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
Several 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]
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 Whyte and new drummer Brendan Buckley, replacing Lopez, 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]
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"
"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).
"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
"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.
"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.
"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)
"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.
"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
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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.
"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
"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.
Bret, David (2004). Morrissey: Scandal and Passion. London: Robson Books. ISBN978-1-86105-787-7.
Goddard, Simon (24 April 2012). Mozipedia: The Encyclopaedia of Morrissey and the Smiths. Random House. ISBN9781407028842.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)