Craig Gannon
Encyclopedia
Craig Gannon is an English guitar player. Previously best known for being the second guitarist in The Smiths
, he is now a composer for film and television.
and with The Bluebells
before his work with The Smiths. When bass player
Andy Rourke
was fired from The Smiths in early 1986, Gannon was hired to replace him. Within a fortnight, however, Rourke was reinstated and Gannon moved to rhythm guitar, playing on the "Panic" and "Ask
" singles
and touring the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States with the band. Gannon also played on the scrapped single "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby", which was included on the The World Won't Listen
compilation album. After the tour ended in October 1986, Gannon was no longer part of the line-up. Gannon has been affectionately known thereafter as 'the Fifth Smith'.
Post-Smiths, Gannon joined Brix Smith
in The Adult Net
,
Blue Orchids and The Cradle
. Gannon was also reunited with former Smiths singer Morrissey
at his debut solo gig and 1989 singles "The Last of the Famous International Playboys
" and "Interesting Drug
". That same year saw him sue Morrissey and Johnny Marr
over the degree of his involvement in songwriting (notably for "Ask"). The matter was settled out of court for the sum of £48,000. However, this payment was actually for £30,000 which covered unpaid wages, the remaining £18,000 being legal costs.
Gannon composed the music used on the 'Inside The Smiths' DVD, released by former Smiths Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke.
In addition to this, he also appeared in, and composed the music for a classic albums DVD of 'The Queen Is Dead' – released in May 2008. He also has been involved with Rourke and Joyce in a project called Moondog One
.
Has played guitar with many other artists including Terry Hall
, Roddy Frame
, Morrissey
, Alison Moyet
, The Colourfield
, The Adult Net
, Black Grape
, Denise Van Outen
, Edwyn Collins
& Paul Quinn, Buzzcocks
/FOC
, The Bluebells
, The Blue Orchids, Robert Lloyd
, Deadly Avenger, Red Venom, Vinny Peculiar and The Family Foundation. Today, Gannon is a composer/producer with a long record of work for television and film.
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
, he is now a composer for film and television.
Career
Gannon had already achieved some fame for his work with Aztec CameraAztec Camera
Aztec Camera were a Scottish New Wave band from the Glasgow suburb of East Kilbride, formed in 1980 and centered around teenage singer-songwriter, Roddy Frame. Their album Love was among the nominations for Best British Album at the 1989 BRIT Awards....
and with The Bluebells
The Bluebells
The Bluebells were a Scottish pop group in the 1980s.-Career:The Bluebells performed jangly guitar based pop not dissimilar to their Scottish contemporaries Aztec Camera and Orange Juice. They had three Top 40 hit singles in the UK, all written by guitarist and founder member Bobby Bluebell - "I'm...
before his work with The Smiths. When bass player
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
was fired from The Smiths in early 1986, Gannon was hired to replace him. Within a fortnight, however, Rourke was reinstated and Gannon moved to rhythm guitar, playing on the "Panic" and "Ask
Ask (song)
Later re-releases of the "Ask" single would include the album version, which runs for 3:15, instead of the single version included on the original pressings.-Etchings on vinyl:UK 7" and 12":ARE YOU LOATHESOME TONIGHT? / TOMB IT MAY CONCERNGerman 12":...
" singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and touring the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States with the band. Gannon also played on the scrapped single "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby", which was included on the The World Won't Listen
The World Won't Listen
-Band:* Morrissey – vocals* Johnny Marr – guitars, keyboard instruments, bass guitar on "Golden Lights"* Andy Rourke – bass guitar, cello on "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Oscillate Wildly"* Mike Joyce – drums...
compilation album. After the tour ended in October 1986, Gannon was no longer part of the line-up. Gannon has been affectionately known thereafter as 'the Fifth Smith'.
Post-Smiths, Gannon joined Brix Smith
Brix Smith
Brix Smith-Start is an American singer, guitarist and television presenter, best known for being a member of post-punk band The Fall, and as lead singer and songwriter with The Adult Net.-Biography:Brix grew up in Los Angeles and Chicago...
in The Adult Net
The Adult Net
The Adult Net was a British indie pop band formed by the American singer and guitarist Brix Smith and the British musician Simon Rogers in 1985. Formed while they were still members of the British post-punk band The Fall, The Adult Net released seven singles and one album, of which just one of the...
,
Blue Orchids and The Cradle
The Cradle
The Cradle is the second full-length album from Oxford, Mississippi, indie-rock band, Colour Revolt. It is the band's first since drummer Len Clark, bassist Patrick Addison, and guitarist Jimmy Cajoleas left in 2008 and were replaced by drummer Daniel Davison, keyboardist Brooks Tipton, and...
. Gannon was also reunited with former Smiths singer Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
at his debut solo gig and 1989 singles "The Last of the Famous International Playboys
The Last of the Famous International Playboys
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was the third single released by Morrissey. It reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was not featured on one of Morrissey's main studio albums, but can be found on the compilation album Bona Drag along with the B-side "Lucky Lisp"...
" and "Interesting Drug
Interesting Drug
"Interesting Drug" was the fourth solo single released by Morrissey. The song was not featured on one of Morrissey's main studio albums, but can be found on the compilation album Bona Drag along with the B-side "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference"...
". That same year saw him sue Morrissey and Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
over the degree of his involvement in songwriting (notably for "Ask"). The matter was settled out of court for the sum of £48,000. However, this payment was actually for £30,000 which covered unpaid wages, the remaining £18,000 being legal costs.
Gannon composed the music used on the 'Inside The Smiths' DVD, released by former Smiths Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke.
In addition to this, he also appeared in, and composed the music for a classic albums DVD of 'The Queen Is Dead' – released in May 2008. He also has been involved with Rourke and Joyce in a project called Moondog One
Moondog One
Moondog One was a Manchester based rock band. Members included former Oasis rhythm guitarist Paul Arthurs, Johnny Evans of Buffalo 66 as well as Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke of The Smiths....
.
Has played guitar with many other artists including Terry Hall
Terry Hall (singer)
Terry Hall is the lead singer of The Specials, and formerly of Fun Boy Three, The Colourfield, Terry, Blair & Anouchka and Vegas. He has released two solo albums and has also collaborated with many artists including David A...
, Roddy Frame
Roddy Frame
Roddy Frame is a Scottish singer-songwriter and musician, who was the founder of the 1980s indie band, Aztec Camera, and more recently is a solo performer.-Career:...
, Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
, Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet , is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with 800,000 singles sold, all in the UK, where all seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 40 UK Album Chart,...
, The Colourfield
The Colourfield
The Colourfield were a British band formed in 1984 in Manchester, when former Specials and Fun Boy Three frontman, Terry Hall, joined up with ex-Swinging Cats members Toby Lyons and Karl Shale...
, The Adult Net
The Adult Net
The Adult Net was a British indie pop band formed by the American singer and guitarist Brix Smith and the British musician Simon Rogers in 1985. Formed while they were still members of the British post-punk band The Fall, The Adult Net released seven singles and one album, of which just one of the...
, Black Grape
Black Grape
Black Grape were a 1990s rock band from England, featuring former members of Happy Mondays. The group's music was funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples.-History:...
, Denise Van Outen
Denise van Outen
Denise van Outen is an English actress, singer and television presenter. Her most notable roles to date are as a presenter on The Big Breakfast, and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago on both the West End and on Broadway.- Early life :Born Denise Kathleen Outen in Basildon, Essex, she is the...
, Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Collins
Edwyn Stephen Collins is an Ivor Novello Award winning Scottish musician, playing mostly electric guitar-driven pop. Collins formed the musical group Nu-Sonics in 1976, which later became Orange Juice...
& Paul Quinn, Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
/FOC
Flag of Convenience (band)
Flag of Convenience were a rock group formed in 1982 by former Buzzcocks members Steve Diggle and John Maher, along with bassist Dave Farrow and keyboard player D.P. The band continued with a changing line-up until 1989, with later incarnations releasing records under the names F.O.C. and Buzzcocks...
, The Bluebells
The Bluebells
The Bluebells were a Scottish pop group in the 1980s.-Career:The Bluebells performed jangly guitar based pop not dissimilar to their Scottish contemporaries Aztec Camera and Orange Juice. They had three Top 40 hit singles in the UK, all written by guitarist and founder member Bobby Bluebell - "I'm...
, The Blue Orchids, Robert Lloyd
Robert Lloyd (Nightingales)
Robert Lloyd is the lead singer with The Nightingales and formerly with The Prefects. When The Nightingales split in 1986, Lloyd embarked on a solo career, initially signing to In-Tape before signing to Virgin Records in 1989 and releasing the album Me and My Mouth...
, Deadly Avenger, Red Venom, Vinny Peculiar and The Family Foundation. Today, Gannon is a composer/producer with a long record of work for television and film.
Albums
- The World Won't ListenThe World Won't Listen-Band:* Morrissey – vocals* Johnny Marr – guitars, keyboard instruments, bass guitar on "Golden Lights"* Andy Rourke – bass guitar, cello on "Shakespeare's Sister" and "Oscillate Wildly"* Mike Joyce – drums...
(compilation, 1987)- "Panic", "Ask", "London", "Half a Person", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (and "Golden Lights" on post-1992 reissues)
- Louder Than BombsLouder Than BombsLouder Than Bombs is a compilation album by the English rock band The Smiths. It was released as a double album in March 1987 by their American record company, Sire Records. Its highest chart position was number 63. Popular demand prompted their British record company, Rough Trade, to issue the...
(compilation, 1987)- "Half a Person", "London", "Panic", "Ask", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" and "Golden Lights"
- RankRank (album)Rank is a live album by the English rock band The Smiths. It was released in September 1988 by their British record company, Rough Trade, and reached No. 2 in the British charts. In the United States, the album was released on Sire Records and made No. 77.-About the album:Rank was released as a...
(live, 1988 [recorded 1986])- Appears on all tracks
- Best...I (compilation, 1992)
- "Half a Person" and "Panic"
- ...Best II (compilation, 1992)
- "Ask"
- Singles (compilation, 1995)
- "Panic" and "Ask"
- The Very Best of The SmithsThe Very Best of The SmithsThe Very Best of The Smiths is a compilation album by The Smiths. It was released in June 2001 by WEA in Europe, without consent or input from the band. It reached #30 on the UK Albums Chart...
(compilation, 2001)- "Panic" and "Ask"
- The Sound of The SmithsThe Sound of The SmithsThe Sound of The Smiths is a Smiths compilation released on 10 November 2008. It is available as both single and double disc editions. Morrissey is credited with having coined the compilation's title, while Johnny Marr was involved in the project's mastering...
(compilation, 2008)- "Panic", "Ask", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby", "Half a Person", "London" (live version)
Singles
- "The Last of the Famous International PlayboysThe Last of the Famous International Playboys"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was the third single released by Morrissey. It reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was not featured on one of Morrissey's main studio albums, but can be found on the compilation album Bona Drag along with the B-side "Lucky Lisp"...
" (1989) - "Interesting DrugInteresting Drug"Interesting Drug" was the fourth solo single released by Morrissey. The song was not featured on one of Morrissey's main studio albums, but can be found on the compilation album Bona Drag along with the B-side "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference"...
" (1989)
Albums
- Bona DragBona Drag- 2010 re-release :The 2010 re-release features the following additional tracks:* "Happy Lovers at Last United" * "Lifeguard on Duty"...
(compilation, 1990)- "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference", "Interesting Drug", "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", "Lucky Lisp"
- World of MorrisseyWorld of MorrisseyWorld of Morrissey is a compilation album released in 1995 by Morrissey. It was one of three Morrissey releases EMI deleted from its catalogue on December 14, 2010 along with Beethoven Was Deaf & Suedehead: The Best of Morrissey.-Track listing:...
(compilation, 1995)- "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
- The Best of MorrisseyThe Best of MorrisseyThe Best of Morrissey is a 2001 compilation album by Morrissey.-Track listing:#"The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get" – 3:43#"Suedehead" – 3:54#"Everyday Is Like Sunday" – 3:32#"Glamorous Glue" – 4:08#"Do Your Best and Don't Worry" – 4:07...
(compilation, 2001)- "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", "Interesting Drug"
- Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (Morrissey album)-Bonus live CD:Initial runs of the album will be accompanied by a bonus CD of songs recorded live at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007. The international version features eight tracks, whereas the US version features "That's How People Grow Up" as Track 8, pushing "Life Is a Pigsty" to track...
(compilation, 2008)- "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
- My Early Burglary YearsMy Early Burglary YearsMy Early Burglary Years is a compilation album by Morrissey that was released in September of 1998 in the United States on Reprise Records. It follows in the tradition of his previous compilation albums Bona Drag and World of Morrissey in that it collects various single a-sides and b-sides, some...
(compilation, 1998)- "Michaels Bones"
- Suedehead: The Best Of MorrisseySuedehead: The Best of MorrisseySuedehead: The Best of Morrissey is a compilation album by Morrissey containing material released during his EMI period. It was released on September 8, 1997.-About the album:...
(compilation, 1997)- "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", "Interesting Drug"