The Last of the Famous International Playboys
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" is a song by British solo artist Morrissey. Co-written by Morrissey and former Smiths producer Stephen Street, the song was Morrissey's third release after the Smiths break-up. Morrissey was inspired lyrically by the East End gangster brothers the Kray Twins, whom he believed to be an example of the media glamourizing violent criminals. Street took influence from the Fall for the song's music, with the intro resembling that of "The Man Who Sold the World" by David Bowie. The single was the first Morrissey solo single to feature his former Smiths bandmates Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, and Craig Gannon.
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys"
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was recorded and released following Morrissey's debut album Viva Hate. Upon release, the single became another commercial hit for Morrissey, reaching number six in the UK despite initially mixed reviews. The song later appeared on the 1990 compilation album Bona Drag.
In the years since its release, "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" has become one of Morrissey's more remembered songs and remains critically acclaimed by modern writers.
Release[edit]
Morrissey said in a 1989 interview that he had high hopes for the single: "'The Last Of Famous International Playboys', is the first record that I feel hysterical about. And I'm very pleased to feel that way. I compare it to 'Shoplifters of the World Unite'. I heard 'Shoplifters of the World Unite' once on the radio, a chart rundown. It was a new entry. They had to play it. They had no choice. And I laughed hysterically as it listened to it. I felt a great sense of victory. And that's the same way I feel about 'The Last of the Famous International Playboys.'"[2]
The single was another commercial success for Morrissey, with James Brown of the NME writing, in early 1989, "I have already heard serious suggestion that 'Last of the Famous Playboys' will be Morrissey's first number one hit record."[2] It reached number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.[7] The song was not featured on one of Morrissey's main studio albums but can be found on the compilation album Bona Drag along with the B-side "Lucky Lisp". The artwork for the single features Morrissey, aged 6, up a tree in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester—literally a boy at play.[3] When asked if he had changed since the photo was taken, Morrissey said "Well, I have a new sweater."[8]
Morrissey first performed the song live at his infamous debut solo concert at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall in December 1988, alongside Rourke, Joyce, and Gannon.[9] That same month, The Guardian described the show as "primarily a showcase for Morrissey's New Year single, 'The Last of the Famous International Playboys.'"[10] The song was performed live by Morrissey on his 1991, 1992, 2007, 2011 and 2018 tours.
Critical reception[edit]
NME initially gave the single a negative review, with Stuart Maconie saying the track was "'Panic' without the magnetism and the blinding self-confidence" and concluding "I would still chain myself to a disused railway line in Bacup for him, but the lad can do better"[11]—in a review for Bona Drag one year later, however, Maconie expressed a change of heart, writing, "At the time of its release, I was rather mealy-mouthed about 'Playboys' so let me take this chance of saying I was wrong about this sterling tune full of stomping boot boy romanticism."[12] "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" has seen critical acclaim in the years since its release. In a retrospective review, Ned Raggett of AllMusic was much more favorable, writing "Morrissey's performance is grand and passionate".[1] PopMatters was similarly complimentary, writing "'Such things I do / Just to make myself / More attractive to you / Have I failed? he asks. No, clearly, no again and again."[13] Rolling Stone described it as a "great nonalbum single."[14]
Other music writers have ranked the song as being among Morrissey's better songs. Spin named it Morrissey's seventh best solo song, writing "Unusually wiggy guitar effects add to the unseemly drama."[15] Clash included it in its unranked list of the seven best Morrissey solo singles, writing "A love letter to London's notorious Kray twins, it's playful, hilarious and supremely confident. It rocks too, full of hip swinging swagger and glorious effervescence."[16]
According to Johnny Rogan, Johnny Marr was so impressed with the quality of the song that he sent Morrissey a postcard congratulating him.[17] In a 1991 interview, Marr said "I did send him a note telling him that 'Last of the Famous International Playboys' was really good, a good 'un, something I knew he'd be proud of."[18] Reggie Kray, meanwhile, acknowledged the song in his biography, stating "I liked the tune, but the lyrics in their entirety were lacking a little. They came quite close..." Morrissey, in turn, joked "I can't get away from critics".[19]
Music video[edit]
The official video was directed by Tim Broad. It stars the actor Jason Rush, who had appeared in the 1987 television drama Two of Us,[4] intercut with footage of the band performing against a green-screen backdrop. In the video, Rush is portrayed as the song's "dear hero imprisoned" in his metaphorical jail of a bedroom with walls decorated with posters of male icons such as Elvis Presley, Jack Nicholson, and George Best.[4] The video later appeared on the compilation Hulmerist, which comprises seven videos made by Broad for Morrissey songs.