The Smiths' drummer opens up ahead of Wolverhampton date - Express & Star
By Tom Oakley
Excerpt:
Two years on after splitting up, they returned without guitarist Johnny Marr for what would be an unofficial Smiths farewell gig – and Moz’s first solo show.
With Craig Gannon (known as the fifth Smith) filling in on guitar, entry to the night was free to fans wearing a Smiths shirt and only half of those who travelled actually made it inside the venue.
“Me and Morrissey had discussed a concert but decided it shouldn’t be a Smiths one because Johnny wasn't there. So we decided to play his solo stuff and there were Smiths songs we’d never played live before, said Joyce.
“It was a one-off gig and free to get in with a Smiths shirt on but it was chaos. Maybe not on the level of Beatlemania but I found it quite disconcerting. I didn’t really embrace it.
“It was so chaotic and leads were being pulled out but it was still a good gig anyway. It’s [Wolverhampton] always treated me well. It reminds me of Glasgow - you didn’t have a bad gig there and the crowd was always up for it. Playing a DJ set its going to be a party and you want people like that there.”
Related items:
By Tom Oakley
Excerpt:
Two years on after splitting up, they returned without guitarist Johnny Marr for what would be an unofficial Smiths farewell gig – and Moz’s first solo show.
With Craig Gannon (known as the fifth Smith) filling in on guitar, entry to the night was free to fans wearing a Smiths shirt and only half of those who travelled actually made it inside the venue.
“Me and Morrissey had discussed a concert but decided it shouldn’t be a Smiths one because Johnny wasn't there. So we decided to play his solo stuff and there were Smiths songs we’d never played live before, said Joyce.
“It was a one-off gig and free to get in with a Smiths shirt on but it was chaos. Maybe not on the level of Beatlemania but I found it quite disconcerting. I didn’t really embrace it.
“It was so chaotic and leads were being pulled out but it was still a good gig anyway. It’s [Wolverhampton] always treated me well. It reminds me of Glasgow - you didn’t have a bad gig there and the crowd was always up for it. Playing a DJ set its going to be a party and you want people like that there.”
Related items:
- Mike Joyce on Tinnitus awareness - ITV News report - July 24, 2017
- The Smiths: My Story – An Evening with Mike Joyce (Wolverhampton, July 28, 2017) - June 18, 2017
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