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Andy Rourke
Andrew Michael Rourke (born 17 January 1964) is an English musician, best known as the bassist of the Smiths. He is known for his melodic approach to bass playing. Career Rourke's father was Irish while his mother was English. He received an acoustic guitar from his parents when he was seven years old. At the age of 11 he befriended the young John Maher (soon to be Johnny Marr) with whom he shared an interest in music. The pair spent lunch breaks in school jamming and playing on their guitars. When Marr and Rourke formed a band, he invited Rourke (still then a guitarist) to try on bass, which he fell in love with and has stuck with ever since. Rourke left school when he was 15. He passed through a series of menial jobs and played guitar and bass in various rock bands, as well as in the short-lived funk band Freak Party, with his schoolfriend Johnny Marr. Marr later teamed up with Morrissey to form the Smiths. Rourke joined the band after its first gig, and remained through m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The two cities and the surrounding towns form one of the United Kingdom's most populous conurbations, the Greater Manchester Built-up Area, which has a population of 2.87 million. The history of Manchester began with the civilian settlement associated with the Roman fort ('' castra'') of ''Mamucium'' or ''Mancunium'', established in about AD 79 on a sandstone bluff near the confluence of the rivers Medlock and Irwell. Historically part of Lancashire, areas of Cheshire south of the River Mersey were incorporated into Manchester in the 20th century, including Wythenshawe in 1931. Throughout the Middle Ages Manchester remained a manorial township, but began to expand "at an astonishing rate" around the turn of the 19th century. Manchest ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Daily Beast
''The Daily Beast'' is an American news website focused on politics, media, and pop culture. It was founded in 2008. It has been characterized as a "high-end tabloid" by Noah Shachtman, the site's editor-in-chief from 2018 to 2021. In a 2015 interview, former editor-in-chief John Avlon described the ''Beast''s editorial approach: "We seek out scoops, scandals, and stories about secret worlds; we love confronting bullies, bigots, and hypocrites." In 2018, Avlon described the ''Beast''s "strike zone" as "politics, pop culture, and power". History ''The Daily Beast'' began publishing on October 6, 2008. Its founding editor was Tina Brown, a former editor of ''Vanity Fair'' and ''The New Yorker'' as well as the short-lived ''Talk'' magazine. The name of the site was taken from a fictional newspaper in Evelyn Waugh's novel ''Scoop''. In 2010, ''The Daily Beast'' merged with the magazine ''Newsweek'' creating a combined company, The Newsweek Daily Beast Company. The merger en ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Pretenders
Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Martin Chambers (drums, backing vocals, percussion). Following the deaths of Honeyman-Scott in 1982 and Farndon in 1983, the band experienced numerous personnel changes; Hynde has been the band's only consistent member. The band's hit songs include "Kid (Pretenders song), Kid" (1979), "Brass in Pocket" (1979), "Talk of the Town (Pretenders song), Talk of the Town" (1980), "Message of Love" (1981), "My City Was Gone" (1982), "Back on the Chain Gang" (1982), "Middle of the Road (song), Middle of the Road" (1983) and "2000 Miles" (1983), "Don't Get Me Wrong" (1986), "My Baby (Pretenders song), My Baby" (1986) and "I'll Stand by You" (1994). Pretenders were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Viva Hate
''Viva Hate'' is the debut solo studio album by English singer Morrissey. It was released on 14 March 1988 by HMV, six months after the final studio album by the Smiths, ''Strangeways, Here We Come'' (1987). Vini Reilly, the leader of the English post-punk band the Durutti Column, played guitar on the album. Producer Stephen Street, who had contributed to multiple Smiths releases, served as the bassist. Background ''Viva Hate'' was recorded between October and December 1987. Although all songwriting is credited to Morrissey and producer Stephen Street, the Durutti Column's guitarist Vini Reilly, who had been drafted into the sessions by Street, later claimed every song on the album except "Suedehead" had been composed by Morrissey and Reilly. Reilly felt sad about it and would have wished a better treatment. He nevertheless expressed no regret and recognized Morissey as a gifted artist and Street as a skilled technician; he admitted that it was his mistake to have accepted suc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ouija Board, Ouija Board
"Ouija Board, Ouija Board" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey, released as a single in November 1989. The track appears along with its B-side "Yes, I Am Blind" on the compilation album ''Bona Drag''. A shorter edit, omitting a verse, appeared on the 2010 reissue of ''Bona Drag''. The single was poorly received by the music press and the public; its highest position on the UK Singles Chart was 18, making it the first solo Morrissey single not to reach the top 10. "Yes, I Am Blind" was composed by Morrissey's ex- Smiths partner Andy Rourke, and the picture on the sleeve was taken by Anton Corbijn. Lyrical content The song is about the protagonist using a Ouija board to contact a dead friend, who tells him to "push off" ("push oof" in some renditions). It caused some debate in the press at the time over claims it promoted occult dabbling or devil worship. Morrissey replied to these claims by retorting: "The only contact I ever made with the dead was when I spoke to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Piccadilly Palare
"Piccadilly Palare" is song by British singer Morrissey, released as a single in October 1990. The song features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from the Smiths, Andy Rourke, marking the last time any former member of the Smiths would collaborate with Morrissey. Background vocals were provided by Suggs, lead singer of the band Madness. "Piccadilly Palare" reached number 18 on the UK Singles Chart and number five in Ireland. Song information As with " November Spawned a Monster", Morrissey chose to write about a subject unusual in pop music, namely male prostitution around the Piccadilly area of London. The title of the song refers to the cant slang language polari, first used by male prostitutes in the 19th century and then taken up by homosexuals in the 1960s to disguise sexual activities which were illegal in the UK until 1967. Morrissey said in his autobiography that he disliked the song. He called it "...a student work of novelty that wears off before noon". Critical ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
November Spawned A Monster
"November Spawned a Monster" is a song by British singer Morrissey, released as a single in April 1990. It was written by Morrissey and Clive Langer and features one of Morrissey's former colleagues from the Smiths, Andy Rourke. The single reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart. It, along with its B-side "He Knows I'd Love to See Him", appears on his compilation album ''Bona Drag''. In November 2014, Alex Broun's play ''November Spawned a Monster'', inspired by Morrissey's song, premiered at The Old Fitzroy, in Sydney, Australia, directed by Robert Chuter and starring James Wright. Lyrical content The song describes the troubles of the disabled. Morrissey uses words such as 'monster' and 'twisted' to attempt to create mix of revulsion, sympathy and black comedy. By forcing the ambivalent persona of tormentor and savior, Morrissey forces the listener to confront their own prejudices head on."Rogan, Johnny Morrissey - The Album, p. 152 The song quotes ''Les Chants de Mald ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Last Of The Famous International Playboys
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" is a song by British solo artist Morrissey. Co-written by Morrissey and former Smiths producer Stephen Street, the song was Morrissey's third release after the Smiths break-up. Morrissey was inspired lyrically by the East End gangster brothers the Kray Twins, whom he believed to be an example of the media glamourizing violent criminals. Street took influence from the Fall for the song's music, with the intro also resembling that of " The Man Who Sold the World" by David Bowie. The single was the first Morrissey solo single to feature his former Smiths bandmates Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, and Craig Gannon. "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was recorded and released following Morrissey's debut album, ''Viva Hate''. Upon release, the single became yet another commercial hit for Morrissey, reaching number six in the UK in spite of initially mixed reviews. The song would later appear on the 1990 compilation album, ''Bon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Interesting Drug
"Interesting Drug" is a song by English singer-songwriter Morrissey. Co-written by Morrissey and former Smiths producer Stephen Street, the song was Morrissey's first fourth release after the Smiths break-up. Morrissey was inspired lyrically by the drug culture in the English lower class, which he felt was being clamped down on by a power-hungry government. The single was the second and final Morrissey solo single to feature his former Smiths bandmates Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, and Craig Gannon. "Interesting Drug" was recorded and released following Morrissey's debut album, ''Viva Hate''. Upon release, the single became yet another commercial hit for Morrissey, reaching number nine in the UK in spite of controversy regarding its lyrics and music video. The song would later appear on the 1990 compilation album, ''Bona Drag''. In the years since its release, "Interesting Drug" has received positive critical reception. Background Lyrically, "Interesting Drug" sees Morrissey e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
''I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got'' is the second album by Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor, released in March 1990 on Ensign/Chrysalis Records. It contains O'Connor's version of the Prince song "Nothing Compares 2 U", which was released as a single and reached number one in multiple countries. The album was nominated for four Grammy Awards in 1991, including Record of the Year, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Music Video, Short Form for "Nothing Compares 2 U", winning the award for Best Alternative Music Performance. However, O'Connor refused to accept the nominations and award. Content The critically acclaimed album contains O'Connor's most famous single, "Nothing Compares 2 U", which was one of the best selling singles in the world in 1990, topping the charts in many countries including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. This rendition of the Prince song reflected on O'Connor's mother, who had lost her life in an auto accident five years earlier. The s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sinéad O'Connor
Shuhada Sadaqat (born Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor on 8 December 1966; ) is an Irish singer-songwriter. Her debut album, ''The Lion and the Cobra'', was released in 1987 and charted internationally. Her second album, ''I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got'' received glowing reviews upon release and became her biggest success, selling over seven million copies worldwide. Its lead single, "Nothing Compares 2 U" (written by Prince (musician), Prince), was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards, ''Billboard'' Music Awards. She has released ten studio albums: 1992's ''Am I Not Your Girl?'' and 1994's ''Universal Mother'' both went gold in the UK, 2000's ''Faith and Courage'' received gold status in Australia, and 2005's ''Throw Down Your Arms'' went gold in Ireland. Her work also includes songs for films, collaborations with many other artists, and appearances at charity fundraising concerts. Her 2021 memoir ''Rememberings'' was a best seller. Thr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mike Joyce (musician)
Michael Adrian Paul Joyce (born 1 June 1963) is an English drummer. He is best known as the drummer for the Smiths, an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. Life and career Joyce was born in Manchester to Irish Catholic parents, and attended St Gregory's Grammar School in the city. While the Smiths provided Joyce with his first taste of success, he had previously drummed for Manchester band The Hoax and Northern Irish punk rock group Victim. Joyce was a member of The Smiths throughout the band's existence (1982–87). Immediately after the break-up of the band, Joyce and Smiths bassist Andy Rourke played with Sinéad O'Connor. They, along with Craig Gannon, also provided the rhythm section for two singles by Smiths' singer Morrissey – " Interesting Drug" and " The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and their B-sides. Work with Suede, Buzzcocks, Public Image Limited, Julian Cope, P. P. Arnold and Pete Wylie followed throughout the 1990s. Joyce, Rourke ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
