Last concert at Brixton Academy

An arrest on drug possession charges almost led to Rourke being replaced by Guy Pratt for the band’s North American tour later that year. Rourke’s work visa came through just before departure. While the shows were successful, heavy drinking and drug use by crew and band members other than Morrissey took a toll on the group, along with ineffective management and lingering disputes with Rough Trade (whom the band was seriously considering leaving for EMI ) and Sire (who Morrissey felt did not do enough to promote the Smiths). After a date in St. Petersburg, Florida , he and Marr cancelled the remaining four shows, including a grand finale at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall . After the following UK tour ended in October 1986, relations between Marr and Gannon broke down. According to Gannon he was simply not called back for further rehearsals. A few weeks later Gannon’s friend and future Smiths guitarist Ivor Perry informed him that according to Travis he was no longer in the Smiths. During his time with the Smiths, Gannon played on seven studio tracks (“Panic” and “Ask”, their B-sides “The Draize Train” and “Golden Lights”, as well as “Half a Person” and “London”, both of which were released as B-sides the following year, and “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby”, which first appeared on the compilation album The World Won’t Listen also the following year). On 12 December 1986 the band performed their last concert, an anti-apartheid benefit at Brixton Academy , London.