Articles and pieces (both old and new) relating to Morrissey and The Smiths.

22 December 1988 – Wolverhampton (Footage + Reviews)
The first Morrissey solo show, and unofficial Smiths farewell concert. Included in this post is a link to the leaked footage, and 3 reviews of the historic event.

Morrissey on South – 21 March 1988
Two articles (NME, Record Mirror) detailing Morrissey’s cameo on the Brookside spin off South. (Includes video link to the cameo)

Smash Hits – September 1987
Smash Hits reports on the split of The Smiths

NME – 15 August 1987
NME’s second article on the split, this time reporting on possible replacements.

NME – 1 August 1987
NME’s article reporting on the split of The Smiths

Melody Maker – 12 September 1987
Melody Maker reports on The Smiths’ officially splitting up.

Melody Maker – 8 August 1987
Melody Maker reporting on Marr leaving

Melody Maker – 22 November 1986
Short article detailing Marr’s car accident. (Marr tells a different story in his book).

NME – Smiths In Label Hunt?, 1986
Short article about The Smiths’ mishaps with Rough Trade (and in general).

NME – The Queen Is Dead Video
Short article describing The Queen Is Dead short film release, directed by Derek Jarman.

Melody Maker – 22 March 1986
“Smiths Make LP Shock!”. Short article detailing The Smiths’ upcoming “The Queen Is Dead” album, along with updates on management change and business matters.

Christchurch Star – 1986
Article about Andy’s leaving because of heroin possession.

Smash Hits – Bitz News 1986
Short news article about Andy’s brief departure, addition of Craig Gannon, and release of “Bigmouth Strikes Again”

Gig Disturbance – 19 October 1986
An alternate telling of the Newport Centre gig disturbance that left Morrissey and others injured and people arrested.

Newport Gig Disturbance – 19 October 1986
Short Article describing the arrest of several people during a rowdy Smiths gig (that left Morrissey and others injured) at Newport Leisure Centre.

NME – Fruitcake of The Year 1984
Morrissey gets voted “Fruitcake of the Year”

Smash Hits – January 1984
Yet another short article on the Sandie Shaw collaboration.

Rolling Stone – Band of the year
The Smiths are voted band of the year for 1983 (published in early ’84)

No. 1 – May 1984
“Stuff and nonsense” – A short, only mildly interesting article about the discovery of Morrissey’s pre-Smiths letters to NME

NME – 14 January 1984
Article on the Smiths and Sandie Shaw collaboration

NME – 4 February 1984
Article on the replacement cover for the “What Difference Does It Make?” single
Melody Maker – 15 September 1984
Article on the controversy around “Suffer Little Children”

NME – Best New Act of ’83
The Smiths are voted Best New Act of 1983 in the end of year issue

NME – 3 September 1983
An article detailing the scandal around “Handsome Devil”

The Smiths sign with Rough Trade (1983)
The Smiths sign for a long-term contract with Rough Trade after their debut single “Hand In Glove”
I Want A Boy For My Birthday
Former Smiths bassist Dale Hibbert has released the long sought after full version of “I Want A Boy For My Birthday”, the earliest known surviving Smiths recording, recorded by Morrissey and Marr during some attic practices. A sample clip was originally uploaded to the internet in the late 90s, and after all these years, HibbertContinue reading “I Want A Boy For My Birthday”