The Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual - Live

The Smiths performing The Headmaster Ritual live in Madrid 1987

[@TheArticulatingAnoraksPodcast]

I often listen to The Smiths when my mind is filled with depression and confusion. After I finish listening to them it’s like a puzzle has been completed in my head and everything makes sense and seems okay. It’s magical what good music can do to you

[@flavioks5438]

It really does that’s the scary part

[@capgage1]

@@flavioks5438 I listened to the Smiths lots after my Mom passed, almost 4 years ago. I told people and they thought I was nuts for doing that (probably true to a certain extent...) What they did not understand is that it made me feel BETTER. I also lost my ability to play guitar temporarily. Physically, and also, the ability to play in my head. Played since 1980. But it came back. The more I listen to this too, the more it comes back. Especially mentally.

[@eileensianez6766]

Will I'm the other way around. Hehe

[@tenfourten8438]

@@eileensianez6766 lmao same

[@spensert4933]

Nobody is lonely when Smiths are in full effec5

[@wayneashby7841]

The only time I’ve ever allowed yodelling to put shivers down my spine

[@hikemalliday6007]

Amazes me how full and good they sound with just 4 people.

[@bopshi]

perfection

[@Scrayfish0]

Pretty much all the best bands had three or three plus singer (Hendrix, Police, Cream, Smiths). It's all you need of the players are this great.

[@tylerrigdon6795]

Marr’s chord choices in this song have incredibly complex harmonic relationships. Such a beautiful song, probably my favorite Smiths track for its transcending musical palate and Morrissey’s hilarious and biting lyrics.

[@__Patrick]

The off timing is the key.

[@stevesemenuk4497]

Tough to call the best Smiths song, but this one is in the running

[@defoperator7993]

there is a light

[@Wilantonjakov]

Wonderful Woman Well I Wonder

[@GuthixsRealm]

@@defoperator7993 oh come on... this song is better than There is a Light that Never goes Out. That song is one of those "crowd pleaser" songs.

[@defoperator7993]

@@GuthixsRealm it’s a crowd pleaser for a reason

[@gabrielpalombo4384]

@@defoperator7993 good song, but there is so many cards on the table: barbarism begins at home; this charming man; well i wonder; shoplifters of the world unite; etc.; it is hard to just point there is a light and say that it's their best song. - For exemple, it is like saying that love will tear us apart is the best joy division song. Is it their most well known song? Yes. But there is much more.

[@Keeleysound]

This was 1985. The Smiths didn't play any gigs in 1987 (their last live concert was Brixton Adacemy on Dec 12th 1986). Lovely post otherwise

[@bobbydazzler1780]

Keeley I saw them live at the Brixton Academy around that time. It could have been their last gig, too many years ago to be sure. I’ll tell you one thing, it was magical and they totally rocked out. All these years later it’s up there in my top ten live gigs and I’ve seen thousands since. Great great band.

[@curroprr]

right. este concierto fue en mayo de 1985, paseo de camoens, madrid, durante las fiestas de san isidro

[@EloyGijon67]

@@curroprr Yes, Parque del Oeste, qué putada no pude ir. Aun estoy llorando.

[@MBArkestra]

Man, they were such a tight band live. Long live the Smiths.

[@GnomeChomsky9999]

MBArkestra they're even tighter if you up playback to 1.25!

[@ariealfiyan2570]

Unfortunately The smiths r dead mate

[@bugsy1028]

MBArkestra yes

[@RK-kn1fg]

Oh yes indeed they certainly were extraordinarily close

[@eachampandmabel]

Beatles tight

[@dichts]

My favorite The Smiths song ever!!! Sounds so vibrant and this chord progression is really out of this world!!!

[@toddbennett8819]

RIP Andy the best ever, love you 🙏

[@decaffeinatedafrican5997]

the fact that all of this was made from pent up rage for the manchester education system makes this even more amazing and brutal of a song.

[@jayspeed999]

I've been thinking about, where did Johnny Marr pull these chords, progressions and melodies from? Really sounded way different than anything else at that time. This music isn't getting old at all, it's just standing up on its own. Almost like it was created in the future...

[@thomasdonnelly3263]

@jayspeed999 There's an excellent video on KZbin with Marr explaining how he came up with this riff and he actually tuned the guitar to an E major chord (Open E tuning). He also tuned the guitar to open G tuning and several other unusual tunings for quite a few of The Smiths songs. As a guitarist myself I know how easy it is to get stuck in a rut when composing music in normal standard tuning and so therefore, by experimenting with these different tuning he would have found it easier to compose these very unconventional chord progressions and riffs. I believe Andy Rourke also tuned his bass differently for a lot of the songs also. The unusual tunings is a big part of why The Smiths sound so unique.

[@craiglewis6145]

@@thomasdonnelly3263 yes you're right. Rourke often had his bass tuned up by a tone :- F# B E A

[@camilofalco4095]

That's a great question...I myself think that he's one of the last great guitar players...unique tone and technique...I had read somewhere that he liked The Byrds a lot...I hear a lot of that in his playing and all that arpeggio stuff...on the other hand it's so him and personal...like I said one of the greats.

[@jeffbrown-hill7739]

I believe Marr used a lot of alternate tunings, that might be partly why his melodies sound so different from most other guitarist's.

[@craiglewis6145]

@@jeffbrown-hill7739 you're absolutely right. For example Headmaster Ritual the guitar is tuned to an E major chord when all the open strings are played. It would be impossible to play in standard tuning.

[@JP-ne6dg]

Love this song- the riffs - bass- arrangement - Morrissey’s voice a unique instrument in itself - some of the best rock ever performed and recorded

[@TheDenzel2012]

Indeed these bass lines are incredible!

[@rangerwhite7091]

Please re unite and do a tour before i die. I'm 50 and remember buying all your albums I've not long left. Thankyou.....

[@essexboy5520]

Except for The Smith's getting back together. Moz and Joyce for one and Johnny doesn't like Morrisey's political views. 😔

[@TheWelwyn21]

No leave it in the past

[@CumLordGary]

Unfortunately never happening now RIP Andy Rourke

[@sosidecop64]

Missing the mid 80’s again. Good times.

[@Checkofoto]

Andy Rourke & Mike Joyce deserve so much credit on this one

[@seelow12]

The Smiths are so great because of wonderful melodies with cutting and brutal lyrics...great mix

[@mikenyny755]

If I had to choose a favourite Smith's track it would be this, and this performance is awesome.

[@oswing]

how soon is now? is my fave

[@rmacdlol]

money changes everything, how soon is now and that joke isn't funny anymore are my favs

[@Metal_Horror]

This has recently replaced "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" for my favorite. There are a few runners up that come very close though.

[@user-yn6zo4wp5b]

Been listening to this band since 1984. Love the chords on this one. M/Marr wrote the soundtrack to my youth and still remains golden today. Thank you 🙏

[@patkelly8309]

RIP Andy Rourke

[@paolo-n2000]

RIP - Andy Rourke!!!

[@warma731]

it was in 1985. It was the biggest crowd before the Smiths ever played. A free open air concert in Paseo de Camoens for 200000 people. It was La Movida madrileña age.

[@user-cs9vm2lv3f]

For anyone who loves The Smiths / Johnny Marr / Headmaster Ritual- look for a Johnny Marr interview where he partially deconstructs this song in-studio… it’s transcendent.

[@JohnnAxxx]

tão perfeitos que soam como se estivessem dentro de um estúdio. apresentação impecável. melhor banda de todos os tempos.

[@CatherineNeal]

I love this band so much it hurts.

[@MrSmithct4]

The bass goes craaaazy in this, so tight

[@DefaultName-yw6sr]

This discipline is sorely needed again.

[@herbyverstink]

we are lucky to have the smiths' collection of tunes

[@kikidee3204]

Smith's saved my life xxx😱

[@lavitroladeldiablo]

Now this is a true bass line...now this a true bass player. Long live to Andy Rourke.

[@danielanderson796]

Mike is underrated

[@spacecosmicwitch]

just being one of those ones in the crowd... oh, my dream :c

[@__Patrick]

RIP Andy Rourke. One of the most influential bassists and unsung musicians of the 1980s. His bass riffs were just as sound defining as Marr’s jangle pop guitar riffs or Morrissey vocals and lyrics.

[@modmutha8608]

Loved them from DAY 1!!!

[@av9109]

Brilliant upload thanks but the date is 1985 the smiths had no live performance's in 1987 just a mimed tv appearance in Italy which was to be there last.

[@jeangomez3947]

descanse en Paz Andy :(

[@MegaHariboboy]

As much as I love the Smiths and this song in particular, it was the intro and the layering of the acoustic and electric guitar that Johnny Marr did that made it such a magical song. I feel like in the live performance, it just loses that edge it has on the studio version...

[@Ghoulies]

Agreed. Not to say this is bad. It just works less well live, than the songs that they performed on The Tube, for instance.

[@simonedgbaston]

MegaHariboboy They were never brilliant musician's especially live,but their music is unusual because of the studio techniques used by Johnny & Morrissey has added the magic with his vocal lines which make them extraordinarily wonderful for a band who lasted only a few years. Morrissey has worked with much better bands since, especially since the edition of Boz & his best band are his current band who are astonishing 😀

[@acornhead285]

"They were never brilliant musician's especially live" . Either you're a complete virtuouso, or you have never tried to learn a Smiths song...

[@olivermorrow8417]

“They were never brilliant musicians” you’re a bin lid son get to bed haha

[@collapsingspace]

Listen to radioheads version

[@spensert4933]

Marr's finest hour.

[@alanpina272]

Its beautiful!

[@EloyGijon67]

It was in 85, in Parque del Oeste in Madrid. I still regret I couldn't go... it was a free concert even.

[@lorddraconian6026]

2023 💐

[@mohdsuffian7819]

timeless indie rock song! 👍

[@mateogavela6143]

I love johnny marr´s guitars!!

[@nostromoorozco3243]

me muero por los smiths. son la banda de mi vida son increíbles. son lo último de la pura música independiente. no tengo no encuentro las palabras adecuadas para tanta belleza. son estratosféricos.

[@bangmateo7481]

Los unicos.

[@jesssee9629]

Oh what I would do to be able to go back in time and experience this

[@FireypepperCP]

This is incredible

[@modmutha8608]

He sings my experience of school to a tee

[@ellysantos4087]

Sem sombras de dúvida essa foi uma das bandas mais importantes da década de 80.

[@heleciamarie]

I really love that guitar sound . I just do 😝

[@_afxc]

RIP ANDY ROURKE

[@13thRaven]

I couldn't pick my favorite smith's song if I tried! I listened to every album front to back with joy every time. Just brilliant 😊

[@Zaba_the_Dogling]

The crowd loved them

[@johnhestich458]

This was thee song that hooked me . Lead off track to a truly fab LP

[@slice1928]

damn this is a good song

[@EzidioAlvesPereira]

Bons tempos que só voltam quando ouvimos esses clássicos,saudades dos anos oitenta,uma época que meu irmão estava vivo!

[@residentepapi13]

esta debe ser mi cancion preferida de the smiths, por mas molesto o triste que este solo tengo que oirla y ya todo se resuelve

[@danthemanwhocancan5263]

RIP Andy

[@albertounited]

Tal como dice Keith Moss, The Smiths nunca tocó en vivo en 1987. Su último concierto fue en el Brixton academy, el 12 de diciembre de 1986, y agrego otro dato: La última vez que estuvieron juntos en un escenario, fue en el festival de san remo, Italia. (1987). Allí tocaron con playback y aquella presentación se transmitió el 25 de mayo de dicho año.

[@curroprr]

este concierto fue en mayo de 1985, paseo de camoens, madrid, durante las fiestas de san isidro

[@DKinJH]

RIP Andy Rourke.

[@BulletproofFaces]

Man, just about every sound engineer back in the 80s really knew how to ruin a snare tone.

[@johnstample3624]

One of the first things I noticed when they started playing was the *huge* gate on there

[@gsgacc]

Fantastic performance, gig and song. Have seen Moz from Paris Birmingham and all over Europe, but never seen The Smiths. Mind you I am Dutch, then just 14-15. What did I know.

[@Mgtowfreedom]

Fuckin brilliant Ingenious music

[@ibero667]

Este magnífico concierto fue en Madrid. ❤

[@gentillygirl545]

Love. Saw them 1982 at the Saenger Theatre!! Fucking rocked!!!!

[@patriciofernandez2711]

I'm not English and I didn't go to a violent boarding school, but this still has me pissed off at that barbaric education system. Morrissey's anger sounds first hand.

[@eileensianez6766]

The first time I ever heard The Smiths I think I was 17 or 18 was it 1977 or something? It was on KROQ Los Angeles.Richard Blade was the D.J. loved that station.I was all like.....Whoa when I heard "How Soon Is Now". and it was all downhill for me and The Smiths from then on! Oh yeah....

[@ricardosampaio4056]

1987

[@hboneflash]

Thanks!

[@Mushy72]

Blessed 🍀

[@buzzozma4780]

Brilliant

[@13StJimmy]

I feel like I’m watching this at 1.5 speed 😂

[@Freedomfighter76239]

That’s what makes this version of the song so good;)

[@johnnys-left-earring]

mike joyce looking fine af here

[@nushitrecords]

R.I.P. Andy

[@andrewcassey8235]

I was a little rough there with my last post. Apologies. I'm really a nice, nice man. Hard to tell from that post, though. Bloody hell...I wasn't even drunk when I wrote it. Gotta check my Karma. Again, sorry.

[@mifjuz]

Andrew Cassey my friend please don’t worry about it! It was a little funny to tell you the truth, and, you were right! So, no hard feelings here mate. Kindly regards.

[@ahmaquindi]

omg did i really see an apology on the internet? wow!

[@Blank_Frank]

@@ahmaquindi We're under a Smiths video, anything can happen !

[@tiohidan9444]

banda lendaria

[@kurtdeyoung2608]

I'm a big fan ❤

[@honneymachadodelimamachado239]

Yes baby rock and roll the smits

[@ronaldcalvo8456]

What a tight, tight mf band- tight!

[@patrickdoval]

Cool video !

[@paolonatalini4184]

Great

[@johnandkate1000]

And all night x

[@paulorocom87]

Cine vida, best

[@DJCoachCookie68]

Ha, it reminds me of my English Grammar School! Happy Days....Not!

[@Scarfmefatherwore]

Smiths had there last gig in late 86 mate

[@FAUSTHEBASS]

Live in Madrid 🇪🇦😎🎼💪

[@RolandDuke]

Holy Christ look at that crowd!!!

[@8BitAtari]

Grade 7 1985

[@tonybones2822]

This is actually a better recording than the studio version.

[@rezafebriansyah5878]

Johnny fucking Marr!

[@stephaniecunha3552]

Tão legal o estilo anos 80

[@bispomanoelangelo8783]

Concordo plenamente! Musicalmente fiquei parado nessa década kkkkk.

[@josesanchez-os7zr]

Live in Madrid, May 1985.

[@marcosvasconcelos3086]

Contagiante....esse virus faz bem...

[@lemurianchick]

I think Morrissey invented New Wave scat singing. 😂

[@hoodedman07]

lemurian chick lmao

[@LiaM-sg8uw]

The difference between normies and us smiths heads is that normies find it "depressing" while for us, it's actually a source of hope when we're already depressed.

[@kshoren05]

Johnny gave that red Les Paul to Noel Gallagher who wrote several Oasis songs on it. Broke it a fight on stage!

[@zaphyra-]

Really? Interesting

[@fijozico]

Zaphyra Yeah. Noel used it in the Live Forever music video too

[@cuogh9302]

Esto fue en el 85. En el marco de su gira para Meat is Murder

[@315Bodhi17]

It's obvious the audience is in the know....they're not screaming or yelling.

[@sonicgrub]

Saw them on this their last tour. epic

[@AndrewHughesMusic]

that snare sound LMFAO

[@mblumenstein1]

Wrong date. The band played no gigs in 87. Otherwise, brilliant. Thanks for sharing.

[@decaffeinatedafrican5997]

i want to go home, i don't want to stay, give up life as a bad mistake

[@spacetimecontinuum]

Why is this song so damn sexy???

[@spacetimecontinuum]

@subcomandante marcos No way!! I know what the subject matter is, the riffs and the vocals are sexy. And I'm a grown woman who has zero interest in young boys.

[@espcex2023]

I would not call it sexy, but I remember to feel my spirit transcending while I danced hard without noticing I was so into that rhythm. Just when it ended I was: oh? What the hell. Haha

[@gregmixing]

Get yer RMX16 all over that snare baby.

[@cosmicactivity299]

I want to go home

[@rhorlandas]

The very first tape I own "The Smiths"