Just as I finished wrapping up my Registered Historical Facts, it’s with dread that found out that film star Terence Stamp had passed away at the age of 87. You can read all about it at The Independent.

Although the headlines all mentioned his most popular role as the villain General Zod in the first two Superman films… I came to know him as the cover star of The Smiths’ “What Difference Does It Make?” single.

I leave it to Jo Slee’s book Peepholism to describe the story behind the cover:

What Difference Does it Make?

Cover star: Terence Stamp in an outtake from the film ‘The Collector’ (1965), courtesy of Columbia Pictures. Repressed extremist Freddie Clegg holds a pad soaked in chloroform with which to overpower his prey.

Having acquired reproduction rights from the copyright holders of the film, Rough Trade discovered that Terence Stamp objected to his photograph being used.

Morrissey holding a glass of milk

In order to facilitate replacement of the hastily withdrawn sleeve whilst the record was still in the charts, Morrissey posed for the new cover, equipped instead with a glass of milk.

As it transpired, Morrissey later regretted the switch. Further overtures were made to Terence Stamp, who eventually agreed that the original be reinstated.

First printings of the 12” sleeve front did not bear the group’s name, which was added later.

The Smiths had originally requested that the song ‘Pretty Girls Make Graves’ be the follow-up single to the enormously popular ‘This Charming Man’. Some indignation was voiced by Rough Trade at the title sentiments. Possibly in order to avert a self-fulfilling prophecy, the group concurred with Geoff Travis’ choice of ‘What Difference Does It Make’, which charted immediately at No. 12.