Duncan Sheik Worries About Morrissey 'Berating' Him for Smiths Cover

Earlier this month, Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik released 'Covers 80s' which, as its title suggests, is a collection of cover songs from the 1980s. Mostly focusing on the synth-pop style that is so endemic of that decade, the track list includes selections from Depeche Mode, New Order, the Cure, Tears for Fears, Love & Rockets and the Smiths.

"I was 10 years-old when the '80s began so it really is the music of that decade that informed who I am as a recording artist and a songwriter," Sheik tells Spinner. "Also, the '80s are given short shrift artistically. There was much profoundly great music made, despite the dreck that people often cite as hallmarks of that time."

Going only with tracks that he viewed as either influential, or else that just stood the test of time for him personally, Sheik was particularly careful when it came time to picking a Smith's tune. Originally opting for fan favorite 'How Soon Is Now,' he ultimately went for the deeper cut, 'William, It Was Really Nothing' from 1984's 'Hatful of Hollow.' And he still seems a bit apologetic about it, given that the Smiths were more of a guitar-rock band in contrast to the synth-pop groups he took aim at on the rest of the album.

"Both Howard Jones, and Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs, were very kind when I sent them my versions of their songs," he says. "I'm still waiting for Morrisey to berate me."

Don't hold your breath there, Duncan -- it sounds great.

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