Morrissey recently kicked off his 2020 concert tour with a live show in Leeds, UK, and the night turned out to be full of ups and downs for fans who came to hear some of The Smiths’ classics.
Just two songs into the set, Morrissey got the crowd going with The Smiths’ single “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” from 1985. This was the first time that he performed the song since 2013.
The legendary vocalist then continued with a set dominated by his solo works in between which he managed to squeeze in “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore” from his former band’s 1984 record Meat is Murder. But it turned out that Morrissey saved the best for last. After his return to the stage for an encore, he decided to grace the fans with a performance of The Smiths’ lesser-known track from 1987, “Half a Person.” It was the first live rendition of the track since 2000.
“Half a Person” was a non-album single, first released in 1987 as a b-side on the single “Shoplifters of the World Unite.” The track was played by The Smiths live only once during groups’ four-track set at Maida Vale Studios in 1986.
Morrissey resurrected the track for his solo tour in 1999 and 2000 but then omitted it from his setlist for 20 years until now.
