Only 14 years?
I thought you're listening him live longer than that.
No. Despite my incredibly advanced years, I only attended my first Morrissey gig in 1995. I was 29 at the time. Dear God. In fact, it's not even 14 years ago. I still remember my astonishment when "London" was played...
24 February 1995
Brixton Academy, London
Billy Budd
Have-A-Go Merchant
Spring-Heeled Jim
London
You're The One For Me, Fatty
Boxers
Jack The Ripper
We'll Let You Know
Whatever Happens, I Love You
Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself
The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get
The National Front Disco
Moon River
Now My Heart Is Full
Speedway
/Shoplifters Of The World Unite
This was the biggest date of the tour, and arguably the best. Security was very tight and only a few fans made it on stage. Morrissey was in a great mood, he was very playful, pulling fans to him, kidding them, even attempting a somersault at one point, staying for a short time with one leg in the air. The audience was ecstatic, they cheered, whistled and screamed from the first note to the last one. Boz was dressed very formal, with black trousers and a long black jacket, white shirt and bow tie.
Morrissey entered stage with a tambourine that had the word "ERIC" written on its skin. He shook it for a few verses into set opener "Billy Budd" then threw it into the audience. After that opening song he exclaimed "Welcome back to Brixton!". Then after "Jack The Ripper" he probably wanted to mention how he was still ill from the flu when he said "I'm still... I still am... I definitely am... nothing will change me! I'm still extremely... I still can't speak French... And I'm still... I'm still... What am I? What am I? I'm still... hang on...". Then the first notes of "We'll Let You Know" were heard and Morrissey matter-of-factly said "Oh yes".
During the noisy ending of "The National Front Disco", as he had done the previous night in Croydon, Morrissey came to the front of the stage, stood still at the very edge, with his face turned upwards. The only difference was that this time he had his arms outstretched in a Christlike pose instead of having them by his sides. It had become a habit on this tour for fans to get on stage in "Now My Heart Is Full" because they knew the set was nearing the end. However on this date, no one did, to Morrissey's apparent disappointment because after that song he said "I don't mind if you're bored... I really don't...". Standard tour encore "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" was played in full, a rare occurrence on the Boxers tour. Usually the number of fans on stage made it impossible for the band to finish the song. After that Morrissey left stage with "I love you... thank you".