This Day in ’86: The Smiths Perform their Last Show

33 years ago today, The Smiths performed their final show, bringing to an end to the band’s concert career and starting a still-ongoing line of questioning by the British press: “Will The Smiths reunite?”

The show in question, which took place at Brixton Academy, was a benefit performance for the organization Artists Against Apartheid, one which had actually been postponed because of Johnny Marr being in a car accident. This was hardly the only drama going on within the Smiths camp, however, and the cracks in the band’s shell were growing larger all the time, and by July of the following year, they were no more.

Here’s the set list for that final show:

Ask
Bigmouth Strikes Again (with "Panic" drum tease at beginning)
London / Miserable Lie
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
The Boy With the Thorn in His Side
Shoplifters of the World Unite
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
Is It Really So Strange?
Cemetery Gates
This Night Has Opened My Eyes
Still Ill
Panic

Encore:
The Queen Is Dead

Encore 2:
William, It Was Really Nothing
Hand in Glove