Inside the Smiths is the latest manifestation of what you might call the Pete Best Syndrome. Best, of course, was the original drummer for the Beatles; replaced by Ringo Starr before they became the Fab Four, Best has spent the better part of the last 50 years basking in (and capitalizing on) his brief moment in the sun. To be fair, Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke weren't kicked out of the Smiths, where they served as drummer and bassist, respectively (although Rourke's heroin habit did lead to his getting temporarily sacked), but with the Manchester, England quartet having long since split, and singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr in fruitful solo careers and other projects, Joyce and Rourke are all that remain to rehash the salad days. And that's just what they do, reminiscing about their auditions for the band, discussing the making of albums like Meat Is Murder and The Queen Is Dead, talking about their former mates, and so on (others weighing in include members of the Buzzcocks, the Kaiser Chiefs, New Order, and the Fall). None of this is presented with particular rancor (the mid-'90s lawsuit in which Joyce sued Morrissey and Marr for back royalties is mentioned, but not dwelled on); rather, Joyce and Rourke are clearly proud to have been part of the Smiths phenomenon. DVD extras include seven featurettes, ranging from less than a minute to about half an hour. As for the music of the Smiths, described by one pundit as the group who "bridged the gap between the demise of pub rock and the beginnings of rave culture" (hey, it's a dirty job, but somebody had to do it), unfortunately there's nary a copyrighted note to be heard here. An optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Graham)
Inside the Smiths
(2007) 52 min. DVD: $16.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Volume 23, Issue 3
Inside the Smiths
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