A blast from the past has seen a Maidstone musician get a cutting from the Kent Messenger tattooed on his arm.

During a spring clean, Andy Fraser found a copy of the paper from almost 30 years ago, which reviewed his album and compared it to the first solo release by indie singer-songwriter Morrissey.

Carpet fitter Andy, who now fronts indie punk outfit Unlucky Fried Kitten, has about 15 tattoos all related to his current project.

His latest addition features the pictures of Morrissey and a 25-year-old Andy – as they appeared in the paper – inked on his forearm.

He said: “I have been having quite a lot of tattoos of things to do with my band recently and I was thinking ‘what shall I have next?’”

The 54-year-old said: “When I saw it again it took me back. It was such a proud moment to have my photo appear next to Morrissey in the paper.

“I had no idea that was going to happen.”

Writing in February 1988, KM music critic Eddie Gordon said of Andy’s Wheeling the Old Metal Chair Towards Me: “I think we have our very own Morrissey here in Kent in the shape of Andy Fraser who works under the alias of Death In Venice around the Maidstone area.

“Having just received and listened to his latest tape I must say that his lot doesn’t seem to be a happy one.

“Although 18 examples of Andy’s Death In Venice moods is a bit long to remain totally optimistic about life I do feel that it’s only a matter of time and dedication before he comes up with something that will have record company A & R men banging down his door.”

Andy, of Tonbridge Road, said he had sent his musical offering in without expectation and thanked Shady Adey's tattooist Fox for the skin flick.

“It was mainly bigger albums that were reviewed and it just so happened that Morrissey’s debut album came out in the same week,” he said.