The Smiths without Morrissey were Freak Party. Freak Party were the embryo of the Smiths, and the embryonic incarnation of industrial funk. The band got together at Manchester’s Decibel Studios and knocked out an incredible punk-funk set featuring future Smiths guitarist, the legendary, Johnny Marr, a versatile bass player and soon to be Smiths member Andy Rourke and future Fall drummer Simon Wolstencroft. In 1981, Wolstencroft placed the tape of the original recordings in an old drum case and 30 years later, Wolstencroft, accidentally found the tape and immediately phoned legendary UK producer Mike Bennett. When Bennett heard the original rough recordings from the lost tape, which had been recorded on basic equipment using cassettes only, Bennett began restoring the funkadelic inspired tapes. Bennett brought in Craig Gannon, of the Smiths, to add to the eclectic mix and placed soul legend, Angie Brown, on lead vocals instead of Morrissey. “FireFly” reached #3 on the vinyl charts. Purchase the music here on vinyl.
We caught up with Simon Wolstencroft and Mike Bennett for an interview.
Simon, what were your recollections of the original recordings at Decebel Studios in Manchester?
We were all into the Clash but at the same time listening to the likes of funkadelic and by default we seem to merge the two creating a kind of punk-funk feel. I have been in the patrol which was, if you like, and early incarnation of the Stone Roses but those early recordings were as rough as toast but the Freak Party sessions had an energy that nobody could deny. They’ve had an energy which nobody can deny, a slice of Manchester history, lost in the flight case all those years. To have them revisited is a dream come true and the technique was not dissimilar to what Jeff Lynne did with the Beatles track as free as a bird. By recruiting Angie Brown on vocals, it brought the work to life. She’s worked with the Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Stereophonics and many more, so she’s not just a funk and house girl, she’s an all-rounder, with rich tones that are as original as they are brilliant. It took ages for Mike to restore the tape and it even got chewed up in my car at one point. Mike doesn’t sleep and with his tenacity, he pulled it off. Not only was the tape restored, but they now have the Smiths Craig Gannon, adding a rich mix and melding the old with the new. It has a positive lyric not like the Moors murderers stuff I wasn’t so keen on when I first heard Morrissey’s efforts singing about dark matter. I mean, nothing against dark stuff really, I worked with The Fall for eleven years and a lot of subject matter covered was not middle of the road, but there’s a time and a place for everything. This project was and still is about transcending the genres with a hard funk sound.
Mike, what did you think when you heard the lost pre-Smiths tape?
Pure raw energy! It was right to take it down the funk road. I went down the original funk route but the b-side has more of a raw edge and is named after Simon’s autobiography book, You can drum but you can’t hide. On this body of work, Simon tells his life story using triggers from effects derived from 1981 when the first recording took place; it reflects his book, which is pretty honest and true–an account of an iconic Drummer who has played with The Patrol, Terry Hall Colourfields, Neville Staple of the Specials and of course the Fall, where I met him first. I met Simon producing the Fall, with their abrasive alternative rock, I love music that has an edge and Simon has this in abundance. Having worked with punk artists such as the Stranglers, Sham 69 and Toyah Wilcox, I was experienced in working in a multi-genre scenario. Going back to Freak Party, when I recruited future Smiths guitar player Craig Gannon to join the mix of musicians, and augmented Angie Brown perfectly. You can see in the “Firefly” video, he was having fun with the incredible vocal acrobat.
Simon, what was it like hearing the end product?
Eventually, I was very pleased. Pete Brooker who has worked with The Kinks, Adid Hammond and the brass section proved to be the icing on the cake, along with lyrics that were of course missing, on the original recordings. We are not aiming to set the world alight but I’m pleased that we have closed the chapter regarding the mythical lost tape. Finding them was a happy accident, restoring them was tough but we got there in the end. It’s a minor miracle that they sound so high-end whilst retaining the raw energy only to be expected from fledgling but determined musicians who were into the Clash, Grandmaster Flash, Funkadelic and many more. We almost used Kim Manning from funkadelic but no one can touch Angie Brown who has worked with many people like Bizzare Inc and the Rolling Stones. All these influences are utilized in an authentic way and her vocals prove to be the cornerstone of these excellent recordings. I could not have asked for a better vocalist.
Mike, any more Freak Party recordings in the pipeline?
Indeed, there are, but I want to concentrate on “Firefly” right now. A track entitled “don’t push your luck” is next and of course don’t forget the book You can drum but you can’t hide, which is Simon’s life story against a backdrop of the Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Simon cutting their teeth on the Manchester scene, circa 1981. Myself and Craig have started to work with Angie and a Freak Party film is underway.
Simon, you have worked with Andy since the Smiths split up, tell me more?
Yes, we worked with the late, great Diane Charlamagne on a Grace Jones style track called “It’s in your eyes” and her and Angie were never poles apart. I love Diane’s work with Moby, Goldie and Urban Cookie Collective. None of those outfits have the same appeal without her. Angie is not dissimilar. I didn’t hear many other great tracks from Motive 8 or Bizzare Inc without her vocal delivery. It is no wonder she continues to sell out all over the world.
Mike, the video looks quite unique, what’s the story behind that?
It was simply a case of choosing innovative people that are prepared to think outside the box. Great people such as Georgina Revell, Ciaran Davey, Andrew Obaje and Dominic Friendly helping take care of production values. Georgina’s art direction using a myriad of low-fi and high tech filters was a joy to behold; as for the Freak Party cast, the main hub of the Smiths are in there with additional star cameos from the likes of Clive Jackson, of Doctor and the Medics fame, Gold Blade and Membranes legend, John Robb, and cult actor David Galbraith from Phoenix Nights. We were going for a Film Noir meets Marvel Comics angle with more twists and turns than Brands Hatch, a human menagerie, a humanoid insect if you like, with Angie Brown spitting acrid words about the alpha-male condition whilst giving the whole piece a 70’s twist.
Mike, you have an eclectic cast of characters on this project. What’s your production ethos?
Some people like to disturb the peace. I love piecing together the disturbed!
Simon, The Smiths ended up on Rough Trade, how did they get involved with this project?
I think they read about it in the New Musical Express or the Manchester Evening News. It’s great that they are giving us an in-store signing tour because it brings the whole thing round full circle. It’s great they’re behind Freak Party which seems to be more of a vinyl sensation than a digital outlet for the fast-track generation. It’s great that Rough Trade is keeping vinyl alive, what more can I say?
These are the legendary people involved with this project:
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is a legendary, Anglo-Irish, songwriter and guitar player and founder member of Freak Party; alongside noted bass player, Andy Rourke, and versatile indie drummer, Simon Wolstencroft, for whom he coined the stage name ‘Funky Si’. During 1982, Marr was to canvas the vocal talents of Morrissey, thus morphing the funk sound of the band into the alt-rock sound that was to become the trademark new noise now known as The Smiths. Marr’s guitar sound was so successful that the new musical express named The Smiths as the most influential artists of all time, even topping The Beatles. Marr has also been a member of The Pretenders, Electronic, along with members of New Order and The Petshop Boys; as well as working with Kirsty McCall, The The, The Cribs and many more. His solo career has gone from strength to strength, and his work with Freak Party/ The Smiths has been documented in his acclaimed autobiography Set The Boy Free.
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke’s bass playing is of legendary proportions, and as well as being a founding member of Freak Party and The Smiths, he has worked with many luminaries such as Badly Drawn Boy, Ian Brown, Aziz Abraham (Stone Roses) and Peter Hook (New Order),he was also in the band, Free Bass, with Mani of Stone Roses fame. Rourke resides in New York city, where he is an acclaimed broadcaster for East Village Radio. He also works as a club DJ under the name Jetlag. Rourke is a lifelong Manchester United supporter.
Simon Wolstencroft
Simon Wolstencroft, AKA Funky Si, was a founder member of The Patrol who were an early incarnation of the stadium band, Stone Roses. He was also a founder member of Freak Party with Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke. When they became The Smiths, he famously quit after one recording, siting that he did not like ‘the cut of Morrissey’s jib’. His career continued to take off in a fast and furious fashion when he joined seminal, post-, punk art house outfit The Fall, for whom he wrote and drummed with for 11 years, playing the likes of the Hollywood Bowl, alongside U2 and enjoying major record deals with the likes of Beggars banquet and Atlantic Records. Wolstencroft was also a member of Terry Hall’s chart topping band, Colourfield and also played for Neville Staple’s The Specials, I Monster and I Ludicrous.
Mike Bennett
Mike Bennett, Producer. Mike Bennett cut his teeth on the British Punk, New Wave and Ska scene producing the likes of Toyah, Hazel O’connor, Bad Manners, The Specials, The Beat, Sham69, Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), John Otway, Jonah Lewie and many more. He went on to work for Trojan Records for whom he produced and remixed the likes of, Gregory Issacs, The Selecter, Dennis Brown, Toots and The Maytals and Lee Scratch Perry for whom he co-produced ‘Bionic Rats’. Bennett also worked for creation records for whom he produced the BMX Bandits and Kim Fowley. At Receiver Records, Bennett produced and remixed The Sweet’s greatest hits. He went on to produce The Fall’s ‘Cerebral Caustic’, ‘The Light Users Syndrome’ and ‘The Chisellers’. Bennett also worked with Brix Smith and Ian Brown for whom he co-wrote ‘Golden Gaze’ with Simon Wolstencroft, Ian Brown and his band.
Craig Gannon
Craig Gannon found fame as a founding member of, Aztec Camera and later with The Bluebells. Although Gannon appears on the reworked Firefly, mythical lost tapes, he was not in the original line up and joined The Smiths post Morrissey as rhythm guitarist. After leaving The Smiths, Gannon played with The Fall’s, Brix Smith and the Blue Orchids. He reunited with Morrissey for the massive singles ‘The Last of the International Playboys’ and ‘Interesting Drug’. As well as writing many film scores, Gannon has played with many big names such as Terry Hall, Alison Moyet, Colour Field, Black Grape, Edward Collins and The Buzzcocks.
Angie Brown
Angie Brown, vocals. Angie Brown is best known for her worldwide smash hit, ‘I’m Gonna Get Ya’ and ‘Took My Love’ (Bizarre Ink); as well as being the lead vocalist on Motive 8’s top 10, ‘Rocking for Myself’. Brown has also worked with The Rolling Stones, Grace Jones, Kate Bush, Chakka Khan, Heaven 17, Neneh Cherry, Lisa Stansfield and Fatboy Slim. Brown continues to play sellout concerts all over the world and has thoroughly enjoyed stepping in to Morrissey’s shoes in the Freak Party line up.
Georgina Revell
Video editor, Georgina has ‘Revelled’ in this project, particularly because of the feminist slant of the lyric and the fact that she has worked so closely with iconic female singer Angie Brown. Although a fledgling in the business, Georgina has already worked for Loaded TV and on up and coming musician, Hannah Trigwell’s debut music video ‘Another Beautiful Mistake’. Georgina has thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Emmy award winning, special effects guru, Tim Walton (Batman Begins, Superman, Labrinth and many more); along with Ciaran Davey, cinematographer of The Stems music video and Andrew Obaje.
