Vivienne Button writes:

The March 3-10 issue of Time Out magazine hit the stands in London today, and on Page 103 they have run a transcript of an email interview conducted with Morrissey regarding Meltdown festival. I have typed out the report in full below:

"Time Out can exclusively reveal that this year's Meltdown Festival - which runs from June 11 to June 27 - will be curated by Morrissey.

  'What I suspected, and what has been confirmed from my conversations with Morrissey, was that here was a person who understands exactly what Meltdown is about and how to make it his own,' says Glenn Max, the South Bank Centre's Producer of Contemporary Culture. 'His commitment to honesty and accurately representing himself and his favourite artists will guide this festival forward this year. The fact that he's an icon possessing a rare and timeless talent is just icing on the Meltdown cake'.

With Morrissey's hotly anticipated first solo album in seven years due in May, it looks like this will be his year. We emailed him at home in LA to get the lowdown on Morrissey's Meltdown.

TO: HOW DID YOU COME TO BE CURATING THIS YEAR'S MELTDOWN?
MORRISSEY: I was very nicely asked. I was second choice to a smallish Japanese woman whose name I can't mention, but she has atrocious taste in eye furniture. Can you guess who I mean? She had a Red Setter called John.

TO: WITH YOUR NEW ALBUM DUE IN MAY (AND A DATE IN MANCHESTER CONFIRMED) CAN WE TAKE IT YOU'LL BE PERFORMING YOURSELF?
MORRISSEY: Only seals 'perform'. So, yes, I'm ready to oik.

TO: AFTER HEARING YOUR 'UNDER THE INFLUENCE' COMPILATION, WE'RE EXPECTING YOUR LINE-UP TO INCLUDE ROCKABILLY, CAJUN, SKA, OPERATIC DISCO AND GLAM CLASSICS - ARE WE ON THE RIGHT LINES?
MORRISSEY: Not remotely. The line-up consists of drag, skiffle, and political debate.

TO: OVER THE YEARS MELTDOWN HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS UNUSUAL MIX OF COMEDY, FILM, READINGS AND POETRY AS WELL AS MUSIC. CAN WE EXPECT THIS FROM YOUR STEWARDSHIP?
MORRISSEY: This year's Meltdown will be the best - very loud, very entertaining and very funny. Princess Anne is not invited.

TO: WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF TATU TURNING UP TO PLAY THEIR COVER OF 'HOW SOON IS NOW?'?
MORRISSEY: It's as likely as Amelia Earhart being discovered working at Boots in Croydon.

Lineup details are as yet unconfirmed. But keep an eye out in these very pages if you want to be the first to know."
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Related items:

• Morrissey to curate Meltdown 2004 (London, June 11-27) - Mar. 2, 2004
• Morrissey to Curate Meltdown 2004...? - Feb. 9, 2004

An anonymous person writes:

Thought you'd like to know London's Royal Festival Hall has just issued the following release:

"The South Bank Centre today announces that MORRISSEY, one of music's most enigmatic and influential figures, is the Artistic Director of the twelfth annual MELTDOWN Festival. The celebrated solo artist and former lead singer of THE SMITHS will curate his own festival of events to be staged at London's South Bank Centre from 11 to 27 June 2004."

more at MORRISSEY appointed Artistic Director of MELTDOWN 2004 - Royal Festival Hall press release, March 2, 2004
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Raskolnikov also writes:

According to the NME, Morrissey is to curate the Meltdown Festival 2004, held at the South Bank Centre in London between June 11th - 17th.

"Meltdown takes place annually and started life as a classical event. Each year a prominent or influential member the music world is approached to curate, and as time has progressed the festival has become more rock orientated."

"Speaking about the event, the singer said: "For me, this is a privilege and I will rise to it. Curating Meltdown is a great opportunity for me to acknowledge some of the music and words that have excited me over the years. Some of you have Ipods, I have Meltdown."

NME - Meltdown Details Revealed
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aly.smith also writes:

Morrissey is to curate this years Meltdown Festival in London's Royal Festival Hall.

Morrissey is to choose which bands will play and I'd expect him to do a date himself.

Scratch Lee Perry and David Bowie have been the curators in previous years.
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nonesoever sends an additional link:

Morrissey Meltdown for South Bank Steve - BBC 6Music
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• Related item: Morrissey to Curate Meltdown 2004...? - Feb. 9, 2004

Saw this post by Klaus on the general board. On the official Morrissey site, a "new Morrissey instant messenger icon"

Mrs. Shankly sends these photos taken by Sasha Eisenman which appear in the recently released Tokion interview.

• photo 1
• photo 2
• photo 3

An anonymous person writes:

In the March edition of fashion mag I-D Manchester novelist Gwendoline Riley mentions she was "just looking at a book of Morrissey pictures" when the interviewer called. The piece is subtitled "Keats and Yeats are on her side."

SeaDocked writes:

A writer for the online version of USA Today posts multiple daily comments called "Hip Clicks" that cover entertainment, fashion and other nonsense. Friday (2/27/04) she mentioned the upcoming Morrissey release and provided a link to Morrissey-solo.com. Nothing major but it's more free public relations for Mozzer and this site! (link)

Excerpt:

Many happy returns: What a nice surprise to open up my Interview magazine this month and see a profile of Blondie. American idol Debbie Harry still looks like heaven; her band has a new disc out next month. Check out this site for more news. ... And you all know how pumped I am for that Pixies reunion. Now the group has an official site at Pixiesmusic.com. ... As if that's not enough, how about that new Morrissey album? Happy 1987. Posted 1:40 p.m.