Craig Gannon

Craig Gannon
Born	30 July 1966 (1966-07-30) (age 45)
Origin	Manchester, England
Genres	Alternative rock, indie pop
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Guitar
Associated acts	The Smiths The Bluebells Aztec Camera The Adult Net Morrissey Terry Hall Alison Moyet

Craig Gannon (born 30 July 1966, Manchester), is an English guitar player. Previously best known for being the second guitarist in The Smiths, he is now a composer for film and television.

Career

Gannon had already achieved some fame for his work with Aztec Camera and with The Bluebells before his work with The Smiths. When bass player Andy Rourke was fired from The Smiths in early 1986, Gannon was hired to replace him. Within a fortnight, however, Rourke was reinstated and Gannon moved to rhythm guitar, playing on the "Panic" and "Ask" singles and touring the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States with the band. Gannon also played on the scrapped single "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby", which was included on the The World Won't Listen compilation album. After the tour ended in October 1986, Gannon was no longer part of the line-up. Gannon has been affectionately known thereafter as 'the Fifth Smith'.

Post-Smiths, Gannon joined Brix Smith in The Adult Net, Blue Orchids and The Cradle. Gannon was also reunited with former Smiths singer Morrissey at his debut solo gig and 1989 singles "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and "Interesting Drug". That same year saw him sue Morrissey and Johnny Marr over the degree of his involvement in songwriting (notably for "Ask"). The matter was settled out of court for the sum of £48,000. However, this payment was actually for £30,000 which covered unpaid wages, the remaining £18,000 being legal costs.

Gannon composed the music used on the 'Inside The Smiths' DVD, released by former Smiths Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke. In addition to this, he also appeared in, and composed the music for a classic albums DVD of 'The Queen Is Dead' – released in May 2008. He also has been involved with Rourke and Joyce in a project called Moondog One.

Has played guitar with many other artists including Terry Hall, Roddy Frame, Morrissey, Alison Moyet, The Colourfield, The Adult Net, Black Grape, Denise Van Outen, Edwyn Collins & Paul Quinn, Buzzcocks/FOC, The Bluebells, The Blue Orchids, Robert Lloyd, Deadly Avenger, Red Venom, Vinny Peculiar and The Family Foundation. Today, Gannon is a composer/producer with a long record of work for television and film.

Discography

With The Smiths

Singles

• "Panic" (1986)
• "Ask" (1986)

Albums

• The World Won't Listen (compilation, 1987)
  • "Panic", "Ask", "London", "Half a Person", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" (and "Golden Lights" on post-1992 reissues)
• Louder Than Bombs (compilation, 1987)
  • "Half a Person", "London", "Panic", "Ask", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" and "Golden Lights"
• Rank (live, 1988 [recorded 1986])
  • Appears on all tracks
• Best...I (compilation, 1992)
  • "Half a Person" and "Panic"
• ...Best II (compilation, 1992)
  • "Ask"
• Singles (compilation, 1995)
  • "Panic" and "Ask"
• The Very Best of The Smiths (compilation, 2001)
  • "Panic" and "Ask"
• The Sound of The Smiths (compilation, 2008)
  • "Panic", "Ask", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby", "Half a Person", "London" (live version)

With Morrissey

Singles

• "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" (1989)
• "Interesting Drug" (1989)

Albums

• Bona Drag (compilation, 1990)
  • "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference", "Interesting Drug", "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", "Lucky Lisp"
• World of Morrissey (compilation, 1995)
  • "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
• The Best of Morrissey (compilation, 2001)
  • "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", "Interesting Drug"
• Greatest Hits (compilation, 2008)
  • "The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
• My Early Burglary Years (compilation, 1998)
  • "Michaels Bones"
• Suedehead: The Best Of Morrissey (compilation, 1997)
  • "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", "Interesting Drug"

References

http://www.morrissey-solo.com/articles/09/04/21/1630206.shtml

http://diazepam05-english.blogspot.com/

External links

• Craig Gannon on MySpace Music

Persondata
Name	Gannon, Craig
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Date of birth	30 July 1966
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Date of death
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