The Last of the Famous International Playboys

Album: Bona Drag (1989)
Charted: 6
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Songfacts®:

  • The song is, in it's base form, a hero-worship of the Kray Twins, who were infamous London gangsters that have since died. The song's protagonist claims that he "Did not mean to kill, I am not naturally evil," possibly being a reference to copycat killers. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Adam - Manchester, England

Comments: 3

  • Steve from Chino HillsI believe this song is also satire about the lack of personal space fans give celebrities. Reggie and Ronnie Kray were famous gangsters in England in the 1960s. It's absurd to think that someone would be so devoted to the Kray Brothers that they would kill people just to follow them to prison just to try to get a chance to try to impress them. But after showing the list of who he killed to the Krays the subject confesses that killing and death really isn't in his nature. He just did it to be famous and to make himself look attractive (interesting) to the Krays. Morrissey is a quiet, private man and invasions of his privacy from adoring fans must weigh on him.
  • Dan from Norwalk, CaThe Krays (1990), written by the Bethnal Green born artist and dramatist Philip Ridley, starred brothers Gary and Martin Kemp of the band Spandau Ballet as the Krays.
  • Simon from Manchester, EnglandHe also mentions the international playboys, he refers to himself as such and he has also stated the few international playboys that left their status' behind, one of them includes David Bowie AKA Ziggy Stardust.
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