Released on February 11, 1985, “Meat Is Murder” is the second studio album by The Smiths. The memorable album cover uses a 1967 photograph of Marine Cpl. Michael Wynn in the Vietnam War with MEAT IS MUDER written on his helmet.
The original image of the soldier was also used for Emile de Antonio’s 1968 documentary “In the Year of the Pig” about American involvement in the Vietnam War.
If you are paying attention you can see that The Smiths made a slight adjustment to the original photo. The original photo of Cpl. Wynn’s helmet actually says MAKE WAR NOT LOVE!!!
The original caption of the photo was follows:
Da Nang, South Vietnam: Marine Cpl. Michael Wynn, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, seems to be trying to get a message across with a takeoff of the hippie slogan “make war not love” written on his helmet here. Wynn is taking a breather during Operation Ballistic Charge on September 21, 1967
I’m sure the change was made by Morrissey and Johnny Marr who have been avid vegans for decades. Here’s a great photo of Morrissey with his infamous “I Don’t Eat My Friends” t-shirt standing in front of a Meat is Murder poster.
The brits seemed a bit obsessed with the United States Military. Click link or photo below to read all the details of John Lennon’s Army jacket given to him by a US Soldier.
