FIGHTING COCKS TAKES PLACE IN MUSIC HISTORY

16-02-2008

Birmingham’s top indie venue of the '80s – the Fighting Cocks in Moseley – has had its place in rock history guaranteed. Smiths fans, in particular, will want to erect a blue plaque on the place.

How come? Well, according to the March issue of Mojo magazine, the pub which hosted a whole generation of musical luminaries, is the place where one Stephen Morrissey threw away his first name – and became a legend.

Former Smiths drummer Mike Joyce recalls: “I remember we played in Birmingham at the Fighting Cocks very early on and there were about five people backstage.

“Morrissey told us, ‘I don’t want to be called Steve anymore, I want to be Morrissey’. So I was like, OK, fair enough.

“After we’d done the gig we were gonna have to drive back. I didn’t have my watch on, so I though, ‘I’ll ask Steve the time.’ But then I thought, ‘No it’s not Steve is it, it’s Morrissey?’

“So I said, ‘Morrissey, what time is it?’ and he said, ‘It’s about quarter to 12 Joyce’”.

And with that, a name was established – and an icon had got his name at one of the West Midlands greatest music pubs.

The latest Mojo has loads on The Smiths and a terrific free CD featuring indie heroes past and present.

Did you see The Smiths at the Fighting Cocks?

What other bands did you catch there?

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