The Smiths and Morrissey: Tony Wilson 03 (of 6)

Tony Wilson was an English record label owner, journalist, impresario and TV celebrity who was at the heart of the punk and post-punk scene in the late 70s and early 80s. Founder of both The Hacienda club and Factory Records, Wilson played a vital role in the careers of Joy Division, New Order, The Durutti Column and The Happy Mondays. He died in August 2007.
In this extensive interview he discusses The Smiths and in particular their frontman Morrissey, whom he had known since the mid 1970s.

[@cob1965]

What a quote! 'Certainly Steven is one of the biggest arseholes in terms of a human being' Priceless, love him and The Smiths, the world is a little bit better because of them both.

[@GnomeChomsky9999]

Tony is very perceptive!

[@seankilburn7200]

I don’t think he always speaks the complete truth of events but I could listen to him all day

[@bmarc7184]

Shoot the DJ and Look who's Miserable Now are my favourite Smiths songs

[@mayamojo4]

Don't forget that's how joan of arc felt

[@pcalf101]

Yea he despises them. 0 respect basically

[@simonrichards6739]

I like ‘when is it’?

[@simonvaughan6017]

This confirms what I've always suspected: that, although Marr provided the harmonic structures for the Smiths' songs, Morrissey came up with the melodic lines (i.e. he didn't just write the lyrics).

[@galaxywolf969]

Hand in Glove was actually their debut single released in May 1983. It didn't chart. This Charming Man (October, May '83) reached 25 on the UK Singles Chart. What is really mind blowing is that the Smiths never had a number one hit, Morrisey didn't either, nor did chart until the re-release of Unknown Pleasures in 2019 at the 5th spot on the Uk Album Chart. New Order never had a number 1 single in the Uk but made the top 40s 27 times. They did have 7 Top 10 albums.
Think of all those one hit wonders (some very good) and songs we have almost totally forgotten who did and you just know that the Music Industry, like the Film Industry, has several screws lose somewhere.

[@seankilburn7200]

Meat is murder was number 1 on release though

[@imposs-up1hg]

World in Motion was number 1 for New Order in the UK.

[@jesusreyes7619]

Morrissey did have one number one hit in 2004.

[@jamiecloughgaming25387]

It got to No3 Irish Blood English Heart.

[@yamaproductions7807]

This charming is up there with a day in the life , so blue Monday kisses ass when we talk about greatness

[@harryjackson6439]

This charming man wasn't their 1st single it was Hand in glove.

[@TykesTV]

but it wasn't a hit single

[@seankilburn7200]

@@TykesTV it certainly should’ve been though

[@TykesTV]

@@seankilburn7200 oh definatly

[@thephoenix3155]

I like Marr (after The Smiths) especially his work with Bernard Sumner and Neil Tennant (Electronic).

[@andrewbrown3322]

I don't agree that the roses copied the monday's. But great to hear this mans honest views and his take on history.

[@stevedixon8567]

their image might have been influenced by the Mondays (it was leather trousers and hair gel initially) , but definitely not the music

[@theselector4733]

Well to be fair he said they only copied "This Rolling Rhythm". Which is kind of true. The Madchester drum pattern was fairly similar with all the bands. It was basically a slowed down version of early house music rhythms.

[@Reprodestruxion]

How soon is now?

[@조무사-d6t]

4:26 'Shoot the DJ' he is even more cruel than Morrissey.

[@Jackmc2112]

Every sensible child.

[@DiffyWright]

I will bring it back

[@sugarayofsunshine]

Hang the DJ////-]

[@memetrashcan9613]

Not danceable??? The Smiths???

[@yamaproductions7807]

The stone roses copied the Mondays, crap , they copied love

[@martingtf71risk47]

Miserable lie not now

[@rael1999]

'Dance was no part of The Smiths'....sorry Tony but that's complete bollox !