The Last of the Famous International Playboys
Encyclopedia
"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". The artwork for the single features Morrissey, aged 7, up a tree in Chorlton-on-Medlock
, Manchester
— literally a boy at play. "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" is notable for featuring three of Morrissey's former colleagues in The Smiths
— Andy Rourke
, Mike Joyce and one time former Smiths rhythm guitarist Craig Gannon
— all of whom also appear on the B-side, "Lucky Lisp".
The song mythologizes the notorious pair of vicious London gangsters known as the Kray twins
(Ronnie and Reggie Kray), who held a tight rein on the East End of London
during the 1960s. A few years after its original release and Top Ten UK chart appearance in 1989, "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was brought into the public limelight again when Morrissey was reported to have sent a wreath to Ronnie Kray's funeral in 1995.
The title and lyrics of "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" could also allude to John Millington Synge
's 1907 play The Playboy of the Western World
— a work which similarly deals with the popular glorification of violence and crime. The title also alluded to the Nancy Sinatra
film The Last of the Secret Agents
; Sinatra was an icon, and later friend, of Morrissey's since his youth.
gave the single a negative review, with Stuart Maconie
saying the track was "'Panic' without the magnetism and the blinding self-confidence" and finished by saying "I would still chain myself to a disused railway line in Bacup
for him, but the lad can do better"
. The version was acoustic, sung and played entirely by John Easdale
, Dramarama's singer/songwriter. Its release was limited to a 7" vinyl single, and served as the B-side to "Tie Me Down".
Finnish band Russian Love
made a cover version of the song on their fifth album, Gala Brutale, released by Zen Garden in 1996.
Pop punk band J Church
covered the song on their album Nostalgic for Nothing.
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,...
. It reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The song was not featured on one of Morrissey's main studio albums, but can be found on the compilation album Bona Drag
Bona Drag
- 2010 re-release :The 2010 re-release features the following additional tracks:* "Happy Lovers at Last United" * "Lifeguard on Duty"...
along with the B-side "Lucky Lisp". The artwork for the single features Morrissey, aged 7, up a tree in Chorlton-on-Medlock
Chorlton-on-Medlock
Chorlton-on-Medlock is an inner city area of Manchester, England.Historically a part of Lancashire, the northern border of Chorlton-on-Medlock is the River Medlock which runs immediately south of Manchester city centre. Its other borders roughly correspond to Stockport Road, Hathersage Road, Moss...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
— literally a boy at play. "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" is notable for featuring three of Morrissey's former colleagues in The Smiths
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...
— Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
, Mike Joyce and one time former Smiths rhythm guitarist Craig Gannon
Craig Gannon
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.-Career:...
— all of whom also appear on the B-side, "Lucky Lisp".
The song mythologizes the notorious pair of vicious London gangsters known as the Kray twins
Kray twins
Reginald "Reggie" Kray and his twin brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s...
(Ronnie and Reggie Kray), who held a tight rein on the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
during the 1960s. A few years after its original release and Top Ten UK chart appearance in 1989, "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was brought into the public limelight again when Morrissey was reported to have sent a wreath to Ronnie Kray's funeral in 1995.
The title and lyrics of "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" could also allude to John Millington Synge
John Millington Synge
Edmund John Millington Synge was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, and collector of folklore. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the cofounders of the Abbey Theatre...
's 1907 play The Playboy of the Western World
The Playboy of the Western World
The Playboy of the Western World is a three-act play written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge and first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on January 26, 1907. It is set in Michael James Flaherty's public house in County Mayo during the early 1900s...
— a work which similarly deals with the popular glorification of violence and crime. The title also alluded to the Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nancy Sandra Sinatra is an American singer and actress. She is the daughter of singer/actor Frank Sinatra, and remains best known for her 1966 signature hit "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"....
film The Last of the Secret Agents
The Last of the Secret Agents
The Last of the Secret Agents? is a 1966 film that spoofs the spy film genre starring the then-popular comedy team of Allen & Rossi.-Plot:...
; Sinatra was an icon, and later friend, of Morrissey's since his youth.
12" vinyl, compact disc and cassette
- "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
- "Lucky Lisp"
- "Michael's Bones"
Reviews
NMENME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
gave the single a negative review, with Stuart Maconie
Stuart Maconie
Stuart Maconie is an English radio DJ and television presenter, writer, journalist, and critic working in the field of of pop music and popular culture. He is currently a presenter on BBC 6 Music, where he hosts an afternoon show five times a week , alongside Mark Radcliffe, called the Radcliffe...
saying the track was "'Panic' without the magnetism and the blinding self-confidence" and finished by saying "I would still chain myself to a disused railway line in Bacup
Bacup
Bacup is a town within the Rossendale borough of Lancashire, England. It is located amongst the South Pennines, along Lancashire's eastern boundary with West Yorkshire. The town sits within a rural setting in the Forest of Rossendale, amongst the steep-sided upper-Irwell Valley, through which the...
for him, but the lad can do better"
Musicians
- Morrissey - vocals
- Craig Gannon - guitar
- Neil TaylorNeil Taylor (guitarist)Neil Taylor is a guitarist best known for his long-time affiliation with Robbie Williams and for formerly being a member of the backing band of Tears for Fears.-Career:...
- guitar - Andy Rourke - bass
- Stephen Street - keyboards
- Mike Joyce - drums
Live performances
The song was performed live by Morrissey on his 1991, 1992, 2007 and 2011 tours.Release details
| Country | Record label | Format | Catalogue number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | HMV | 7" vinyl | POP1620 | |
| UK | HMV | 12" vinyl | 12POP1620 | |
| UK | HMV | Compact disc | CDPOP1620 | |
| UK | HMV | Cassette | TCPOP1620 |
Cover versions
The song was covered in 1994 by the Bent Backed Tulips, otherwise known as alt-pop band DramaramaDramarama (band)
Dramarama is a Los Angeles, California-based alternative rock/power pop band. The band was formed in New Jersey in 1982 and disbanded in 1994...
. The version was acoustic, sung and played entirely by John Easdale
John Easdale
John Easdale is the lead singer and songwriter for the American band Dramarama.Easdale grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and graduated from Wayne Hills High School.-External links:*...
, Dramarama's singer/songwriter. Its release was limited to a 7" vinyl single, and served as the B-side to "Tie Me Down".
Finnish band Russian Love
Russian Love
Russian Love was a rock group that came from Northern Finland and was one of the first gothic rock bands in Finland to sing in English and the first one have an album released...
made a cover version of the song on their fifth album, Gala Brutale, released by Zen Garden in 1996.
Pop punk band J Church
J Church (band)
J Church was an American punk rock band formed by guitarist and vocalist Lance Hahn and bassist Gardner Maxam in 1992 in San Francisco, California after the demise of Hahn and Maxam's former band, Cringer...
covered the song on their album Nostalgic for Nothing.