1. Rowetta is best known for her work with Shed Seven and Happy Mondays, recording and touring with the band from 1990.
27 Facts About Rowetta
1. 2.
Rowetta was the last woman standing and was the sixth contestant eliminated in the first series of The X Factor in 2004.
3.
Rowetta was born to an English mother of Jewish origin and a Nigerian father, politician George Idah, who left the family when she was three.
4.
Rowetta realised her singing ability after winning a talent competition at the age of twelve.
5.
In 1987, Rowetta released two singles with the Vanilla Sound Corps.
6.
Rowetta worked as a backing singer on numerous albums including Simply Red's 1991 album Stars.
7.
Rowetta is the voice on the renowned 1989 track "Reach Out" with Sweet Mercy.
8.
Rowetta featured on their single "Step On" which charted at number 5.
9.
Rowetta rejoined the Happy Mondays in 2012 with the full original lineup.
10.
In 2023, Rowetta was featured on the single "In Ecstasy" by Shed Seven.
11.
Rowetta re-entered the spotlight in 2004 when she auditioned for a place in the live shows of The X Factor.
12.
Rowetta provided vocals for the Cornershop single "Wop the Groove" in 2006.
13.
In 2006, Rowetta had a cameo as herself in Footballer's Wives:Extra Time.
14.
Rowetta appeared on a Reality TV Special of The Weakest Link where she was voted off in the seventh round.
15.
Rowetta starred in a nationwide tour of The Songs of Sister Act with Sheila Ferguson.
16.
Rowetta toured the UK with the London Community Gospel Choir in a new version of The Songs of Sister Act.
17.
In 2010, Rowetta appeared with Peter Hook and the Light, for many dates of Hook's Unknown Pleasures tour and has collaborated with Tom Stephan and J Nitti on new dance tracks.
18.
Also in 2010, Rowetta appeared in the Pop Goes the '80s UK theatre tour.
19.
In 2014, Rowetta appeared on stage at Party in the Park's Poole.
20.
In 2015, Rowetta toured again with the Happy Mondays for their 25th-year anniversary of the album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches.
21.
Rowetta, who had two children with her ex-husband, fled the marriage in 1987 to hide in a refuge home, and the couple later divorced.
22.
Rowetta has since become a spokesperson for domestic violence awareness, and in 2005 featured in the BBC documentary Battered and Bruised.
23.
Rowetta fronted the 2010 World Cup "End the Fear" campaign for Greater Manchester Police.
24.
In March 2025, Rowetta alleged that former Happy Mondays bandmate Shaun Ryder punched and knocked her unconscious in 2000 while they were traveling on a Stena Line ferry after performing at Dublin's Witness Festival.
25.
Rowetta claimed that her son witnessed the aftermath and that there were multiple witnesses present.
26.
Rowetta has since called for anyone with footage or knowledge of the incident to come forward.
27.
Rowetta urged fellow Happy Mondays member Bez to corroborate her claims and has stated that she intends to seek legal advice and involve the police.