Disco Stomp and the Smiths

Marcio** · September 4th, 2004, 08:13 PM

"Everyone else had gone and we just stayed up through the night doing the vibrato thing and then that slide feedback-y thing. That was where all the inspiration really came into it. I was able to reach back and pull out an idea that originally -- weirdly enough -- came from when I was about twelve or thirteen and I was absolutely crazy about "Disco Stomp" by Hamilton Bohannon. He was an American, late '60s/early '70s artist that pioneered the kind of four-on-the-floor thing. He had a big chart hit, which was an unusual sound in '75 for the UK, called "Disco Stomp." It went [sings call and response] "Everybody do the Disco Stomp/ Everybody do the Disco Stomp," and it had this overstated, choppy rhythm. It wasn't this vibrato as such, but I found the rhythm totally infectious and I was nuts about it. Then obviously, some time later I discovered Bo Diddley through my love of the Stones and John Lee Hooker"

From an interview with Johnny Marr, ex-guitarist of 80's group The Smiths :P

**Videoskooter** · September 4th, 2004, 09:07 PM

Thx Marcio for placing this excerpt.

Johnny is right. The early Bohannon-sound was building on the Bo Diddley-sound. The same way of constructing a beat on infectuous guitar-rythms.

I personnally find Hamilton Bohannon one of the most underrated dance-stars. The man has made many excellent records from disco to softreggae to soul to funk.

I still have a special mixalbum where all the vintage stuff is powered by special effects. It was released by ARS-Belgium and it's very hard to find nowadays. But it kicks you in the ...

"Disco stomp/Let's start the dance/Dance your *ss off/Footstompin' music/The party train/Take the country to NY city/Bohannon's beat/Truck stop/Cut loose/The pimp walk/The stop and go": just couldn't live without 'em.

Almost nobody admits it but he influenced many musicians and was only mentioned once in a song and that was in "Wordy rappinghood" by the Tom-Tom-Club.

Great guy!

**Bernie** · September 5th, 2004, 08:00 AM

Johnny Marr of all people said that?!!! Who would have known. :-?

**Forrrce** · September 5th, 2004, 08:46 AM

I'm surprised a Smith has owned up to having a black music influence! What will Mozza think??? :lol:

**Bernie** · September 5th, 2004, 06:42 PM

Originally Written by Forrrce

I'm surprised a Smith has owned up to having a black music influence! What will Mozza think??? :lol:

Especially with a song like "Hang the DJ." Marr did do the guitar work on Quando Quango's "Atom Rock" and "Triangle" though so he was coming around to his roots.

**Nano** · September 6th, 2004, 06:42 PM

Note for young punters: in the song "Panic" (Smiths single released in July 1986), Morrissey sings above Johnny Marr's guitar the following:

"Burn down the disco, hang the blessed DJ
because the music that they constantly play
it says nothing to me about my life"

Then a chorus of children ends the song shouting cheerfully "Hang the DJ! Hang the DJ! Hang the DJ!"

Catchy song. :)

**Paulo** · September 9th, 2004, 08:17 AM

If you take a look at THE SMITHS, Morrisey was the one who was anti-BLACK MUSIC and anti-DISCO.

The lyrics for PANIC says it all. But there are other DISCO references in other songs:

Morrisey mentions NIGHTCLUBS (in a negative way) in HOW SOON IS NOW (on Hatful Of Hollow album).

There is also DEATH OF A DISCO DANCER in The Smiths final album Strangeways Here We Come.

I have some interviews kept somewhere else. Unfortunately I can't remember the exact words, but:

... there was this 80's interview where Morrisey "destroyed" SADE and her music. He really hated her...

There was another one along with PETE BURNS (from DEAD OR ALIVE) in which they kept talking about their childhood in Machester among other subjects. But when it came to music, Morrisey kept saying how enduring Smiths music was and kept mocking Pete about how disposable his hi-nrg-disco hits were. Pete's reply was "Oh You Handsome Devil". (Pete and Morrisey are close friends. Imagine if they weren't...)

There was another late 80's interview in which he referred to Neil Tennant of THE PET SHOP BOYS as the most intelligent man in the music field in England, but he would never endorse Pet Shop Boy's kind of music.

I think JONNHY MARR was a lot more open minded than Morrisey. He disbanded The Smiths at the hight of their carrear and went to work with a lot of other musicians, many of them connected to DISCO.

The first time he played with THE PET SHOP BOYS was on their 1990 album BEHAVIOUR. This collaboration expanded into 1996 BILINGUAL and 2003 RELEASE (a guitar based album in which Marr's guitar playing has a center role).

In 1989 along with THE PET SHOP BOYS and NEW ORDER's BERNARD SUMMER, Marr founded ELECTRONIC which recorded many dance tracks (or even rock/dance oriented tracks).

Marr worked also as a remixer making a beatiful new mix of I WANT TO WAKE UP by the Pet Shop Boys.

**Forrrce** · September 9th, 2004, 09:25 AM

I read a Morrissey interview in the '80s, in which he was called to answer the charge of being a 'heavy duty racist'. The 'hang the DJ' line was questioned, as was an alleged comment that 'all reggae is vile'. He didn't confront the allegations directly, but said he felt that the music industry was prioritising black music. There certainly weren't as many black records in the mainstream charts then, even though they're full of lame corporate hip hop and formula 'R&B' now...and even he didn't see that coming - but let's face it, I'm sure the industry's money men would rather see less black faces on the product they're pushing (which, let's face it, seems to be what the kids want).

Anyway, I though it rich coming from a man whose music was so repulsive, I could never be an indie kid.

**Nano** · September 9th, 2004, 10:26 AM

Originally Written by Forrrce

but let's face it, I'm sure the industry's money men would rather see less black faces on the product they're pushing (which, let's face it, seems to be what the kids want).

I don't know... Maybe there are not enough black executives in the music industry. So, when these guys are making/pushing a "pop band" they're looking for white faces just out of familiarity. Still, I'm not sure this is really happening. (How many black pop bands exist, anyway?)

Also, I have to say that as a Smiths fan -specially a Mozza fan-, Morrissey said a lot of things in interviews to make good copy and gain publicity (he was a journalist himself prior to The Smiths), specially in the band's first days. And certainly he address "curious" causes from time to time ("National Front Disco"). Still, I love the music. And he's a clever lyricist too. For example, he did the best dissing of the music industry I ever read in the Smiths' "Paint a vulgar picture".
So he does not like black music? So be it. I don't like heavy metal either.

**Forrrce** · September 9th, 2004, 10:47 AM

Originally Written by Nano

So he does not like black music? So be it. I don't like heavy metal either.

So, all black music can be written off as a single style or genre, just like heavy metal?

Marcio** · September 9th, 2004, 05:42 PM

Curiously François Kervokian remixed Yaz, Depeche Mode, Kraftwerk, the Smiths LOL. OK, I prefer Musique's "In the Bush" also remixed by him.

**Paulo** · September 10th, 2004, 05:58 AM

I remember another interview plubished in a brazilian music magazine called Bizz, maybe around the end of The Smiths:

Morrisey was commenting that he was able to judge a person by the records he/she carries under the arms (in a clear reference to vinyl).

He said that in the past, he had simply stopped talking to some friends in Manchester because he saw some records with that person (he didn't specify the type of music).

**Nano** · September 10th, 2004, 06:50 PM

Originally Written by Forrrce

Originally Written by Nano

So he does not like black music? So be it. I don't like heavy metal either.

So, all black music can be written off as a single style or genre, just like heavy metal?

Why not? I'm pretty sure many blacks hate that white rock sound. Not all of them are Living Colour fans, you know... (I am).

Paulo: that thing about what music a person listens to, well, I've done that myself and sometimes still do.

To be plain and simple about all this: I wouldn't call a person "racist" because he does not like music of any given color or kind. I'm not saying Mozza is not a racist person (I didn't have the opportunity to ask him about this). But even if he were, or if he declared to be a fascist, or a commie, or a Muslim or a George W. Bush fanatic

, I wouldn't stop to like his music because of that. Céline is one of my favorite writers, so go figure.

**Forrrce** · September 10th, 2004, 07:01 PM

I knew you'd miss the point...it would seem he dislikes black music because it's black. Perfectly rational in my book! You're welcome to him! :roll:

**Paulo** · September 11th, 2004, 06:37 AM

Nano:

Concerning that thing about what music a person listens to:

No one is perfect. You've done that too!
I have done that too, whenever I spot the heavy metal gang in the mall I have dinner every friday night.

**Nano** · September 11th, 2004, 03:41 PM

What I'm trying to say is, this is no big deal. Let's say Mozza -or whoever it was the artist in point- is a disgusting person. Well, my relationship with him is to listen to the good music he does. I don't have to be his friend too, or do I?
Let's suppose Hitler was a good painter. Wouldn't you enjoy his work because of who he was? That sounds like "prejudice" too.

BTW, Morrissey was and is one of the best lyricists ever, with or without Johnny Marr.

**Forrrce** · September 11th, 2004, 04:06 PM

And I've already said that I don't even like his (style of) music, anyway! Is it sinking in now? Get over yourself!

**Nano** · September 13th, 2004, 02:53 PM

OK man, calm down. There's no need to talk loud here (all those "!!!"s are pretty annoying). I'm just trying to say that for me to like anyone's music, books or movies (or even a home-made chair for that matter) does not mean I share their way of thinking. Just that. I don't like how it sounds when you say I'm "welcome to him", whatever that means. And I won't go on guessing what you do think but don't say about Morrissey. If you want to accuse him of something, you do it, fella. But don't dismiss the guy just because "he doesn't like black music".

I already knew you think his stuff is "repulsive". You had said it earlier, man. Frankly, I don't understand why you write on this thread if you can't go further than that! :roll:

I'm tired of this... And what's it with some people on this board? Anytime one try to make a decent discussion of someone's thoughts, they end screaming and shouting... Can't they assume that some people just think different than them? :evil:

**Forrrce** · September 13th, 2004, 03:12 PM

Yawn...here we go again... :roll:
I've merely recounted what I've read about your idol. But you can't leave it alone! (!!!! for added effect)

Yeah, I'll diss someone who doesn't like something black, because it's black - I don't knowingly support bigots. If Mr. Morrisey isn't racist then good for him. but I don't have anything to do with him, so I don't really care. Still, a man can comment, can't he? You keep accelerating the 'argument', you idiot. Shouldn't you be pledging your undying love for Morrisey on his message board, anyway?

Wanna have the last word on this? Keep going...I've got all the time in the world. Otherwise, stop badgering me.

**Nano** · September 14th, 2004, 11:55 AM

And now you call me idiot! :o :o :o
YOU leave me alone! If you want bigotry, you'll have it, but only because you asked for it. Otherwise, stick to this site's rules. Don't insult other members! :evil:

**Forrrce** · September 14th, 2004, 12:48 PM

Go patronise someone else. You're a jerk.

**Bernie** · September 14th, 2004, 12:52 PM

Alright, both of you cut it already.

**Studio74** · September 14th, 2004, 08:04 PM

Everybody complains about Quinny,but in this forum i´m yet to see him calling someone a idiot...Forrrce,you seem like such a nice guy,what possesed you to call Nano a idiot?Let´s calm down guys...

**usagi-san** · September 14th, 2004, 08:57 PM

Um, hi! This thread was about Morrissey's relation to disco, remember? I am not too surprised Johnny Marr praised a Bohannon song. There were dance remixes released of The Smiths' "This Charming Man", though Morrissey disapproved of them. I would be surprised if Johnny praised something like Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell" or Lime's "You're my Magician", though, heh heh. I love those records, by the way.