It’s been quite an impressive few days for rock icons delivering visceral take downs from the stage in Manchester, although compared to Bruce Springsteen’s blistering attack on the current state of US politics at Co-op Live last week, last night’s jovial dig at local lad Morrissey from longtime David Bowie collaborator Tony Visconti was notably more light-hearted.
Visconti, who produced over a dozen albums in collaboration with Bowie, first working with him on 1968 single In the Heat of the Morning/ London Bye Ta-Ta and continuing their working relationship right through to his emotional final album Blackstar in 2016, which was recorded while the legendary singer knew he was dying of cancer. The producer also squeezed some of the star’s biggest albums in between, including 1970’s The Man Who Sold the World, 1974’s Diamond Dogs and 1977’s Heroes, and frequently played bass in Bowie’s band.
Visconti was at Manchester’s O2 Ritz last night, performing the songs of Bowie with his band Holy Holy, which also features the sole surviving member of Bowie’s erstwhile backing band The Spiders from Mars, drummer Mick “Woody” Woodmansey. He was handed the mic by the outfit’s stand-in Bowie, Heaven 17 singer Glenn Gregory, to share a few moments reminiscence about his work with the legend with the crowd.
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Visconti soon turned to his connections with Manchester, including a story about a Christmas spent sampling the city’s thriving curry scene, before turning his attention to his work with former Smiths singer and professional indie miserablist, turned right-wing rentaquote, Morrissey on his 2006 solo album Ringleader of the Tormentors.
A smattering of applause was quickly drowned out by boos from an audience that clearly wasn’t entirely on board with Morrissey’s recent political proclamations.
“What went wrong?” Visconti deadpanned.
He then informed the crowd that Morrissey is an obsessive follower of chart positions, and was consequently delighted when his collaboration with the producer hit number one in the UK album charts: “Can you imagine seeing Morrissey smile?” Visconti asked to rapturous applause. “I’ve actually seen it. It was just a glimpse.”
Visconti, who is 81 but notes on his Twitter (X) profile he is “I’m still alive and working my butt off” has also produced tracks and albums for the likes of T Rex, The Moody Blues and Paul McCartney.
Image: Tony Visconti, Menage a Moi/Creative Commons
