he believes they have Zak, the son of Ringo Starr, to thank for getting the Mondays firing on all cylinders.
Bez said: "Zak is the driving force behind the creativity.
"It's ignited us all and got us all excited again.
"What more can you ask for than to be excited about the s**t you do?"
I'm right with you, Bez.
Bizbit
THERE are just two weeks to go until the Brit Awards at London's O2 Arena on March 1, and Jade Thirlwall is promising big things with her set.
The Angel Of My Dreams singer said: "Anything that can happen on the stage I will have – I'm a bells and whistles girl, kitchen sink thrown in.
"I just think, why not? As a pop girlie, I want the whole shebang."
IT'S E-WHIZZ AS CELEBS JET TO JEDDAH FOR BIG RACE
AKON threw himself into the Formula E World Championship fun after flying out to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia at the weekend.
The singer was photographed in the pit with ear protectors on as he cheered on the teams from the VIP hospitality area before performing.
It was a star-studded event, with Cristiano Ronaldo's fiancée Georgina Rodriguez also flying out for the race, where the model got to wave the chequered flag.
US rapper Lil Baby was there to perform, while influencer and ex-Love Islander Josh Denzel managed to blag an invite to watch the action.
R-PATZ AT THE DOUBLE
ROBERT PATTINSON was very much daddy cool at the Berlin premiere of his new movie.
He wore this leather jacket for the launch of Mickey 17 in Germany on Saturday – 11 months after the birth of his daughter with model fiancée Suki Waterhouse.
The sci-fi comedy sees Robert playing an explorer and his own clone, which is created through a state-of-the-art printer.
Director Bong Joon-Ho, best known for Parasite, said: "It just felt so great thinking about printing more Robert Pattinsons.
"He's so very printable!"
It hits screens here on April 18.
TOUR BLIMEY! BUSY ED TAKES A BREAK FOR NEW ALBUM VID
HE teased fans that new album Play isn't too far away and now Ed Sheeran has revealed he has already filmed the music video for its first release.
The Shape Of You singer broke the news on stage in Delhi during his final show in India on his Mathematics world tour.
Ed said: "I've been here for three days now and we've been shooting a bunch of music video stuff around the cities.
"It's amazing. We went to old Delhi yesterday. What a place."
Play will be the first record from the next chapter of Ed's career and will be followed by albums, Pause, Rewind, Forward, and Stop.
He now has a week off before he flies to China to start his concerts there.
But given he's spending most of his downtime on tour recording new music videos, I can't imagine he will be putting his feet up for long.
Bizbit
ESTE HAIM from girl band Haim has got engaged.
The singer shared a photo on Insta of herself with a diamond ring and wearing a top featuring the phrase: "I'm taken."
HAPPY REBIRTHDAY MEGAN
MEGAN THEE STALLION looked out of this world as she celebrated her 30th with a Saturn-themed cake.
The rapper posed in just a bikini to mark the milestone birthday and was sent best wishes on Insta from thousands of fans.
She opted for the planetary theme as Saturn takes 29.4 years to orbit the sun and its return to the same place it was when a person is born is meant to kick-start a new phase of their life.
Although Megan has achieved a hell of a lot during her three decades, I can see why she might be eager to turn over a new leaf.
She had a rocky few years after her mum died and she was shot in the foot by rapper Tory Lanez, before being trolled about it and sent death threats.
Now she seems to be back on top form, so I hope this really is a clean slate for her.
Bizbit
LIZZO will return with new music on February 28.
She shared a video on Instagram of herself crying while smiling, as a flute melody played in the background, followed by a teaser with the date.
In another post ahead of her big return, she spray-painted "bye bitch" on the cover of her last album Special, alongside the caption: "
End of an era."
HAIR WE GO, HEIDI
HEIDI KLUM admits she is being plagued by random unwanted body hair.
The model hilariously confessed: "I have a chin hair and I have a boob hair. I would say it's as long as my pinky finger.
"It's like, 'Where are you coming from all of a sudden? You weren't there yesterday!'."
I'm glad it's not only me.
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