The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by English rock band the Smiths. Released on 16 June 1986 in the United Kingdom by Rough Trade Records, and on 23 June 1986 in the US by Sire Records, it spent 22 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number two. It also reached No. 70 on the US Billboard 200, and was certified Gold by the RIAA in late 1990. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked The Queen Is Dead 113th on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. In its 2013 list, the NME named The Queen Is Dead the greatest album of all time.
You Are the Quarry is the seventh studio album by English alternative rock singer Morrissey. It was released on 17 May 2004 by record label Attack, and was his first album in seven years following 1997's Maladjusted. The album was a huge comeback for Morrissey; all four of its singles reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart, and the album itself reached number 2. The album also reached number 11 on the Billboard 200, making it Morrissey's highest-charting album in the United States.
Martin James "Boz" Boorer is an English guitarist and producer most known for his work founding the new wave rockabilly group The Polecats; and later for his work as a co-writer, guitarist and musical director with Morrissey, for which he is principally known today.
Alain Gordon Whyte is an English musician, songwriter, composer and singer. He is best known for being Morrissey's main songwriting partner and guitarist between 1991 and 2007.
"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Morrissey. Featured on the band's third studio album The Queen Is Dead, it was not released as a single in the United Kingdom until 1992, five years after their split, to promote the compilation album ...Best II. It peaked at No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 22 on the Irish Singles Chart. The song has received considerable critical acclaim; in 2014, NME listed it as the 12th greatest song of all time.
Live at Earls Court is a live album by Morrissey. Its sleeve notes state that it was "recorded live at Earls Court in London on 18 December 2004 in front of 17,183 people."
"Everyday Is Like Sunday" is the third track of Morrissey's debut solo album, Viva Hate, and the second single to be released by the artist. While the lyric was written by Morrissey, the song's composer was Stephen Street. The lyric is reportedly inspired by Nevil Shute's novel On the Beach, about a group of people waiting for nuclear devastation in Melbourne, Australia. It reached number nine on the UK Singles Chart and remains one of his best-known songs. "Everyday Is Like Sunday", as well as the single's B-sides "Disappointed" and "Will Never Marry", feature on the compilation album Bona Drag.
"Irish Blood, English Heart" is a song written by the British singer Morrissey in 2002, from his 2004 album You Are the Quarry. It was released on 4 May 2004 in the United States and 10 May 2004 internationally. The song became Morrissey's highest-charting single in the United Kingdom, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart. It is also his highest-charting single in Sweden, peaking at number four, and it reached number seven in Canada and the top 20 in Ireland and Norway.
"Bigmouth Strikes Again" is a 1986 song by the English rock band the Smiths from their third album The Queen Is Dead. Written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey, the song features self-deprecating lyrics that reflected Morrissey's frustrations with the music industry at the time. Musically, the song was inspired by the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and centers around a guitar riff that Marr wrote during a 1985 soundcheck.
"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1983 album War and was released as the album's third single on 21 March 1983 in the Netherlands and West Germany. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is noted for its militaristic drumbeat, harsh guitar, and melodic harmonies. One of U2's most overtly political songs, its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the 1972 Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot and killed unarmed civil rights protesters. Along with "New Year's Day," the song helped U2 reach a wider listening audience. It was generally well received by critics on the album's release.
"First of the Gang to Die" is a song written by Morrissey from his 2004 album You Are the Quarry. It was released in July 2004 as the second single from the album. It was written by Morrissey along with Alain Whyte, the two being responsible for lyrics and music respectively. Following the success of "Irish Blood, English Heart", from the same album, the single reached the number six spot in the UK Singles Chart, giving Morrissey two top hits in a row for the first time since "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and "Interesting Drug" both reached the top ten in 1989.
"I Have Forgiven Jesus" is an alternative rock song that appears on Morrissey's 2004 album You Are the Quarry. It was co-written by Morrissey and his band member Alain Whyte, and produced by Jerry Finn. The track reflects the singer's upbringing in an Irish Catholic community and his status as a lapsed Catholic. The song is a ballad that tells the story of a child who becomes disillusioned with religion because of his inability to deal with his own desires. The title refers to the character's blame and subsequent forgiveness of Jesus Christ for creating him as a lovely creature that has no chance to express its love. Described as both confessional and humorous, the song has been interpreted as a blasphemous critique of organized religion and an ambivalent way for Morrissey to describe his own religiosity.
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by English singer Morrissey, released on 11 February 2008. Unlike 1997's greatest hits, Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey, this compilation predominantly features songs from the then previous two studio albums, You Are the Quarry and Ringleader of the Tormentors. The album also features two new songs, lead single "That's How People Grow Up" and "All You Need Is Me", both of which were later included on studio album Years of Refusal.
Up the Shambles – Live in Manchester is a live DVD of the band Babyshambles. The DVD was released without the bands prior knowledge according to bassist Drew McConnell. The DVD was released around the time of the band's second album Shotters Nation, but not only featured a much older version of the band, it was recorded prior to the release of the first album Down in Albion. The set list features not only songs on the band's debut but B-sides, unreleased songs and songs by Pete Doherty's former band The Libertines.
Morrissey: Live at the Hollywood Bowl was announced as a DVD documenting a live performance by Morrissey, but has never been released. The concert took place at the historic Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA, on June 8, 2007 on the first leg of Morrissey's 2007/2008 'Greatest Hits' tour. An abbreviated audio selection of this concert also appears on the 2 disc version of Morrissey's 2008 Greatest Hits CD, and a further audio track from the recording was released on the 2010 re-release of the single "Everyday Is Like Sunday".
"How Soon Is Now?" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. Originally a B-side of the 1984 single "William, It Was Really Nothing", "How Soon Is Now?" was subsequently featured on the compilation album Hatful of Hollow and on US, Canadian, Australian, and Warner UK editions of Meat Is Murder. Belatedly released as a single in the UK in 1985, it reached No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart. When re-released in 1992, it reached No. 16.
Steven Patrick Morrissey, known mononymously as Morrissey, is an English singer, songwriter, and author. He came to prominence as the frontman of rock band the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. Since then, he has pursued a successful solo career. Morrissey's music is characterised by his baritone voice and distinctive lyrics with recurring themes of emotional isolation, sexual longing, self-deprecating and black humour, and anti-establishment stances.
Morrissey: 25 Live is a 2013 music concert film documentary depicting Morrissey's March 2, 2013 live performance at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, California. The concert was intended to mark his 25-year solo career following the break-up of The Smiths. The film focused on Morrissey as a performer, rather than as a man.
Mexrrissey is a Mexican band co-founded by Camilo Lara and Sergio Mendoza. Inspired by Morrissey and The Smiths' songs, Camilo and Sergio along with: Ceci Bastida, Jay de la Cueva, Alejandro Flores, Chetes and Ricardo Nájera began this musical project in 2015. Their album, "No Manchester" (2016) contains Morrissey songs translated into Spanish with a mix of Latin beats and sounds added to the music. After their first show in Mexico City, the band began with a UK tour in April 2015. After their first tour in the UK they have since gone back and have also been on other tours through the US and Australia. Future shows will be happening in October and November 2017 through the US and Argentina. During the spring of 2018, Mexrrissey will do a tour through the UK called "La Reina Is Dead".
