Morrissey is an English singer and songwriter who, since the break-up of The Smiths, has worked with several musicians throughout his career as a solo artist. His current touring band consists of guitarist Jesse Tobias (since 2005), drummer Matt Walker, bassist Solomon Walker (both of whom first joined in 2007), keyboardist Camila Grey and guitarist Carmen Vandenberg (both since 2023)
History
editSeveral months after The Smiths broke up in 1988, Morrissey enlisted Smiths producer Stephen Street to help begin his solo career. His debut album Viva Hate (1988) featured Street on bass and guitar, Vini Reilly on guitar and keyboards and Andrew Paresi on drums.[1] His first solo performance happened on 22 December of the same year, at which he was backed by former Smiths bandmates, Craig Gannon (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums).[2][3] The three continued to play on Morrissey's singles until 1989 and 1990.
Morrissey hired a new band from 1991's Kill Uncle, consisting of Mark E. Nevin (guitar), Mark Bedford (bass), Andrew Paresi (drums, percussion), Seamus Beaghen and Steven Heart (keyboards), Nawazish Ali Khan (violin) and Linder Sterling (backing vocals). For live performances in the same year he was joined by guitarists Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte, bassist Gary Day and drummer Spencer Cobrin.[4] Day and Cobrin were replaced by Jonny Bridgwood (who Day had originally replaced) and Woodie Taylor in 1993.[5] Spencer Cobrin returned in 1995.[6]
In 1999, Day returned alongside new drummer Spike T. Smith.[6] Dean Butterworth replaced Smith in 2003, joining alongside keyboardist Roger Joseph Manning Jr. Manning was replaced by Michael Farrell in 2004.[7] Jesse Tobias also joined in 2005.[8] Matt Chamberlain replaced Butterworth in 2005.[8] Day was also replaced by Solomon Walker in 2007,[9] who brought in his brother, Matt Walker on drums.[9]
Manning returned in 2008[10] and Whyte left in 2009. Gustavo Manzur also replaced Manning in 2009,[11] as well as Mando Lopez replacing Solomon Walker on bass.[12] Walker returned in 2021, alongside the returning Whyte and new drummer Brendan Buckley, replacing Boorer and Matt Walker respectively.[13] Juan Galeano replaced Walker in 2022.[14] Camila Grey replaced Manzur in 2023,[15] as well as Carmen Vandenberg replacing Whyte.[16] The Walker brothers both returned in 2024.[17]
Members
editCurrent members
editImage | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Morrissey | 1988–present | lead vocals | all releases | |
Jesse Tobias | 2005–present | guitar | all releases from Live at Earls Court (2005) to present | |
Matt Walker |
|
drums | all releases from Years of Refusal (2009) to I Am Not a Dog on a Chain (2020) | |
Solomon Walker |
|
bass |
| |
Camila Grey | 2023–present | keyboards | none to date | |
Carmen Vandenberg | guitar |
Former members
editImage | Name | Years active | Instruments | Release contributions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Stephen Street |
|
|
| |
Andrew Paresi | drums |
| ||
Vini Reilly | 1988 |
|
Viva Hate (1988) | |
Andy Rourke | 1988–1990 | bass |
| |
Mike Joyce | 1988–1989 | drums | "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" & "Interesting Drug" (1989) | |
Craig Gannon | guitar | |||
Neil Taylor | 1989 | |||
Matthew Seligman | bass | "Ouija Board, Ouija Board" (1989) | ||
Kevin Armstong | 1989–1990 | guitar |
| |
Mark E. Nevin | 1990–1991 | Kill Uncle (1991), "Sing Your Life" (1991) | ||
Mark Bedford | bass | Kill Uncle (1991) | ||
Boz Boorer | 1991–2020 |
|
all releases from "Sing Your Life" (1991) to I Am Not a Dog on a Chain (2020) | |
Alain Whyte |
|
| ||
Spencer Cobrin |
|
drums |
| |
Jonny Bridgwood |
|
bass |
| |
Gary Day |
|
| ||
Woodie Taylor | 1993–1994 | drums | ||
Spike T. Smith | 1999–2002 | none | ||
Dean Butterworth | 2003–2005 | all releases from You Are the Quarry (2004) to Live at Earls Court (2005) | ||
Roger Joseph Manning Jr. |
|
|
| |
Michael Farrell | 2004–2008 | all releases from Live at Earls Court (2005) to Years of Refusal (2009) | ||
Barrie Cadogan | 2004 | guitar | none - substitute for Alain Whyte[18] | |
Matt Chamberlain | 2005–2007 | drums | Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006) | |
Gustavo Manzur | 2009–2023 |
|
all releases from World Peace Is None of Your Business (2014) to I Am Not a Dog on a Chain (2020) | |
Mando Lopez | 2014–2020 | bass | all releases from Low in High School (2017) to I Am Not a Dog on a Chain (2020) | |
Brendan Buckley | 2021–2024 | drums | Without Music The World Dies (TBC) | |
Juan Galeano | 2022–2024 | bass |
Timeline
editRecording timeline
editRole | Album | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Viva Hate (1988) |
Kill Uncle (1991) |
Your Arsenal (1992) |
Vauxhall and I (1994) |
Southpaw Grammar (1995) |
Mal- adjusted (1997) |
You Are the Quarry (2004) |
Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006) |
Years of Refusal (2009) |
World Peace (2014) |
Low in High School (2017) |
I Am Not a Dog on a Chain (2020) | |
Guitars | Vini Reilly, Stephen Street | Mark E. Nevin | Alain Whyte, Boz Boorer | Alain Whyte, Boz Boorer, Jesse Tobias | Boz Boorer, Jesse Tobias | |||||||
Bass | Stephen Street | Mark Bedford | Gary Day | Jonny Bridgwood | Gary Day | Solomon Walker | Mando Lopez | |||||
Drums | Andrew Paresi | Spencer Cobrin | Woodie Taylor | Spencer Cobrin | Dean Butterworth | Matt Chamberlain | Matt Walker | |||||
Key- boards |
Vini Reilly | Seamus Beaghen, Steven Heart | None | Roger Manning | Michael Farrell | Roger Manning, Michael Farrell | Gustavo Manzur |
Line-ups
editPeriod | Members | Releases |
---|---|---|
October – December 1988
(session only) |
|
|
December 1988 |
|
none – one live performance |
January 1989 |
|
|
April 1989 |
|
|
November 1989 |
|
|
April 1990 |
|
|
October 1990 |
|
|
1990 – 1991 |
|
|
1991 |
|
|
|
| |
1991 – 1993 |
|
|
1993 – 1994 |
|
|
1994 – 1998 |
|
|
1999 – 2002 |
|
none – live performances only |
2003 – 2004 |
|
|
2004 – 2005 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
2005 – 2007 |
|
none – live performances only |
2007 |
| |
2007 – 2008 |
|
|
2008 – 2009 |
| |
2009 – 2014 |
| |
2014 |
|
|
2014 – 2021 |
|
|
May 2021 – late 2021 |
|
none – live performances only |
May 2022 – March 2023 |
|
|
July 2023 – February 2024 |
|
none – live performances only |
June 2024 – present |
|
none to date |
Other musicians
edit- From Viva Hate
- From Bona Drag
- Kirsty Maccoll - backing vocals on "Interesting Drug"
- Mary Margaret O'Hara - backing vocals on "November Spawned a Monster"
- Stephen Hopkins - piano on "Ouija Board, Ouija Board"
- From Kill Uncle
- Seamus Beaghen and Steven Heart – keyboards
- Nawazish Ali Khan – violin
- From Ringleader of the Tormentors
- Ennio Morricone - string arrangement on "Dear God Please Help Me"
- Laura Adriani, Gaia e Andrea Baroni, Niccolo Centioni, Julia D'Andrea, Alice e Ester Diodovich, Marco Lorecchio, Charlotte Patrignani - Children's choir on "The Youngest Was the Most Loved", "The Father Who Must Be Killed" and "At Last I Am Born"
- From Years of Refusal
- Roger Joseph Manning Jr. – keyboards
- Mark Isham – trumpet on "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris", "When Last I Spoke to Carol" and "One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell"
- Jeff Beck – guitar on "Black Cloud"
- Michael Farrell – keyboards, accordion, cowbell on "That's How People Grow Up"
- Kristopher Pooley – backing vocals (tracks "Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed", "When Last I Spoke to Carol", and "One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell"
- Kristeen Young – additional vocals on "That's How People Grow Up"
- Chrissie Hynde – backing vocals on "Shame Is the Name"
Studio personnel
edit- Stephen Street, producer, 1988 (Viva Hate)
- Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley, producer, 1991 (Kill Uncle)
- Mick Ronson, producer, 1992 (Your Arsenal)
- Steve Lillywhite, producer, 1994-1997 (Vauxhall and I, Southpaw Grammar, and Maladjusted)
- Jerry Finn, producer, 2004, 2009 (You Are the Quarry, Years of Refusal)
- Tony Visconti, producer, 2006 (Ringleader of the Tormentors)
- Joe Chiccarelli, producer, 2013-2020 (World Peace Is None of Your Business, Low in High School, I Am Not a Dog on a Chain)
Solo Writing Credits
editwith Alain Whyte:-
- "Glamorous Glue", "We'll Let You Know", "The National Front Disco", "Certain People I Know", "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful", "You're the One for Me, Fatty", "Seasick, Yet Still Docked" and "Tomorrow" from Your Arsenal
- "Billy Budd", "Hold On to Your Friends", "Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself?", "I Am Hated for Loving", "Used to Be a Sweet Boy" and "The Lazy Sunbathers" from Vauxhall and I
- "The Boy Racer", "The Operation", "Dagenham Dave", "Do Your Best and Don't Worry", "Best Friend on the Payroll" and "Southpaw" from Southpaw Grammar – "Fantastic Bird" and "Nobody Loves Us" (only on remastered version).
- "Alma Matters", "Ambitious Outsiders", "Trouble Loves Me", "Papa Jack", "Roy's Keen" and "He Cried" from Maladjusted - "Heir Apparent", "The Edges Are No Longer Parallel", "This Is Not Your Country" and "Sorrow Will Come in the End" (only on 2009 re-release).
- "America Is Not the World", "Irish Blood, English Heart", "I Have Forgiven Jesus", "How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel?", "First of the Gang to Die", "Let Me Kiss You", "All the Lazy Dykes" and "You Know I Couldn't Last" from You Are the Quarry
- "I Will See You in Far-Off Places", "Dear God Please Help Me", "The Father Who Must Be Killed", "Life Is a Pigsty", "I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now" and "To Me You Are a Work of Art" from Ringleader of the Tormentors
- "Something Is Squeezing My Skull", "Mama Lay Softly on the Riverbed", "When Last I Spoke to Carol", "It's Not Your Birthday Anymore" and "You Were Good in Your Time" from Years of Refusal
- "Boulevard", "Notre-Dame", "Happy New Tears" and "The Monsters of Pig Alley" from Without Music the World Dies
- "Good Looking Man About Town", "Don't Make Fun of Daddy's Voice", "Ganglord", "My Dearest Love", "The Never-Played Symphonies", "Shame Is the Name", "Munich Air Disaster 1958", "It's Hard to Walk Tall When You're Small", "Teenage Dad on His Estate", "Friday Mourning", "My Life Is a Succession of People Saying Goodbye" and "Because of My Poor Education" from Swords
- "Let the Right One Slip In", "There Speaks a True Friend", "Pashernate Love", "Black-Eyed Susan", "A Swallow on My Neck", "Whatever Happens, I Love You", "Have-a-Go Merchant, "You Must Please Remember" and "I Am Two People" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
- "Boxers" and "Sunny" are non-album singles.
- "Action Man", "Teresa, Teresa", "When I Was Young", "I Was Bully, Do Not Forget Me", "I'm Looking Forward to Going Back" and "Home Is a Question Mark" are unreleased tracks.
with Boz Boorer:-
- "Now My Heart Is Full", "Spring-Heeled Jim", "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get", "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning" and "Speedway" from Vauxhall and I
- "The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils" and "Reader Meet Author" from Southpaw Grammar – "Honey, You Know Where to Find Me" and "You Should Have Been Nice to Me" (only on remastered version)
- "Maladjusted", "Ammunition" and "Satan Rejected My Soul" from Maladjusted
- "Come Back to Camden", "I'm Not Sorry", "The World Is Full of Crashing Bores" and "I Like You" from You Are the Quarry
- "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris", "That's How People Grow Up", "Black Cloud" and "One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell" from Years of Refusal
- "World Peace Is None of Your Business", "Istanbul", "Staircase at the University", "Mountjoy" and "Oboe Concerto" from World Peace Is None of Your Business – "Drag the River", "Scandinavia", "Julie in the Weeds" and "Art-Hounds" (only on deluxe version)
- "I Wish You Lonely", "Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage", "All the Young People Must Fall in Love" and "Who Will Protect Us from the Police?" from Low in High School – "Lover-To-Be" and "This Song Doesn't End When It's Over" (only on deluxe version)
- "Rebels Without Applause" and "Diana Dors" from Bonfire of Teenagers
- "Jack the Ripper", "You've Had Her", "I'd Love To", "Mexico", "I Can Have Both", "Christian Dior", "Noise Is the Best Revenge", "The Public Image", "The Slum Mums", "Action Is My Middle Name", "The Kid's a Looker" and "Brow of My Beloved" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
- "Kit", "I Know Who I Love", "I'm Playing Easy to Get", "Blue Dreamers Eyes" and "I Couldn't Understand Why People Laughed" are unreleased tracks.
with Jesse Tobias:-
- "You Have Killed Me", "The Youngest Was the Most Loved", "In The Future When All's Well", "On the Streets I Ran" and "I Just Want to See the Boy Happy" from Ringleader of the Tormentors
- "All You Need Is Me", "Sorry Doesn't Help" and "I'm OK by Myself" from Years of Refusal
- "I'm Not a Man", "The Bullfighter Dies", "Kiss Me a Lot", "Smiler with Knife" and "Kick the Bride Down the Aisle" from World Peace Is None of Your Business – "Forgive Someone" (only on deluxe version)
- "I Bury The Living" and "When You Open Your Legs" from Low in High School
- "Jim Jim Falls", "I Am Not a Dog On a Chain", "What Kind of People Live in These Houses?", "Knockabout World", "Once I Saw the River Clean" and "My Hurling Days Are Done" from I Am Not a Dog on a Chain
- "Kerouac's Crack", "I Live in Oblivion" and "I Ex-Love You" from Bonfire of Teenagers
- "The Night Pop Dropped" and "Zoom Zoom The Little Boy" from Without Music the World Dies
- "I Knew I Was Next", "If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look at Me", Children in Pieces", "People Are the Same Everywhere" and "I Thought You Were Dead" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
- "By The Time I Get To Wherever I'm Going", "Once Upon a Woman's Body" and "You Don't Need Their Approval" are unreleased tracks.
with Stephen Street:-
- "Alsatian Cousin", "Little Man, What Now?", "Everyday Is Like Sunday", "Bengali In Platforms", "Angel, Angel Down We Go Together", "Late Night, Maudlin Street", "Suedehead", "Break Up The Family", "The Ordinary Boys", "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me", "Dial-a-Cliché" and "Margaret On The Guillotine" from Viva Hate – "Treat Me Like a Human Being" (only on remastered version).
- "Interesting Drug", "Will Never Marry", "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference", "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", "Ouija Board, Ouija Board", "Hairdresser on Fire", "Lucky Lisp" and "Disappointed" from Bona Drag – "Happy Lovers At Last United", "Lifeguard On Duty", "Please Help the Cause Against Loneliness" and "The Bed Took Fire" (only on 2010 re-release).
- "I Know Very Well How I Got My Name", "Oh Well, I'll Never Learn", "Sister, I'm A Poet", "Michael's Bones", "Journalists Who Lie" and "Safe, Warm Lancashire Home" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
- "I Don't Want Us To Finish" is an unreleased track.
with Mark E. Nevin:-
- "Our Frank", "Asian Rut", "Sing Your Life", "King Leer", "Driving Your Girlfriend Home", "The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye", "(I'm) The End of the Family Line" and "There's a Place in Hell for Me and My Friends" from Kill Uncle
- "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side" and "I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday" from Your Arsenal
- "Tony The Pony", "The Loop" and "I've Changed My Plea To Guilty" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
- "Pregnant for the Last Time" and "My Love Life" are non-album singles.
- "Kill Uncle" and "Born to Hang" are unreleased tracks.
with Gustavo Manzur:-
- "Earth Is the Loneliest Planet" and "Neal Cassady Drops Dead" from World Peace Is None of Your Business – "One Of Our Own" (only on deluxe version).
- "Spent the Day in Bed", "In Your Lap", "The Girl from Tel-Aviv Who Wouldn't Kneel" and "Israel" from Low in High School
- "Love Is on Its Way Out", "Bobby, Don't You Think They Know?" and "The Truth About Ruth" from I Am Not a Dog on a Chain
- "Sure Enough, the Telephone Rings" from Bonfire of Teenagers
- "Headache", "Without Music the World Dies" and "Many Icebergs Ago" from Without Music the World Dies
with Mando Lopez:-
- "My Love, I'd Do Anything for You" and "Home Is a Question Mark" from Low in High School – "Never Again Will I Be a Twin" (only on deluxe version).
- "Darling, I Hug a Pillow" and "The Secret of Music" from I Am Not a Dog on a Chain
- "Ha Ha Harlem" and "Bonfire of Teenagers" from Bonfire of Teenagers
- "If Saturday Ever Comes" is an unreleased track.
with Gary Day:-
- "You Know I Couldn't Last" from You Are the Quarry
- "Pashernate Love", "Mexico", "Let the Right One Slip In", "The Slum Mums", and "Noise is the Best Revenge" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
with Clive Langer:-
- "November Spawned a Monster" from Bona Drag
- "Mute Witness" and "Found, Found, Found" from Kill Uncle
- "Striptease With A Difference" is an unreleased track.
with Spencer Cobrin:-
- "Wide To Receive" from Maladjusted - "Lost" and "Now I Am A Was" (only on 2009 re-release).
- "It's Hard to Walk Tall When You're Small" is an unreleased track.
with Andy Rourke:-
- "Yes, I Am Blind" from Bona Drag
- "Girl Least Likely To" and "Get Off The Stage" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
with Kevin Armstrong:-
- "Piccadilly Palare" and "He Knows I'd Love To See Him" from Bona Drag - "Oh Phoney" (only on 2010 re-release).
with Andrew Watt:-
- "I Am Veronica", "My Funeral" and "Saint In A Stained Glass Window" from Bonfire of Teenagers
with Michael Farrell:-
- "At Last I am Born" from Ringleader of the Tormentors
- "Sweetie-Pie" from Swords
Not Credited To Morrissey (ie Cover Versions):-
- "Subway Train" (live) from Live at Earls Court
- "Morning Starship", "Don't Interrupt The Sorrow", "Only A Pawn In Their Game", "Suffer The Little Children", "Days Of Decision", It's Over, Wedding Bell Blues, "Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets", "Lady Willpower", "When You Close Your Eyes", "Lenny's tune" and "Some Say I Got Devil" from California Son
- "Suspicious Minds" from Without Music the World Dies
- "A Song From Under The Floorboards", "Human Being", "It Happens Every Time", "Moon River", "No One Can Hold A Candle To You", "East West", "Skin Storm", "Drive-In Saturday" (live), "That's Entertainment", "Trash" (live), "You Say You Don't Love Me" (live), "To Give (The Reason I Live)" (live), "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?" (live), "I Didn't Know What To Do" (live), "Judy Is A Punk" (live), "Rose Garden" (live) and "You'll Be Gone" (live) are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
- Redondo Beach" (live), "Interlude" (with Siouxsie Sioux), "Satellite Of Love" (live), "Back On The Chain Gang" and "Cosmic Dancer" (live with David Bowie) are non-album singles.
- "Rainbow Valley" is an unreleased track.
References
edit- ^ Bret 2004, pp. 102–103.
- ^ Greene, Andy (5 March 2019). "Flashback: Morrissey Plays 'Suedehead' at His First Solo Concert". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Martins, Chris (24 May 2013). "Watch the Smiths Back Morrissey at His First Solo Gig in 1988". Spin. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Bret 2004, p. 143.
- ^ Goddard 2012, p. 53.
- ^ a b Goddard 2012, p. 76.
- ^ Goddard 2012, p. 126.
- ^ a b Goddard 2012, p. 355.
- ^ a b Goddard 2012, p. 92.
- ^ Goddard 2012, p. 245.
- ^ Gittins, Ian (30 November 2014). "Morrissey review – great voice, shame about the lyrics". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Morrissey's bassist on compassionate leave". Express.co.uk. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Buckley, Brendan (22 October 2021). Brendan Buckley w/ Morrissey “Back On The Chain Gang” (Sep 2021). Retrieved 8 October 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Line Up. - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - Line Up". MORRISSEY CENTRAL. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "New keyboard player. - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - New keyboard player". MORRISSEY CENTRAL. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Laing, Rob (24 July 2023). "Carmen Vandenberg is now playing guitar in Morrissey's live band". MusicRadar. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ "Rhino - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - Rhino". MORRISSEY CENTRAL. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Klotschkow, Paul (1 August 2005). "Interview: Little Barrie". leftlion. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Krol, Charlotte (12 December 2022). "Morrissey announces recording of new album 'Without Music The World Dies'". NME. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
Bibliography
edit- Bret, David (2004). Morrissey: Scandal and Passion. London: Robson Books. ISBN 978-1-86105-787-7.
- Goddard, Simon (24 April 2012). Mozipedia: The Encyclopaedia of Morrissey and the Smiths. Random House. ISBN 9781407028842.
{{cite book}}
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