Martin James "Boz" Boorer (born 19 May 1962 in Edgware, Middlesex, England) is an English guitarist and producer. He founded the new waverockabilly group the Polecats, and starting in 1991 had a 30-year collaboration with singer Morrissey as co-writer, guitarist and musical director.
The band Cult Heroes was formed in 1977 by Tim Worman (known as Tim Polecat, vocalist), Boz Boorer (guitarist and vocalist), Phil Bloomberg (bassist), and Chris Hawkes (drummer). After finding much difficulty persuading promoters to book them on the rockabilly circuit with a name sounding "too punk",[citation needed] they adopted Hawkes' suggested band name The Polecats. Hawkes later was replaced by Neil Rooney. Three years after forming, the band signed to the fledgling British rockabilly label Nervous Records, and released the single "Rockabilly Guy" in 1979.[2]
By 1980, the Polecats had signed to Mercury Records. The same year, they released their most successful LP Polecats Are Go!. The band had UK chart success with a David Bowie cover "John, I'm Only Dancing", a reworking of "Rockabilly Guy", and another cover version of the T.Rex song "Jeepster".[3] In 1983, they entered the charts in the United States with their song "Make a Circuit with Me". Shortly after, John Buck replaced Neil Rooney on drums. Boorer left the group in the same year[2] but in 1989 he led a Polecats reunion which produced a live album and a new studio set. Raucous Records released a compilation album of Boz Boorer's work titled Between The Polecats in early 2001. The band tours when time permits, and the most recent gig was at The Hot Rod Hayride in Bisley, Surrey, UK, on 30 July 2016.[4][5]
Morrissey
Boorer, along with guitarist Alain Whyte, joined Morrissey in 1991 when the singer assembled a new band tour in promotion of his album Kill Uncle. With Whyte, he is credited with successfully synthesizing jangle pop and American rockabilly to create a new sound for Morrissey that helped to revitalize his career.[6][7] From 1991 through 2021, Boorer worked not only as one of Morrissey's co-writers and guitarists but also as the band's musical director.[8]
In 1994, Boorer produced for the first time a record for Morrissey: it was for the single "Interlude", a duet between Morrissey and Siouxsie,[9] a one-off released under the banner of both artists. Boorer notably directed the strings section.
Boorer has released solo material between his recording and touring. In 2008, he released the album Miss Pearl.[10] Besides having a solo career, writing and playing for Morrissey and touring occasionally with the Polecats, Boorer has worked with other artists, including Adam Ant, Kirsty MacColl, Joan Armatrading, Jools Holland, and Edwyn Collins. He was in Ant's full time band in 1993-1994 for the Persuasion tour and the recording of the Wonderful album before being replaced by Kris Dollimore in 1995 due to Boorer's commitments with Morrissey. He also worked with his wife's band, the Shillelagh Sisters, between 1983 and 1998.
In 2009, Boorer produced the debut EP by Tiguana Bibles, Child of the Moon.
He and his wife own a studio in Portugal, Serra Vista Studio. In summer 2010, Boorer recorded, produced and mixed Portuguese garage/blues/rock band Murdering Tripping Blues' second album, Share the Fire.
In 2011, Happy Martyr was formed with rapper Alex Lusty. The plan was to record some acoustic, stripped-down hip-hop, which Boorer described as "an MC fronting early Tyrannosaurus Rex". The albums One Square Mile and Nothing Like Love were released in 2012 and 2014 respectively.
In June 2014, Boorer teamed up with Art Brut singer Eddie Argos for a new solo single, "Girl from Atlanta", which was included on his solo album Age of Boom in 2016 for Fabrique Records. The album included a track "Le Stalker" with vocals by Georgina Baillie.
Personal life
Boorer has been married to Lyn since 1981, and they have two daughters: Pearl-May and Billie-Rose.[11]
"The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils" and "Reader Meet Author" from Southpaw Grammar – "Honey, You Know Where to Find Me" and "You Should Have Been Nice to Me" (only on remastered version)
"I Wish You Lonely", "Jacky's Only Happy When She's Up on the Stage", "All the Young People Must Fall in Love" and "Who Will Protect Us from the Police" from Low in High School – "Lover-To-Be" and "This Song Doesn't End When It's Over" (only on deluxe version)
"Jack the Ripper", "You've Had Her", "I'd Love To", "Mexico", "I Can Have Both", "Christian Dior", "Noise Is the Best Revenge", "The Public Image", "The Slum Mums", "Action Is My Middle Name", "The Kid's a Looker" and "Brow of My Beloved" are tracks that appeared on B-sides of Morrissey singles.
"Kit", "I Know Who I Love", "I'm Playing Easy to Get", "Blue Dreamers Eyes" and "I Couldn't Understand Why People Laughed" are unreleased tracks.
References
^ abcPopoff, Martin (2019). Satisfaction: 10 Albums That Changed My Life. Krause Publications.
