Cover art for Panic by The Smiths

Panic

The Smiths
Track 71 on Complete 

Producer

John Porter
This song was written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr and is the first song to be recorded with the new member at the time, Craig Gannon. The song is influenced by the T.Rex… Read More 
Jul. 21, 19861 viewer159.2K views

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About

Genius Annotation

This song was written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr and is the first song to be recorded with the new member at the time, Craig Gannon. The song is influenced by the T.Rex song “Metal Guru” musically, with Marr using similar guitar chords.

The repetition of “Hang the DJ” and the lyric, “Burn down the disco” intrigued listeners, making this song extremely popular. However, although the song has received negative reviews from critics, one of them, Nick Kent, calls the song a commission for “rock terrorism”.

NME placed “Panic” at number 21 in its list of the 50 Greatest Indie Anthems Ever in 2007.

Some believe this song is the inspiration for the name of the pop-rock band Panic! At the Disco, however, this is not true.

“Panic” also served as inspiration for a 2017 episode of Black Mirror, which drew its title from the chorus of the song – “Hang the DJ.”

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did The Smiths say about "Panic"?
Genius Answer

Panic came about at the time of Chernobyl. Morrissey and myself were listening to a radio report about it. The stories of this shocking disaster comes to an end and then immediately we’re off into Wham’s I’m Your Man. I remember actually saying, “What the fuck has this got to do with people’s lives?” And so, “Hang the blessed DJ”. I think it was a great lyric, important and applicable to anyone who lives in England.

Who produced “Panic” by The Smiths?
When did The Smiths release “Panic”?
Who wrote “Panic” by The Smiths?
Complete (2011)
  1. 1.
    Reel Around the Fountain
  2. 2.
    You’ve Got Everything Now
  3. 3.
    Miserable Lie
  4. 4.
    Pretty Girls Make Graves
  5. 5.
    The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
  6. 6.
    This Charming Man
  7. 7.
    Still Ill
  8. 8.
    Hand in Glove
  9. 9.
    What Difference Does It Make?
  10. 10.
    I Don’t Owe You Anything
  11. 11.
    Suffer Little Children
  12. 12.
    The Headmaster Ritual
  13. 13.
    Rusholme Ruffians
  14. 14.
    I Want the One I Can’t Have
  15. 15.
    What She Said
  16. 16.
    That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore
  17. 17.
    Nowhere Fast
  18. 18.
    Well I Wonder
  19. 19.
    Barbarism Begins at Home
  20. 20.
    Meat Is Murder
  21. 21.
    The Queen is Dead
  22. 22.
    Frankly, Mr. Shankly
  23. 23.
    I Know It’s Over
  24. 24.
    Never Had No One Ever
  25. 25.
    Cemetry Gates
  26. 26.
    Bigmouth Strikes Again
  27. 27.
    The Boy with the Thorn in His Side
  28. 28.
    Vicar in a Tutu
  29. 29.
    There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
  30. 30.
    Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
  31. 31.
    A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours
  32. 32.
    I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish
  33. 33.
    Death of a Disco Dancer
  34. 34.
    Girlfriend in a Coma
  35. 35.
    Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before
  36. 36.
    Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
  37. 37.
    Unhappy Birthday
  38. 38.
    Paint a Vulgar Picture
  39. 39.
    Death at One’s Elbow
  40. 40.
    I Won’t Share You
  41. 41.
    The Queen Is Dead (Live in London, 1986)
  42. 42.
    Panic (Live in London, 1986)
  43. 43.
    Vicar in a Tutu (Live in London, 1986)
  44. 44.
    Ask (Live in London, 1986)
  45. 45.
    His Latest Flame / Rusholme Ruffians (Live in London, 1986) [Medley]
  46. 46.
    The Boy with the Thorn in His Side (Live in London, 1986)
  47. 47.
    Rubber Ring / What She Said (Live in London, 1986) [Medley]
  48. 48.
    Is It Really So Strange? (Live in London, 1986)
  49. 49.
    Cemetry Gates (Live in London, 1986)
  50. 50.
    London (Live in London, 1986)
  51. 51.
    I Know It’s Over (Live in London, 1986)
  52. 52.
    The Draize Train (Live in London, 1986)
  53. 53.
    Still Ill (Live in London, 1986)
  54. 54.
    Bigmouth Strikes Again (Live in London, 1986)
  55. 55.
    William, It Was Really Nothing
  56. 56.
    What Difference Does It Make? (John Peel Session 18/05/83)
  57. 57.
    These Things Take Time (David Jensen Session 26/06/83)
  58. 58.
    This Charming Man (John Peel Session 14/09/83)
  59. 59.
    How Soon Is Now?
  60. 60.
    Handsome Devil (John Peel Session 18/05/83)
  61. 61.
    Hand in Glove (Single A-Side Mix)
  62. 62.
    Still Ill (John Peel Session 14/09/83)
  63. 63.
    Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now
  64. 64.
    This Night Has Opened My Eyes
  65. 65.
    You’ve Got Everything Now (David Jensen Session 26/06/83)
  66. 66.
    Accept Yourself (David Jensen Session 25/08/83)
  67. 67.
    Girl Afraid
  68. 68.
    Back to the Old House (John Peel Session 9/14/83)
  69. 69.
    Reel Around The Fountain (John Peel Session 18/05/83)
  70. 70.
    Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
  71. 71.
    Panic
  72. 72.
    Ask
  73. 73.
    London
  74. 75.
    Shakespeare’s Sister
  75. 77.
    Shoplifters Of The World Unite
  76. 79.
    Money Changes Everything
  77. 80.
    Asleep
  78. 81.
    Unloveable
  79. 82.
    Half a Person
  80. 83.
    Stretch out and Wait (Alternate Vocal Version)
  81. 85.
    Oscillate Wildly
  82. 86.
    You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby
  83. 87.
    Rubber Ring
  84. 88.
    Golden Lights
  85. 89.
    Is It Really So Strange?
  86. 90.
    Sheila Take a Bow
  87. 92.
    Sweet and Tender Hooligan
  88. 104.
    These Things Take Time
  89. 106.
    Back to the Old House
  90. 108.
    Stretch out and Wait
  91. 114.
    Handsome Devil (Live in Manchester)
  92. 115.
    Reel Around The Fountain (Troy Tate Version)
  93. 116.
    Jeane
  94. 125.
    How Soon Is Now? (Single Edit)
  95. 129.
    Barbarism Begins at Home (Single Edit)
  96. 134.
    Meat Is Murder (Live in Oxford)
  97. 148.
    Work Is a Four-Letter Word
  98. 150.
    Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Version)
  99. 152.
    Rusholme Ruffians (Peel session, August 1984)
  100. 154.
    I Keep Mine Hidden
  101. 158.
    The Draize Train
Credits
Producer
Writers
Additional Rhythm Guitar
Vocals
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Recorded At
Livingston Studios (London)
Released on
July 21, 1986
Songs That Interpolate Panic
Panic Covers
Panic Live Performances
Tags
RockIn EnglishEnglandIndie RockGlam RockAlternative RockAlternativeIndependentIndie PopBritish RockUK
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