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Marr speaks - interview in the Daily Mail

posted by davidt on Monday August 31 2009, @10:00AM
An anonymous person writes:
An article from the Daily Mail in which Marr speaks about his life and work and The Smiths and a bit about Morrissey and any chance of a Smiths reunion.

Here's Johnny: Marr on Morrissey, guitars and whether the Smiths will ever reform
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  • What a bore! What's this guy ever done? Why didn't they interview Alain Whyte instead? He's made a much bigger impact on musical history than the lightweight Mr Marr.
    Anonymous -- Monday August 31 2009, @10:35AM (#338368)

  • J Marr (Score:0, Insightful)

    Johnny Marr,he has got to be one of the most inventive,original guitarist ever.Got my tickets to him with the Cribs.Can't wait.Top bloke that johnny Marr.
    Anonymous -- Monday August 31 2009, @10:42AM (#338370)

  • J Marr (Score:1, Insightful)

    When he was in the Smiths he was doing everything.That pressure must have been unbearable.A young guy in his very early 20's.You can't blame him for what he did.You'Ve got to think of your health and the family.It's such a shame the Smiths broke up.Very sad but there you go.
    Anonymous -- Monday August 31 2009, @10:52AM (#338372)
    • Re:J Marr by Anonymous (Score:0) Monday August 31 2009, @07:57PM

    • Re:J Marr (Score:2, Interesting)

      If he was "doing everything" how come the only example he ever comes up with is the van story? And how come all the people at Rough Trade talk only of dealing with Morrissey?
      Anonymous -- Tuesday September 01 2009, @02:14AM (#338399)
      • Re:J Marr by Anonymous (Score:0) Tuesday September 01 2009, @06:49AM
      • Re:J Marr by Anonymous (Score:0) Tuesday September 01 2009, @11:16AM
      • Re:J Marr by Anonymous (Score:0) Tuesday September 01 2009, @07:09PM
  • wow johnny and moz like franz ferdinand awesome
    Anonymous -- Monday August 31 2009, @11:12AM (#338374)
  • Should either be:

    a) A return to the pop melodies of the "Viva Hate"/"Bona Drag" era;
    b) A return to the contemplative introspection of Vauxhall;
    c) An album with Vini Reilly as co-writer;
    d) An album where A Whyte co-writes all the songs;
    e) An album based on piano and acoustic guitar, a la Dear God, Change Plea To Guilty, Find Out For Yourself etc

    The loud American rock phase has become dull and unispired - there are more good/very good songs on "Refusal" than on any of the other comeback albums (namely, "Mama", "Carol", "Farewell", "Birthday", "Good In Your Time", "Paris"), but it's still bought down by the too-loud, unsubtle production and the squalling guitar of tracks like "Ok" and "Sorry". Also, it doesn't hang well together as an album. Let's have a tender masterpiece of the kind we all know he can make.
    Anonymous -- Monday August 31 2009, @11:49AM (#338375)
  • Take note Moz...
    Anonymous -- Monday August 31 2009, @01:04PM (#338377)
  • your so cool! Play with the PSB on this tour!!!
    Kill Uncle Fan -- Monday August 31 2009, @02:31PM (#338379)
    (User #465 Info)
  • I will never be able to hear "True" on bland listen-while-you-work radio the same way EVER again! You're absolutely right about them, and every OTHER 80's band.

    -Shoplifterromo
    Anonymous -- Monday August 31 2009, @02:39PM (#338380)
  • There is nothing worse than a once great band or artist endlessly fumbling on and on. 5 years was perfection - in and out with full reputation intact. The Smiths were a product of the 80's - young men laying down their marker. Amen.
    mick ransommich -- Monday August 31 2009, @04:16PM (#338384)
    (User #8642 Info)
    'Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less travelled by. And that has made all the difference'.
  • Yea
    Anonymous -- Monday August 31 2009, @05:11PM (#338385)

  • interesting (Score:2, Insightful)

    There are a few interesting things in this interview but the part that made me laugh was "If we hadn't made it, we'd have been the biggest hasn't-beens in Manchester." Imagine those two hanging around the guitar shops talking about what might have been but never was! It's a bit frightening though because you have to wonder if there were Smiths nowadays would they have a chance at all, would anyone sign them to a label or put them on teevee. They might get to make one album but if they didn't sell it the right way (by getting an extremely aggressive publicist, not firing the extremely aggressive publicist, getting in the gossip columns, etc.) they might not get the chance to make a second.
    hureharehure -- Monday August 31 2009, @07:50PM (#338389)
    (User #20577 Info)
  • Who the heck are the Smiths? j/k but jeez already! Well that's how I feel about a get together. BTW- where would they put Bozz?
    bbgfe1 -- Monday August 31 2009, @10:35PM (#338395)
    (User #20028 Info)
  • He was always a bit scornful of Moz's solo work wasn't he - that always struck me as jealousy on his part.

    To be honest he has always been a very minor character in the world of music since The Smiths broke up. Nothing he's done since matches up to those days. He probably is a nice bloke to be fair just boring and that's something his old songwriting partner definitely isn't!
    Anonymous -- Tuesday September 01 2009, @07:54AM (#338407)
  • Marr not interested in reforming the Smiths because he doesn't have the time. He hasn't played Smiths songs in quite some time: "(Marr) plucks the guitar, a six-string Martin D-35 acoustic, from the studio rack and prepares to play. However, many years have passed since he last performed Cemetry Gates, and the chord sequence is proving elusive. Finally remembering how it goes, Marr launches into a beautiful, note-perfect rendition of the song."

    Morrissey doesn't want to reform the Smiths because he doesn't want to look back, yet he continually plays Smiths songs.

    Marr doesn't seem to bring up the other two Smiths or any feelings one way or the other toward them. Morrissey's "hatred" for them seems to show up all the time.

    Both Morrissey and Marr claim to have been, along with making the music, running all the other details of the band (management, etc) but neither say the other was also doing the same.

    Marr discusses his guitars and the songs he made with them. Curiously all the guitars mentioned have a history to the Smiths. He does point out Electronica and the Pet Shop Boys but doesn't say anything like, "I used this guitar' to create that great sound on the Modest Mouse song '----'". Perhaps the article didn't have the space, or the author was concentrating on the Smiths era only.

    someraincoatedlovers -- Tuesday September 01 2009, @09:14AM (#338408)
    (User #10290 Info)
    • Marr has been unequivocal about his feelings for Mike Joyce whenever he has been asked. He doesn't like him, thinks he's a liar and wants nothing to do with him. Just because journalists don't make as much of it doesn't mean his feelings about Mike Joyce are warmer than Morrrissey's. Quite plainly they are not.
      Anonymous -- Tuesday September 01 2009, @11:25AM (#338417)
  • With the both Moz & Marr currently living in LA, you'd think one would pop over for a cuppa or summat. That divide must still be a mile wide. It's interesting to note that Marr, with the vegan/no partying/LA-living lifestyle, is becoming very Moz-like. As they grow apart, Marr becomes more like Moz. Ponder that for a while.

    Can anybody tell me what song Marr's written in the last 10 years that's anywhere as good as the Smiths or even as good as anything on Years of Refusal? Moz and Boz/Alain don't get enough credit for still putting out great music while the other 3 have been relegated to roles as session producer/musos and DJs. Guess who has the last laugh?

    manicboy -- Tuesday September 01 2009, @09:53AM (#338409)
    (User #8365 Info)

  • Building Blocks (Score:2, Insightful)

    Instead of constantly harping on about a Smiths reunion etc, I wish journos would just concentrate on asking Moz or JM about a musical writing collaboration for the present day. First steps first.I would only want to see M/M concentrate on writing and creating new material and only then perform their new output under the name Morrissey/Marr. The Smiths thing can come much later as far as I'm concerned.
    Anonymous -- Wednesday September 02 2009, @07:01AM (#338432)

    • Re:Building Blocks (Score:2, Insightful)

      Agreed, but no Smiths reunion? It could never be as good, it would be tarnished and what for?

      Morrissey and Marr could be pretty great together, it would be a worthwhile and interesting risk, but leave The Smiths out of it. If the record was great a tour would follow and then they could throw in a few of the classics.

      If they don't do it soon though, it really will be too late. If they do it great, if they don't that is fine too, I don't think it is an essential requirement, but not reforming The Smiths definitely is.

      What we don't want is another average Morrissey album like the last two. It is time for a change but I don't know exactly what Morrissey needs to change to.
      Jacknife Johnny -- Wednesday September 02 2009, @10:08AM (#338440)
      (User #12307 Info)
    • Re:Building Blocks by fuckfase (Score:1) Friday September 04 2009, @03:18PM
  • "He [Morrissey] would talk about the Smiths as his revenge on the world." Brilliant. Reminds me why I love/d Mozzy.
    Anonymous -- Wednesday September 02 2009, @08:59AM (#338436)
  • No Smiths talk .......
      = NO Marr in news
    MorrisseyMorrisseyMorrissey
    markmustb1 -- Wednesday September 02 2009, @09:26AM (#338438)
    (User #13161 Info)
    cos no one ever turns to me to say ...

  • Yuk ... (Score:1, Insightful)

    All these dreadfull people on this forum, who think that by slagging of Johnny Marr, Morrissey will take notice and be their own little friend ... Love the story, love the guitars. Johnny's great! Without him, this forum simply wouldn't exist.
    Anonymous -- Thursday September 03 2009, @09:35AM (#338457)
  • Morrissey and Marr should put their differences aside and reunite under a completely new project, similar to what Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler did a few years back.
    Anonymous -- Thursday September 03 2009, @12:21PM (#338459)
    • Re:Reunite by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday September 04 2009, @08:23AM
      • Re:Reunite by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday September 04 2009, @10:26AM
  • Just read interview,top bloke,top guitarist and loved the comment about Spandau. So true. Love all of Moz solo work though. And Morrissey is a legend and is quite frankly doing very well on his own. I think Years of Refusual and all other solo stuff is fabulous! Heck The Smiths were great and would love them to get back together though! What a great Shindig that would be hey guys and gals!! xxxxx
    fatty1 -- Thursday September 03 2009, @07:18PM (#338462)
    (User #22832 Info)
  • yeah they were sold at every gig past tour,so
    don't waste time spamming stuff that's official sold by goodies stand [Charlie, or is already
    a millionaire too, and he sold his official
    Morrissey goodies certificate]
    Celibate Cry <[email protected]> -- Thursday September 03 2009, @07:04AM (#338455)
    (User #220 Info)
    and the hills are alive with celibate cries
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