Corey Wittig's credentials as a Morrissey fan are officially beyond dispute. He not only saw The Moz at Carnegie Music Hall two months ago from the first row, he got kicked out for his exuberance.

"I was in the front row and managed to struggle my way on stage during the encore and shake his hand," Wittig says. "I was forcibly removed from the show and I felt kind of foolish, but I figured it was my only shot."

Wittig, a singer and club DJ, has now organized Unhappy Birthday: Morrissey 50th B-Day Tribute and Dance Party Friday night at the Brillobox to celebrate the singer's 50th birthday and raise money for Animal Friends. The show will feature Morrissey and Smiths songs by The Takeover UK, Life in Bed, The Wilsons, Meeka in Jail, The Wittig Tutu, Vipers Soul Club DJ Gordy (playing Morrissey influences) and Cunningham & DJ Corey-Hotline.

"I've been a huge Morrissey fan since I was 13 or so -- it only seemed natural," Wittig says of his planning for the event. "I don't listen to him as much as I once did, but I guess I'm a lifer; I'm always going to check out the new record. Getting into the Smiths led me to most of the other music I love ('60s girl group stuff, Bowie, T.Rex, early Kinks) so he'll always have a place very dear to me. Also, there's such a great history of these sorts of cabaret cover nights in Pittsburgh, and I wanted to sort of throw my hat into the ring and hopefully raise some money for a great organization."

Wittig put out the call on a local music messageboard and drew interest from a handful of Morrissey-loving bands.

"I made it clear that any Smiths or Morrissey tracks were fair game, but, surprisingly, lots of people gravitated toward solo Morrissey stuff, which I was pleasantly surprised by. But do not worry -- there will be plenty of Smiths favorites."

The Takeover UK, just back from a national tour, jumped on the show, says singer-guitarist Mark Solomich, partly because the members are all Smiths fans and partly because "it just gives us a chance to let our hair down and have fun learning and playing our own take on some wonderful songs. After playing the same songs pretty much every night it's a great way to shake things up and really just have fun."

Among the songs The Takeover is considering are "Panic," "Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" and "Ask." "We're gonna throw some three-part harmonies on some of the songs just because Morrissey rarely has many harmonies, and I kind of always wondered what a lot of the songs would sound like with them," Solomich says. "Either way, it will definitely be a fun show to play and attend."

The obvious challenge of a Morrissey tribute show is, well, do you try to sing like Morrissey? -- because only Morrissey can do that.

"I think the main thing is to not imitate him because it's going to sound ridiculous," Wittig says. "I put together a group with close friends just for the night (The Wilsons) and my main concern is not sounding like an idiot."