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Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
The Smiths fans hail one member as 'underrated genius' behind the band's success
The legendary British band shot to fame in the 1980s, with many fans still gushing over them today. Fans of The Smiths have been vocal in asserting that the band's success wouldn't have been the same without a certain member, and it might not be the one you'd initially suspect. The iconic 1980s group were renowned for their distinctive sound, contemplative and occasionally existential lyrics, and hits like 'How Soon Is Now?' and 'This Charming Man'. They were fronted by Morrissey with his signature vocals. The lineup was rounded out by Johnny Marr on guitar, Andy Rourke on bass, and Mike Joyce on drums. Despite Morrissey and Marr being hailed as the songwriting masterminds, fans are adamant that another member was indispensable to the band's heyday. In the comments section of the YouTube video for 'Barbarism Begins at Home (2011 Remaster)', music lovers were effusive about the brilliance of the late Andy Rourke. Andy's passing at the age of 59 in 2023 was made public by his ex-bandmate Johnny Marr, who penned a heartfelt Instagram tribute to announce the sad news, reports the Manchester Evening News. Marr's homage read: "Andy and I met as schoolboys in 1975. We were best friends, going everywhere together. "When we were fifteen, I moved into his house with him and his three brothers, and I soon came to realise that my mate was one of those rare people that absolutely no one doesn't like". He continued by reflecting on their shared ambition to become "the best musicians" they possibly could. Marr said: "Throughout our teens, we played in various bands around south Manchester before making our reputations with The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, and it was on those Smiths records that Andy reinvented what it is to be a bass guitar player." Marr also noted that Andy's baselines were "dazzling". He concluded his message by saying: "Andy will always be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by everyone who knew him, and as a supremely gifted musician by people who love music. Well done, Andy. We'll miss you, brother". Fans took to the comments section of the YouTube video to express their admiration for Andy Rourke's contribution to The Smiths. One fan posted: "RIP Andy Rourke. Often extremely overlooked how vital the rhythm section was for the Smiths". Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "Andy Rourke is a completely underrated bass player," another echoed in tribute. Someone else suggested greater recognition for the bass player, saying: "When people think of The Smiths, they always concentrate on Moz and Marr, but they should also concentrate on the great rhythm section, especially those Andy Rourke bass lines". Praising his musical prowess, a YouTube user exclaimed: "Anyone who knows bass playing understands the true genius of the riff is not just coming up with actually playing the damn thing repetitively for nearly 7 minutes without dropping a note. "Watch them do it live in front of not only a live audience but also millions watching at home LIVE. Andy not only had imagination and obvious skill but b***s the size of talent".
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Johnny Marr 'record store legend' plaque unveiled in Manchester
A plaque has been unveiled in Manchester honouring musician, Johnny Marr, who has been awarded the title of "record store legend".The 61-year-old's support of independent record stores worldwide has been commemorated with a plaque at Piccadilly Records, situated in the city where he co-founded rock band The Smiths in accolade is a joint honour presented by both Record Store Day US and UK, and follows on from Sir Elton John becoming the first recipient of the award in said he had known staff in Piccadilly Records for 20 years and "this plaque is a very nice thing to be associated with". He said going to a record store was "a nice pastime" and "if they were to completely disappear, the high street or the city centre would be a much worse-off place".Marr described them as "magical", saying "there's something about the presence of a record store".Andy McQueen, of Piccadilly Records, said: "Johnny Marr is our favourite living artist and his music has sound tracked our lives for over 40 years."To be associated with him in this beautiful way; well, the pleasure, the privilege, is ours." For Record Store Day 2025, Marr will release a special edition of album Look Out Live! which captured his Hammersmith Apollo show in London track listing includes hits such as Hi Hello and The Smiths classics This Charming Man and How Soon Is Now?.The 18th annual celebration of Record Store Day 2025 will take place on Saturday 12 April and will see thousand of record shops take part with in-store performances, parties and limited-edition releases from more than 300 artists. In 1982, Marr and fellow Mancunian, Morrissey formed The Smiths, also comprised of bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike band had hits with songs including Bigmouth Strikes Again and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, but Marr left to undertake other projects in 2024, following news of the Oasis reunion, he revealed he had turned down the chance of a reunion tour with The solo career has seen him collaborate with US pop star Billie Eilish and rock bands, Modest Mouse and Talking Heads as well Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Johnny Marr honoured with huge Record Store Day accolade
Manchester has honoured hometown hero and musician Johnny Marr with the title of "Record Store Legend". A plaque commemorating the 61-year-old's global support of independent record stores was unveiled at Piccadilly Records, a fitting location in the city where Marr co-founded the iconic band The Smiths in 1982. The transatlantic accolade, bestowed jointly by Record Store Day US and UK, follows Sir Elton John who was the inaugural recipient in 2017. Marr said: 'Going out to a record store, it's a nice pastime. 'It's a part of the culture, if they were to completely disappear the high street or the city centre would be a much worse-off place. There's something about the presence of a record store. 'It's a magical thing. I've known the staff in Piccadilly Records for 20 years … this plaque is a very nice thing to be associated with.' For Record Store Day 2025, Marr will release a special edition of album Look Out Live! which captured his Hammersmith Apollo show in London 2024. The track listing includes hits such as Hi Hello and The Smiths classics This Charming Man and How Soon Is Now?. Andy McQueen, of Piccadilly Records, said: 'Johnny Marr is our favourite living artist and his music has soundtracked our lives for over forty years. 'To be associated with him in this beautiful way; well, the pleasure, the privilege, is ours.' In 1982, Marr and fellow Mancunian Morrissey formed The Smiths, also comprised of bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up The band had hits with songs including Bigmouth Strikes Again and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, but Marr walked out to undertake other projects in 1987. In 2024, following news of the Oasis reunion, he revealed he had turned down the chance of a reunion tour with The Smiths. Marr's solo career has seen him collaborate with US pop star Billie Eilish and rock bands Modest Mouse and Talking Heads as well Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer. The 18th annual celebration of Record Store Day 2025 will take place on Saturday April 12 and will see thousand of record shops take part with parties, in-store performances and limited-edition releases from more than 300 artists.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Morrissey and Johnny Marr on how The Smiths made Meat Is Murder
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Perhaps sensing that theirs was an alchemy that would burn brightly but briefly, The Smiths did things in a hurry. The Manchester quartet had only released their debut single, the chiming, urgent guitar-pop of Hand In Glove, in May 1983. By the time their second album Meat Is Murder arrived at the beginning of 1985, they had released a masterful debut (1984's The Smiths), an outtakes, radio sessions and odds and sods collection that for any other band would mark a career peak (Hatful Of Hollow, also 1984) and a run of classic singles that didn't even make it on to their studio albums (This Charming Man, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, How Soon Is Now?, Shakespeare's Sister). If they had started their career demonstrating that they were in rarefied air, it was on Meat Is Murder where Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce showed that they were untouchable. The record, which turns 40 this week, is where everything began to coalesce for a group who would become one of the all-time great British bands. The UK was in a rotten state in the mid-80s and here was a band holding up a black mirror to Thatcher's Britain. Morrissey's lyricism now becoming ever more politicised alongside his wry eye-rolls at British mundanity, from the quaint to the violent. Led by Johnny Marr's rhythmic, dynamic guitar parts – Marr is a man who plays the guitar like he has six hands – the music sounded like it was trying to wriggle out of a straitjacket, fleet-footed and propulsive at some points, yearning in minor-chord majesty at others, epic but never bombastic, a criss-crossing of guitar melodies and lithe grooves. Here was a blueprint for British indie that almost every band who followed in their wake, from Blur to Radiohead to Bloc Party to Oasis to The Libertines, would lift from. 'I was exploring what I could do,' Marr told Uncut back in 2008. 'I suppose I was feeling let loose on that second record. The first period was over – of getting known, learning to play onstage, getting a label and getting a relationship with the audience and then that's worked out. I went into it just rolling up my sleeves and thinking, 'Let's see what we can do!'' Similarly, frontman Morrissey, charismatic and playful and a few decades off becoming the cringe-y, caricature controversy-magnet he is today, was seizing his moment in the spotlight. He wanted the band's second record to make a statement, and it did, quite literally: it was called Meat Is Murder, remember? 'I think the statement is self-explanatory, really,' the singer said of the title in an interview on TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test. 'We use it because we feel that music should be used in order to make serious statements, because so many groups sell masses and masses of records and don't raise people's levels of consciousness in any direction. We find that quite sinful, especially in these serious times.' Morrissey had become a vegetarian when he was in his early teens, following in the footsteps of his mother, who had abstained from eating meat as long as he could remember. 'We were very poor and I thought that meat was good source of nutrition,' he told animal rights organisation PETA in 1985. 'Then I learned the truth. I guess you could say I repent for those years now.' His ambition, he told The Old Grey Whistle Test, was for the title of their second record to inspire a similar reflection on their meat consumption from fans. 'If they eat meat, I'd like them to think about it and take it from there, because there doesn't seem to be anything else in modern life that makes people think about this subject,' he opined. 'I think many people are still under the assumption that meat has nothing whatsoever to do with animals and animals play in fields and meat is just something that appears on their plate, which is quite strange because on many other issues I think people have become very aware and very enlightened but… [not] on this very brutal and barbarous issue.' But Meat Is Murder wasn't just about pro-vegetarianism. The jaunty rockabilly swing of Rusholme Ruffians saw Morrissey cast a cocked eyebrow towards behaviour at funfairs in Manchester ('funfairs in Manchester are very violent things… somebody always ends up being stabbed,' he explained) whilst he was also sharpening his darts for the royals, honing an anti-monarchical sentiment he would perfect on 1986's The Queen Is Dead. This particular approach, he explained, was about expressing 'total dissatisfaction with royalty and reducing it to the ludicrousness that it really is'. Its song laced with the menacing, mischievous humour of their ringleader, Meat Is Murder stands up as a classic four decades on, capturing a band rapidly reaching new levels of greatness. Friction would eventually lead The Smiths to disband, tension would remain forever unresolved, but here they sang in perfect harmony.
