Please sit down, Music History Class is in session…

Mr. Meeze will be your teacher today. He’s got some cool facts from the past to point your way about the music that shapes our culture. So, pay attention and take diligent notes, you never know when you’ll have a pop quiz.

On this day in 2004, influential English alternative singer, Morrissey, released his eighth studio album, Ringleader of the Tormentors via Attack Records. The album was Morrissey’s first since his highly successful 2004 LP, You are the Quarry. Described by Billboard as having a “thicker, more rock-driven sound,” Ringleader of the Tormentors debuted at #1 in the United Kingdom. Alas, Morrissey did not match the mainstream, United States success of You are the Quarry, only reaching #26 on the Billboard Top-200 chart at the record’s peak.

Ringleader of the Tormentors was produced by Tony Visconti, who previously had worked with alternative cornerstones such as Tyrannosaurus Rex and David Bowie. It was also Morrissey’s first record featuring new guitarist, Jesse Tobias. Previously, Tobias spent a short time in 1992 playing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and toured with Alanis Morissette on her massive Jagged Little Pill Tour in 1994. Tobias has been Morrissey’s lead guitarist ever since the recording Ringleader of the Tormentors.

Written by Michael Meeze (follow him on Twitter)

• Author
• Recent Posts

Michael McCarron

Michael is the Founder and Director of the Philly-based LGBT+ non-profit, Punk Out. He enjoys moshing endlessly, forgetting his karaoke performance from the previous night, and pushing that Big Gay Agenda.

Latest posts by Michael McCarron (see all)

• UTG PREMIERE: Kat Hamilton – “Reminders” - October 28, 2015
• OP-ED: Take Back the Microphone - October 16, 2015
• Mayday Parade Stream New Single “Letting Go” - October 1, 2015