Morrissey biography

After the release of their fourth album, Strangeways Here We Come, the band made a controversial move to major label EMI in 1987, upsetting the indie stalwarts but the band split before releasing any records. Marr wanted to explore different areas and wanted grander platforms, playing Wembley Stadium for instance. Morrissey, being Morrissey, quite clearly didn't. So the band split, causing deathly distress among their fans (one US fan broke into a local radio station and forced the DJ at gunpoint to play Smiths records for the next four hours). Morrissey decided to embark hastily on a solo career.

His debut solo album, Viva Hate, written with producer Stephen Street, was released in 1988 and reached No. 2 in the charts on the back of the catchy single, Suedehead, which was Morrissey's first ever Top 5 hit. Follow up single Everyday Is Like Sunday was classic, lavish, Morrissey melancholia. Now alone in the spotlight, Morrissey was able to cultivate his anti-hero persona and consummate Englishness to an even greater degree. The album wasn't without controversy though. The track Bengali In Platforms was an ambiguous address to immigrants which Morrissey later attempted to play down.

Recruiting a new band which included ex-Smiths' members Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce, Morrissey returned the following year with two fine singles, the playfully coy Last Of The International Playboys and Interesting Drug, both Top 10 hits. However the new lineup didn't last and a new lineup was assembled for next single, Ouija Board, Ouija board, which received poor reviews. A planned 1990 album was scrapped although its title, Bona Drag was used for a compilation album later that year. The album contained new tracks, the grim November Spawned A Monster and Piccadilly Palare.

In 1991, now working with a new writing partner, ex Fairground Attraction member Mark Nevin, Morrissey released the Kill Uncle album. The LP received mixed reviews but a subsequent tour, his first since The Smiths disbanded, was a success and inspired Morrissey to release follow up album, Your Arsenal in 1992. Produced by Mick Ronson the album took the faux glam rock of Kill Uncle and mixed in some raw rockabilly, resulting in Morrissey's highest chart placing for years (No.4). The album failed to spawn any hits but one track, You're The One For Me, Fatty was later covered by one of Morrissey's idols, David Bowie.

Later that year Morrissey hit the headlines after issuing a bitter attack on author Johnny Rogan prior to the publication of a book on The Smiths, 'Morrissey & Marr: The Severed Alliance.' which blamed Morrissey for the split. Moz declared: "Personally, I hope Johnny Rogan ends his days very soon in an M3 pile-up."

However the much-publicized dispute helped to reawaken interest in Morrissey and the work of The Smiths. Morrissey was now cultivating a big following in the US beyond cult devotees which would later prompt the singer's relocation to California.

But more controversy was to follow in 1993 after Morrissey's disastrous appearance at the 1993 Madness reunion concert, 'Madstock' in London's Finsbury Park. For his support slot Morrissey came on stage draped in a Union Jack flag in front of a backdrop depicting two skinhead girls. Combined with his performances of Bengali In Platforms and The National Front Disco, Morrissey's appearance sparked huge debate in the media over his interpretation of 'Englishness'. The NME ran a piece suggesting the singer was racist which caused Moz to sever relations with the paper for the next 12 years. Morrissey says now of the incident. "The press knew I wasn't really racist but it was interesting story and just a way to stick in the knife."

Following all this strife Morrissey returned in 1994 with arguably his best solo album to date, Vauxhall And I. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, the album was Morrissey's first No.1 and featured his trademark caustic barbs and pained reflection.

Morrissey moved to RCA Records for follow up album, Southpaw Grammar in 1995. It was a bizarre affair which focused on Mozza's apparent boxing fixation. Unsurprisingly the record met with critical bemusement although it did consolidate his position as an eccentric pop maverick.

Morrissey was in the headlines again in 1997 with the long standing court case over ex-Smiths drummer Mike Joyce's royalty claims. The judge ruled against Morrissey and Johnny Marr, a decision which caused Morrissey millions of pounds. Ploughing on, he released new album Maladjusted the same year on Island Records although he was forced to omit a track that allegedly attacked Joyce. The album was poorly received by critics and its relative failure caused Moz to up sticks and move permanently to Los Angeles.

Naturally, 90's phenomenons such as nu-metal, hip-hop and R&B have passed Mozza by but his influence can again be detected in the recent arch camp-squalor of The Libertines and Franz Ferdinand while everyone from The Strokes to JK Rowling is now singing Mozza's praises.

And 2004 sees him return with a new album, You Are The Quarry which is one of the best things he's done since The Smiths. Full of his trademark bile and spit, the album features audacious tracks such as the FBI-baiting America Is Not The World and I Have Forgiven Jesus, consolidating his position as rock and roll's very own Kenneth Williams and a mother Teresa for the maladjusted.

"People always say to me, 'You changed my life' or 'when I was a teenager you helped me through the death of my hamster' and I feel a flush of pride," says a humble Mozza. "It's quite something to help people through their darkest hours."

Discography