Avril Angers, "forces sweetheart who endured as a versatile stage actress", and cover star of The Smiths' "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish", has died, aged 87.

The shot on the cover of "I Started Something..." is taken from the film The Family Way (also starring Hayley Mills and Hywel Bennett). Morrissey was once (mis)quoted as naming "Avril Angus" as his favourite actress (although this tended to change from interview to interview anyway, didn't it?).

Avril Angers - Times Online Obituaries

In this weeks City Life Johnny Marr is on the cover - photographed by the legendary Mick Rock - who has an exhibition on at Urbis in manchester (Get ' two for one' admission by presenting City life before the end of November). There's a small back slapping interview with a number of Smiths references-

MR - Those people(stones/Bowie) were pop art to me because they were so fabulous to look at. But you knew that when you and Morrissey were in the Smiths didn't you?

JM- oh yeah, it was really important how we looked. but i've always been drawn to music that worked on one level whether in style or just being slightly knowing. Contrivance is very unattractive but 'Knowing' can be great. Things have been a little organic and earnest in recent years but i think things are swinging back our way.

he then talks about the Healers but later in the interview:

Jm- Do you think that the pioneers like iggy and ziggy were more intense (than the killers, white stripes & yeah, yeah ,Yeahs)?

MR- i think bands now are more business like, more concerned with the mechanics of promotion. You know without David Bowie there's no way that Lou and iggy would have cottoned on to their image so well. David pioneered that stuff with ziggy stardust. But the smiths really added another layer of sophistication to image. After all not many bands escaped the '80s intact.

JM- the 80's were a weird time though. you have a snap shot of a decade like the 60's in your head and you think of a girl in a mini skirt walking down carnaby street or something. with the 80's you there's only bad images like Duran Duran on their yacht. but there was a lot of great stuff in the 80's like The gun club and Birthday party. and there was a whole inderground pop layer with bands like New Order. You know it's not ofetn i say the 80's were great because it still just doesn't feel quite right in my head to do so.

MR- How do you think the Smiths weathered it then?

JM- its Quite simple...... we spilt up before we got crap. After all when it comes down to it you have to fall back on your body of work.

The 3rd in a four part series telling the story of British pop music and our changing attitudes to sex, gender and sexuality.

I may have missed some Morrissey/Smiths references, as I came across this while channel hopping. Getting straight to what I expect you want to hear and mostly avoiding non Morrissey/Smiths references:

From the Holy Moly mailout

"Morrissey fan sites are rubbishing these claims, but my money is on 'something' happening for Manchester vs Cancer, a charity concert at the MEN arena in Jan 2006. Maybe."

The third issue of "No One Can Hold A Candle To You" is complete and will be available for purchase on Nov. 15th! The price is 2.00 USD and 2 pounds UK. To get your hands on a copy, please email me at [email protected].

Thank you to everyone who participated in this latest issue, your copies are free and will be on their way to your mailboxes soon!

scan of cover

CC JEROME AND GLAM-O-RAMA RECORDS PRESENTS...
FIRST ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY &
CC JEROME'S RECORD RELEASE PARTY!

Saturday, December 10, 2005

BEST NEO-ROCKABILLY BAND OF ALL TIME, FROM THE UK
Exclusive California Performance

CC JEROME COMBO
L.A.'s favorite wild guitarman and his brand new album debut!

BOZ BOORER of Polecats and Morrissey fame!

THE MOONLIGHT CRUISERS
An L.A. favorite with their Cumbia-billysound

also appearing...
* DEREK DUPREE *
Kickass Teddy Boy Rock N' Roll

* CHUY AND THE BOBCATS *
California's newest Rockabilly Sensation

*BORDER HOPPIN' BOYS*
Traditional Rockabilly Youngsters!

*LYNDA KAY*
Hillbilly Americana Sweetheart

more musical acts to be announced!

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