A new poem by much-loved Manchester poet Tony Walsh will be performed this June to mark the 40th anniversary of The Queen Is Dead – the seminal album by The Smiths that helped define a generation.
The commissioned poem has been created in celebration of Salford Lads Club, the iconic venue that became internationally famous when Morrissey chose the location for a photoshoot with photographer Stephen Wright, which was used on the inside sleeve of the album. The image turned the red-brick frontage of Salford Lads Club into one of the most recognisable backdrops in British music history and a pilgrimage site for fans from across the globe.
Forty years on, the anniversary of The Queen Is Dead offers an opportunity not just to celebrate an album, but to reflect on Manchester’s enduring cultural influence – and the role Salford Lads Club continues to play in young people’s lives.
Tony Walsh – widely regarded as one of the UK’s most powerful poetic voices – has become synonymous with Mancunian pride and identity, and is uniquely placed to capture the emotional connection between music, place and community. He has created an original piece honouring the legacy of Salford Lads Club and The Smiths; the global cultural significance of the photograph; and the generations of young people who have passed through the doors of the iconic venue.
While the photograph of Andy Rourke, Morrissey, Johnny Marr and Mike Joyce gave the building international fame, Salford Lads Club has been serving young people since 1903, providing sports, arts and youth opportunities for more than a century. The anniversary poem will celebrate not only the club’s place in music folklore, but its ongoing importance as a living, breathing community institution.
Released in 1986, The Queen Is Dead remains one of the most influential British albums of all time. Four decades later, its connection to Salford and Greater Manchester continues to draw visitors from around the world – a testament to the lasting relationship between Manchester’s music and its streets.
Tony Walsh’s poem will form part of the anniversary activities in June, reinforcing Salford Lads Club’s status not only as an historic landmark, but as a continuing symbol of creativity, youth culture and northern identity.
“This is a dream job for me,” Tony said. “I’ve variously lived, worked, studied and performed in Salford for over 40 years now, and I’m a great admirer of the city’s proud and distinctive spirit. I’ve been a huge fan of The Smiths too since the very early days. I tuned in for their first John Peel session and was lucky enough to see them at GMex in the summer that The Queen is Dead was released. I was on the dole when the album came out and vividly remember scraping the money together for the gig and LP.
“I first performed at Salford Lads’ Club more than 15 years ago and I have huge respect for the vital work that goes on there. I used to manage youth and community programmes in inner-city Salford myself and so I really do understand what that takes and what it delivers.
“To be invited to celebrate The Smiths and Salford Lads Club in a single poem has been a huge challenge, but also a very great honour. I’ve been spending a lot of ‘warm summer days indoors’ lately, writing ‘frightening verse’ but I’m confident that I’ve got something really special to share with people. Frankly, Mr Shankly, I can’t wait!”
Tony will perform the poem on the club’s famous front steps at midday on Saturday 13 June, as part of a special public event taking place between 11am-3pm.*
