The oldest song on Meat Is Murder had been in The Smiths live set since December 1983. Indeed it was part of the set that was aired at their first ever gig in Scotland in March 1984. And while it wouldn't appear on record until February 1985, it was a song very familiar to most fans thanks to this performance on The Tube on Friday 16 March 1984 (exactly two weeks after said first ever gig in Scotland):-
Simon Goddard describes it perfectly:-
'The last of three numbers (following 'Hand In Glove' and 'Still Ill'), Andy Rourke was on top form, his vigorous fretwork visibly propelling the song's rhythm. Sliding across the stage with his jumper tied around his waist, Marr's fluid jangling gathered to a manic plectrum-grinding crescendo culminating in both he and Morrissey dancing around one another in air-punching, arm-flailing harmony. This divine, ritualistic fandango of wordsmith and composer twisting together in pure poetic motion was already a familiar site in concert.....
Mile Joyce however would remember the performance for less constructive reasons, noticeably fluffing a drum fill near the song's finish. 'Even my mum, who was in her sixties at the time, recognised that I'd cocked up' laughs Joyce, 'so I knew if she sussed I had then everybody else watching must have.'
mp3 : The Smiths vs Public Enemy - Barbarism Begins With Noise
Next up......a machine gun dance.
5 comments:
Yeah we all know Marr was an utter genius but Rourke was an equal genius on bass...the tone on this is awesome
Just read your Rangers piece, and I too am overjoyed at their demise. Will they lose the trophies they cheated their way to over the last 15 years?
Quite probably my favourite Smiths live TV performance of all. Cheers.
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