The Smith's bassist is really great

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I keep hearing about Johnny Marr and what a guitar god he is, but for the life of me, I can't really see anything so special about it. However, the bass work, especially on the Queen is Dead, is really amazing. He doesn't get enough credit.

― David Allen, Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:35 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree, and so does the British court system, but Morrissey would respond with LAWYER! *whipcrack* LIAR! *whipcrack*

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Their singer's pretty good, too. What's his name, Madisson? He's got a good voice. Kind of whiny though.

― Famous Athlete, Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Wow, somebody else who knows the "Sorrow Will Come" song.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Dude, I easily know Morrissey's solo career better than the Smiths.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:44 (twenty-three years ago)

David, I am sorry man, but if you cannot figure out why Johnny Marr is a great guitarist you are fucking up bad. I mean really _really_ bad.

― Mike Taylor (mjt), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Learn to thoroughly know both, Anthony, it's worth it. ;-)

That song is still one of the goofiest things I've ever heard.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:48 (twenty-three years ago)

I think Smiths bass dude is in Badly Drawn Boy's touring band at the mo'

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:49 (twenty-three years ago)

How the mighty have fallen.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:50 (twenty-three years ago)

And you think you've won

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 03:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Didn't Marr do a lot of the bass anyway?

― Bill E (bill_e), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 04:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually. I didn't notice the Marr dis when I said "I agree." Marr's guitars are great but the rhythm section was dandy too.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 04:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Didn't Marr do a lot of the bass anyway?

Having seen the Smiths live twice back in the day, I don't see any reason for that rumor. Rourke is a terrific bass player.

Actually, I was more impressed back then with Rourke/Joyce than I was with Johnny Marr.

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 06:30 (twenty-three years ago)

Is this the same Smiths bass player who was in, then out of, Killing Joke after three days for being too miserable?

― mei (mei), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 08:03 (twenty-three years ago)

The bassline on 'The Headmaster Ritual' is pretty damn fine.

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 09:47 (twenty-three years ago)

As is the bass on Barbarism Beings at Home. It made that song.

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 10:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Damn! I was actually thinking of 'Barbarism Begins at Home'. Thanks, flowersdie.

(Not that the bassline of 'Headmaster Ritual' is bad, though.)

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 10:08 (twenty-three years ago)

Barbarism begins at Home was a highlight of a brilliant album.

Why is there no band on earth as gripping as The Smiths any more?

I remember working in a record shop in Cardiff when the Smiths were at their peak, and the rush (and the push) for the records on the first day of release - the gorgeous sleeves, the superb extra tracks... genuine excitement on release day. (and the frequent Rough Trade cock ups - sending us signed competition-winner copies of Bigmouth in error and Sheila Take A Bow with 'You just haven't earned it yet baby' as the a-side - both worth a mint now)

Is there a band that enjoys this sort of fanatical following any more?

― russ t, Wednesday, 26 March 2003 10:39 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd agree with the Andy Rourke as brilliant bassist thing! I thought I was the only person who thought this.

oddly, the Smiths came under a lot of record company pressure to sack Mike Joyce when they started, on the grounds that he was rub.

― DV (dirtyvicar), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 10:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Depends who's to blame for all those bounceee tunes with 6/8 or 12/8 feels. If Rourke was asked to come up with basslines for songs that already had that feel, he often did a great job with such restricting material, the bassline on "Is it really so strange" being a good example. If, on the other hand, he was the one who said "guys, why don't we give this one a nice triplet feel as well" he needs shooting.

But then I don't much like The Smiths and hence am not well qualified to discuss why they are great.

― ArfArf, Wednesday, 26 March 2003 10:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Lets not forget "Rusholme Ruffians", totaly brilliantly dominated by Rourke.
I thought the pressure to sack Joyce was for his drug habits that was holding them back.

― rex jr., Wednesday, 26 March 2003 11:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It was Rourke who had the smack problem, not Mike Joyce, to the degree he was sacked in 86/87 and temporarily replaced with Craig Gannon, who's now in Alison Moyet's band.

― russ t, Wednesday, 26 March 2003 12:58 (twenty-three years ago)

'Barbarism Begins At Home' is based on an old Kevin Keegan B-side.

This is the second time I have said this, but will not necessarily be the last.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 26 March 2003 13:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Weren't Joyce and Rourke in a funk band prior to the Smiths? I think I read it in "The songs that saved your life".

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 14:54 (twenty-three years ago)

I think it was Marr and Rourke. MJ was in some crappy post-punk band called Victim, as I recall.

White Dice?

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 18:17 (twenty-three years ago)

You are right on all three counts, N.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 18:20 (twenty-three years ago)

ArfArf is totally wrong about the triplet songs, natch.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 18:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Hurrah for my head!

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 18:26 (twenty-three years ago)

Except for it looking like posh spice.

― Nicole (Nicole), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 18:37 (twenty-three years ago)

Gotta love the Posh.

― N. (nickdastoor), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 18:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Andy Rourke was VERY BRIEFLY a member of Killing Joke, `til he was tossed out for being a junkie crybaby (witness Mr.X'd out below, circa `89)

http://www.an-irrational-domain.net/images/band87-92/band24.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 26 March 2003 20:47 (twenty-three years ago)

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