Franz Ferdinand joined by Johnny Marr for Bigmouth Strikes Again (January 18, 2025)

Full:


Their full setlist here.
FWD.

 

[ACTON]

I'm only saying this once. Until I say it again. NOBODY looks or sounds good singing Morrissey vocals except for Morrissey himself. Without exception*.
Especially live on stage. Johnny validating it with his presence is even worse. It's like someone else singing Cure songs or Suede songs. WHAT is the point?

* ehh although I quite like The Divine Comedy's cover of There Is A Light.

 

[ACTON]

Outstanding!

Quite correct. I'd prefer to be standing outside the venue rather than listening to that mangled mistreatment of a Moz masterpiece.

 

[Zombi]

Mainly due to the fact that "Take Me Out" made me want to commit a murder, I've never really given much time to Franz Ferdinand. Anything worth investigating?

I saw them perform with Sparks as FFS and had a blast. The album was very decent too.

 

[Mayfly]

Yes, he was a fan. They had a joint NME cover and interview back in 2004. I think (not 100% certain) he invited them along to his Meltdown mini-festival.

That is correct.
Hopefully, Franz Ferdinand is still looking back on that festival with joy and will not start saying “ the usul stuff” about Morrissey now.

 

[gashonthenail]

Yes, he was a fan. They had a joint NME cover and interview back in 2004. I think (not 100% certain) he invited them along to his Meltdown mini-festival.

Don't think they appeared at Meltdown.

Line-up for Morrissey's Meltdown 2004 at Royal Festival Hall (London) on 11 Jun 2004 | Last.fm

Last.fm concert page for Morrissey's Meltdown 2004 at Royal Festival Hall (London) on June 11, 2004. Discuss the gig, get concert tickets, see who's attending, find similar events.

www.last.fm

They were support at the Manchester Arena birthday gig though - a fact which, considering I was there that night, I had completely forgotten!
Morrissey later claimed he had no involvement in selecting the tracks for the NME Songs To Save Your Life CD. Whether that's true, or Morrissey being bitchy, is anyone's guess.

 

[Famous when dead]

Don't think they appeared at Meltdown.

Line-up for Morrissey's Meltdown 2004 at Royal Festival Hall (London) on 11 Jun 2004 | Last.fm

Last.fm concert page for Morrissey's Meltdown 2004 at Royal Festival Hall (London) on June 11, 2004. Discuss the gig, get concert tickets, see who's attending, find similar events.

www.last.fm

They were support at the Manchester Arena birthday gig though - a fact which, considering I was there that night, I had completely forgotten!
Morrissey later claimed he had no involvement in selecting the tracks for the NME Songs To Save Your Life CD. Whether that's true, or Morrissey being bitchy, is anyone's guess.

He was happy enough to share information via TTY that he did compile it.
FWD.

Songs To Save Your Life: CD compiled by Morrissey - Release Information (July 12, 2004) - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Credited in CD notes and CD Insert:
"Compiled By - Morrissey"

"Burn down the disco/Hang the blessed DJ/Because the music
that they constantly play/It says nothing to me about my life"
The Smiths, 'Panic', 1988

Morrissey hopes this compilation will say everything to you about your life,
and maybe a little about his. Over the course of this CD Morrissey leads
you by the hand from spiky punk to sun-kissed country grooves via bands
he knows he's influenced and new acts he's now consciously endorsing as
the legacy of his talent and work. It's a fascinating compilation and we're
very proud to present it. Now it's all yours.
Thanks, Mozzer.
(Conor McNicholas, NME editor).

 

[Seymour Glass]

We don't like Morrissey but we will happily sing his lyrics.... poorly

 

[Bizarro]

Still better than old Mozzer and his so-called band.

Stop your stupidity, now.

 

[gashonthenail]

He was happy enough to share information via TTY that he did compile it.
FWD.

Songs To Save Your Life: CD compiled by Morrissey - Release Information (July 12, 2004) - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Credited in CD notes and CD Insert:
"Compiled By - Morrissey"

"Burn down the disco/Hang the blessed DJ/Because the music
that they constantly play/It says nothing to me about my life"
The Smiths, 'Panic', 1988

Morrissey hopes this compilation will say everything to you about your life,
and maybe a little about his. Over the course of this CD Morrissey leads
you by the hand from spiky punk to sun-kissed country grooves via bands
he knows he's influenced and new acts he's now consciously endorsing as
the legacy of his talent and work. It's a fascinating compilation and we're
very proud to present it. Now it's all yours.
Thanks, Mozzer.
(Conor McNicholas, NME editor).

I think the NME added some 'modern' songs that Morrissey wasn't involved in choosing. Some are clearly of his choosing.

"Songs To Save Your Life" discography

 

[Johnny]

I like FF. Well the early singles and albums at least but I think a few of the original band have left.

Therefore it gives me no great joy to say they murder this song.

 

[bedlam breakout]

franz ferdinand were a fantastic band 20 years ago - but not now

 

[Gray Fruit]

franz ferdinand were a fantastic band 20 years ago - but not now

It would seem many people disagree as their new album is number 3 on the Albums Chart. Have you heard any of it?

Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts

The UK's Top 100 biggest artist albums of the week, compiled by the Official Charts Company based on sales of CDs, downloads, vinyl, audio streams and video streams. View the biggest albums of 2024.

www.officialcharts.com

 

[Surface]

It would seem many people disagree as their new album is number 3 on the Albums Chart. Have you heard any of it?

Official Albums Chart Top 100 | Official Charts

The UK's Top 100 biggest artist albums of the week, compiled by the Official Charts Company based on sales of CDs, downloads, vinyl, audio streams and video streams. View the biggest albums of 2024.

www.officialcharts.com

Just had a look at their discography, didn't realise they sold so many records, not my cup of tea though.

 

[Famous when dead]

I think the NME added some 'modern' songs that Morrissey wasn't involved in choosing. Some are clearly of his choosing.

"Songs To Save Your Life" discography

All of the bands listed have a connection to Morrissey in one way or other - which songs?

The Killers - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Gene - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Sparks - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

The Slits - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

The Ordinary Boys (band) - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

New York Dolls - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Franz Ferdinand - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Raymonde - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Ludus - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Sack - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Remma - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Pony Club - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Jobriath - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Damien Dempsey - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

The Libertines - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

Sir John Betjeman - Morrissey-solo Wiki

www.morrissey-solo.com

The Killers, Gene, Franz Ferdinand, Pony Club, Remma (signed by Morrissey to Attack),
The Libertines, Damien Dempsey, Sack and The Ordinary Boys were all support at some point - most circa 02-04 (some featured in pre-show tracks too).
FWD.

 

[gashonthenail]

All of the bands listed have a connection to Morrissey in one way or other - which songs?

Your guess is as good as mine...My guess would be Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Gene, and The Libertines?

'The NME generously issues a CD called Songs to Save Your Life, which they graciously allow me to compile with some of my favorite recordings by other artists. As the CD goes into production the NME adds four tracks by newer groups who are NME favorites - mainly because all of the songs I have chosen date back to the Roaring Twenties. These last four would never be my choice, but the NME argues (not unreasonably) that by adding the newer bands the CD has modern currency against my Bronze Age tastes.'
- Morrissey, "Autobiography"

 

[Famous when dead]

Your guess is as good as mine...My guess would be Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, Gene, and The Libertines?

'The NME generously issues a CD called Songs to Save Your Life, which they graciously allow me to compile with some of my favorite recordings by other artists. As the CD goes into production the NME adds four tracks by newer groups who are NME favorites - mainly because all of the songs I have chosen date back to the Roaring Twenties. These last four would never be my choice, but the NME argues (not unreasonably) that by adding the newer bands the CD has modern currency against my Bronze Age tastes.'
- Morrissey, "Autobiography"

He'll be saying the NME chose the 'newer' bands as support the very same year the disc came out next..
Seems a bit faux outrage to me.
FWD.

 

[marred]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Franz Ferdinand always were a bit of a Smiths appreciation society band.
Loved their debut album. Hard to believe it was released 20 years ago.
Great to see anyone making a little bit of magic on stage. I think Morrissey and Marr will appear together on stage at some point in the future. It's probably inevitable. Whether that's a good thing, or a bad thing, is open to debate.

Is this reunion something you'd be happy to see or that you are looking forward to? Personally I don't really want it to happen. What would be the point? They don't like each other and we really don't need to hear any music made by them together. We have plenty of Smiths music and solo Morrissey music that there's really no gap left to fill.

 

[klaus]

i'm sorry but that was really boring.

 

[Eldritch]

I saw them perform with Sparks as FFS and had a blast. The album was very decent too.

FFS is Franz Ferdinand's best album in my opinion. And it's also one of Sparks's best. It really invigorated both of their careers at the time.

 

[Eldritch]

It would seem many people disagree as their new album is number 3 on the Albums Chart. Have you heard any of it?

I have given it a few spins on Spotify. Like most of FF's stuff I like it and am always glad when they release a new album. Their stuff is however rarely very memorable, so I guess I'll forget this album soon too.