Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
The Queen Is DeadThis concert is remembered as a great one, which may be the reason why Morrissey decided to hold his first solo concert there. Morrissey and especially Johnny were in great spirits. The crowd sang along to many of their favourite songs, such as "Panic", "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" or "How Soon Is Now?". There was a good number of stage crashers during the encores. The setlist was the same as on the previous date.
Panic
I Want The One I Can't Have
Vicar In A Tutu
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Ask
(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame/Rusholme Ruffians
Frankly, Mr. Shankly
The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
What She Said (with Rubber Ring intro and outro)
Is It Really So Strange?
Never Had No One Ever
Cemetry Gates
London
Meat Is Murder
I Know It's Over
/The Draize Train
/How Soon Is Now?
//Still Ill
//Bigmouth Strikes Again
As the band entered stage, Morrissey took the microphone and shouted a loud "Hello!". As he sang the title line in "The Queen Is Dead", he pulled out a board saying THE QUEEN IS DEAD which he waved about for the rest of the song. For the following number, "Panic", he used another prop, this time a noose which he swung around to highlight the "Hang the DJ!" lyric. The newest single "Ask" was to be released the following week so Morrissey introduced it as such for the benefit of the fans: "Thank you... we're enjoying you immensely. This is our new single... 'Ask'!". Further into the show another song needed an introduction: "This is a new song, which you won't know... 'Is It Really So Strange?'." This night's lyrics still featured minor differences with the ones that would eventually be recorded for release, such as the swap of the "...kick me ...punch me" lines with the "...punch me ...butt me" ones. Following its performance Morrissey asked the crowd "Is that song good or bad? (crowd reacts) Bad?"
The stage was bathed in red light for the drama-heavy "Meat Is Murder". Morrissey gradually pulled his shirt over his head during "I Know It's Over", the final number of the main set. By the song's final lines his head was completely hidden inside his shirt. At the very end of it he threw the shirt into the audience and left the stage, followed by his band mates. The latter number saw the evening's first real attempts from fans at making it on stage. Following this, 10 to 20 of them would successfully make it up there during each of the remaining songs. If they were lucky they would even get to hug their idol before they were taken offstage by security. Before going into "Still Ill" Morrissey told the crowd "Thank you, you've been very nice..." At some point into the latter number, as he had collapsed to the floor as he often did during that number, he was almost crushed under fans who had rushed on stage. Fortunately they were removed by security before any harm was done.
A video audience recording of the full concert is circulated on bootleg videotapes and DVDs (recorder: Soundsville International Steve). Some copies lack the beginning of "The Queen Is Dead". Steve's partner in crime Soundsville International Paul recorded the complete show in audio. The sound of this is generally good although the first two songs are not. This is less commonly found at this point in time than the audio track which was lifted from this video recording.
Do you have information about this concert? Or do you own an uncirculated recording of it? If yes please contribute and get credited.