BBC 6 Music Celebrates 20 Years Of The Smiths
Some of today's best artists have recorded their own versions of songs by The Smiths exclusively for BBC 6 Music as part of a special week (May 12-16) of programming to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of the band's first single.
The Smiths released Hand In Glove on 13 May 1983 and went on to become one of the most influential bands in British history.
The BBC's digital rock and pop station is also launching a search to find the country's most obsessive Smiths fan. The two finalists will battle it out in Liz Kershaw's special broadcast on Friday 16 May (1.00-4.00pm) from Salford Lads Club, the celebrated Smiths landmark which featured on the inside cover of The Queen Is Dead album and in the video for Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before. Liz will be joined by special guests including former Smiths drummer Mike Joyce.
The week also includes broadcasts of rare archive material of Smiths' sessions and concerts recorded for the BBC.
Bands who have covered Smiths songs for 6 Music include The Thrills (who supported Morrissey on his recent UK tour) with their version of Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me, fellow Mancuians Alpinestars who bring their own electronic twist to Panic and Ed Harcourt with a beautiful stripped down piano and vocal version of Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want. Sheffield newcomers Slo Mo perform How Soon is Now? Moses play their interpretation of the 1985 single Shakespeare's Sister and Nada Surf perform There Is A Light That Never Goes Out. All the tracks are featured in Phill Jupitus Breakfast Show during the week.
6 Music Online www.bbc.co.uk/6music is searching for the country's most obsessive Smiths fan starting today 14 April. The website wants photographic evidence of huge quiffs, fake hearing aids or bedrooms plastered with posters and will whittle the entries down to a top ten which listeners can vote for online. The final two will battle it out to be crowned the 'Champion of Smithdom', winning a coveted prize.
The Mid Morning show with Gideon Coe concentrates on session archive including a rare version of Miserable Lie from the first Smiths Peel Session on the May 18 1983. The track was the only one from this session that was not included on the Hatful of Hollow album.
The Smiths Peel session on 2 December 1986 gave the B sides to Shelia Take A Bow with Is It Really So Strange? and Sweet And Tender Hooligan. Both recordings went on to appear on the Louder Than Bombs compilation album. However, London and Half A Person which were recorded for the same session were never released commercially and therefore will be of great interest to Smiths fans.
Gideon also plays Morrissey's new material from a session he recorded last October for a Janice Long session including the track Crashing Bores.
Teatime with Andrew Collins brings a Smiths themed 'Better than the real thing'. In this regular feature Andrew pitches cover versions of varying quality up against the originals. Amongst those battling will be Supergrass's version of Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others and Placebo's take on Bigmouth Strikes Again with their alternative lyrics -listeners are invited to interact and tell Andrew their views.
Tom Robinson's Evening Sequence introduces one of the best radio documentaries on the band - The Smiths At The Beeb. This intricate and in-depth documentary features interviews with members of the band, John Peel and producers such as Stephen Street.
Janice Long's close association with The Smiths continues in her Dream Ticket programme where she plays some rare archive, including the Kilburn National Ballroom concert from 23 October 1986. Many tracks from this concert were featured on the live album Rank, however 6 Music brings listeners a chance to hear the entire concert and tracks omitted from the album. Also featured is a concert recorded at the Wembley Arena on the 17 November 1995.
6 Music is a new BBC digital radio station that champions the very best in rock and popular music, and can be accessed via DAB digital radio, digital satellite television, Freeview, digital cable television and the internet www.bbc.co.uk/6music
6 Music Publicity: 020 7765 4330
Programming Includes:
John Peel Session 2nd December 1986 - TX Monday 12 May - Mid Morning Show With Gideon Coe 10.00-1.00pm
Morrissey Interview with Janice Long 3rd October 2002 - TX Thursday 15 May - Mid Morning Show With Gideon Coe 10.00-1.00pm
John Peel Session 18th May 1983 - TX Friday 16 May - Mid Morning Show With Gideon Coe 10.00-1.00pm
The Smiths At The Beeb 13th February 1994 TX Part One - Monday 12 May and Part Two -Tuesday 13 May - included in Tom Robinson Evening Sequence 9.00pm-9:30pm
Kilburn's National Ballroom Concert 23rd October 1986 TX Tuesday 13 May Dream Ticket - Janice Long 10:00pm -12.00 midnight
Wembley Arena Concert 17th November 1995 Tx Wednesday 14 May Dream Ticket - Janice Long 10.00pm- 12 midnight
Liz Kershaw from Salford Lads Club Tx Friday 18 May 1.00-4.00pm