First public performance at the Ritz

In October 1982, the Smiths gave their first public performance as a support act for Blue Rondo à la Turk during a student music and fashion show, “An Evening of Pure Pleasure”, at Manchester’s Ritz . During the performance, they played both their own compositions and “I Want a Boy for My Birthday”. Morrissey had organised the gig’s aesthetic; the band came onstage to Klaus Nomi ‘s version of Henry Purcell ‘s “The Cold Song” playing through the venue’s sound system before his friend James Maker stepped onstage to introduce the band. Maker remained onstage during the performance, relating that “I was given a pair of maracas – an optional extra – and carte blanche. There were no instructions – I think it was generally accepted I would improvise … I was there to drink red wine, make extraneous hand gestures and keep well within the tight, chalked circle that Morrissey had drawn around me.” Hibbert was allegedly unhappy with what he perceived as the band’s “gay” aesthetic; in turn, Morrissey and Marr were unhappy with his bass playing, so he was replaced by Marr’s old schoolfriend Andy Rourke . Hibbert denies that he objected to the band being perceived as gay, and said he was not sure why he was asked to leave.