Boz Boorer, guitarist and musical director of Morrissey’s band, is bringing his own stripped down urban folk outfit, Happy Martyr, to Swindon’s RIffs Bar this week.

The guitarist wrote many of Morrissey’s chart hits including The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get, that reached number eight in 1994, That’s How People Grow Up, that got to number 14 and I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris, that was a hit in 2009.

The guitarist was at the vanguard of the new wave rockabilly sound with his band The Polecats in the 1970s, clocking up hits such as Rockabilly Guy and covers of David Bowie’s John, I’m Only Dancing and T- Rex’s Jeepster.

Boz joined Morrissey in 1991 alongside guitarist Alain Whyte and, between them, they created the synthesised, jangly pop and US rockabilly sound that brought Morrissey back in to the limelight.

Th songwriter has also played with other artists such as Madness, The Pogues, Imelda May, Adam Ant, Kirsty MacColl, Joan Armatrading, Jools Holland and his wife, Lyn’s band, Shillelagh Sisters.

Boz was a studio engineer for the Chrysalis organisation in the 1980s learning technical skills that have enabled him and Lyn to set up their own Serra Vista Studio in Portugal.

The guitarist still plays and writes for Morrissey as well as performing solo.

His new project is Happy Martyr with singer Alex Lusty. Their single, Painkllers, was released last April followed by Sleep Tight in July, as tasters for the debut album which is due out this year on Floating World Records.

The band will be supported by Foo Fighters tribute, Faux Fighters on Saturday January 21 from 7pm at Riffs Bar, Greatfield near Hook. Tickets are £4 . For more details call 01793 778304.