Role Guitar player Name Craig Gannon | Instruments Guitar Occupation(s) Musician | |
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Born 30 July 1966 (age 58) ( 1966-07-30 ) Associated acts The SmithsThe BluebellsAztec CameraThe Adult NetMorrisseyTerry HallAlison MoyetBlack GrapeRoddy FrameThe ColourfieldEdwyn Collins Albums The Queen Is Dead, High Land - Hard Rain, Knife, Sisters, The Honey Tangle Similar People | ||
Craig gannon plays bigmouth strikes again by the smiths
Craig Gannon (born 30 July 1966) is an English guitar player, best-known as the second guitarist in The Smiths. He is now a composer for film and television.
Contents
- Craig gannon plays bigmouth strikes again by the smiths
- Recent interview with craig gannon from the dvd inside the smiths
- Career
- Singles
- Albums
- Links
- References
Recent interview with craig gannon from the dvd inside the smiths
Career
Gannon had already achieved some fame for his work with Aztec Camera 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 becoming the official fifth member, playing on the "Panic" and "Ask" singles and touring the UK, Canada and the USA with the band. Gannon also played on the scrapped single "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby", which was included on 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".
After leaving The Smiths, Gannon joined Brix Smith in The Adult Net and Blue Orchids. He reunited with Morrissey at his debut solo gig and 1989 singles "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and "Interesting Drug" but that same year saw him sue Morrissey and Johnny Marr for nonpayment of wages and over the degree of his involvement in songwriting (notably for "Ask"). The matter was settled out of court for the sum of £44,000. This amount included £30,000 for unpaid wages and £14,000 in 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.
Gannon 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 and Paul Quinn (He was also asked to join Orange Juice's James Kirk and Steven Daly's band Memphis), Buzzcocks/FOC, The Bluebells, The Blue Orchids, Robert Lloyd, Deadly Avenger, Red Venom, Vinny Peculiar and The Family Foundation. In 2014, Gannon was asked to play with The Specials but he declined.