Recent content by Mike Rourke

Many think likewise! I expect he's pretty gutted at Marr's success. It's odd to see Marr getting indier and indier as time goes on. Suede were never much more than a third-rate cartoon indie band, and Marr's even supporting them this summer. Hopefully, it will encourage Morrissey to get back...

Wonder if this activity was initiated by M's new manager, to remind the world of his animal rights credentials, and therefore lessen the focus on his political blunderings? If so, crafty!

Interesting thoughts but I think there is a partial way back. He really needs to have it on record that he regrets promoting a right-wing political party which he did so unambiguously by pleading for their support on his website, and then a year later wearing their emblem in front of millions...

Alas, not any more. Even Shed Seven managed it recently. As long as the likes of Swift, Sheeran and Adkins don't have a new album out, you can easily hit #1 with fewer than 10,000 sales. Selling nearly 20,000 in week 1 (as James did) is pretty impressive though, these days.

Julie in the weeds I know very well Back to the old house Lost I won't share you Well I wonder Reel around the fountain Knockabout world Please please please You just haven't earned it yet Will never marry The boy with the thorn Maudlin street Sing your life I know it's over The never played...

It's the loss of radio support that's stifling album sales, not any perceived change in the quality of the music. You'll struggle to find a single person who thinks Low in High School is better than Dog on a Chain, yet it sold tens of thousands more as its lead single (Spent the Day in Bed) was...

With you on this one, B Boy. Veronica is odd but it does at least have some pleasing guitar lines and enjoyable singing melodies. The awfulness of Dagenham Dave can never be exaggerated. It's just horrible - words, music, arrangement, every single element. Yuck.

Alain's composed more Morrissey-sung songs than anyone else including J Marr, and it's likely to stay that way. I think Alain's written about 80 and Marr about 65. Although Alain's written some great stuff, I'd say it only includes about 15 genuinely brilliant (or top tier) songs whereas Marr...

Good news I guess but the main problem remains. He's expecting a deal that an artist whose albums sell 50,000-100,000 would be offered (as was the case for him for virtually his entire post Smiths output). If there remains practically zero support from radio for his new songs (as has been the...

Can anyone confirm the following rumour about why he keeps wearing flares? He's seen Shaun Ryder's recent state of ill-health and reckons the Happy Mondays might soon be looking for a new lead singer, and has therefore adjusted his dress sense accordingly?

Interesting to hear Alain sent him tons of stuff. Looks like just four of the songs made it on to Without Music... Do you know if they recorded any more of his? Thanks.

Marking the anniversary of a release of a live album is just bonkers. But if it's the catalyst that gets some new 2024 touring (and other) activity off the ground, fair enough.

Love the lyric, 'the news contrives to frighten you'. It's beautifully expressed and so true. It's not a favourite Morrissey song of mine but I was pleased to hear it do so well at the time. It's also nice to hear a relatively modern Morrissey song being covered, and not just another version of...

Not a favourite of mine but one of his most successful ever from an airplay point of view. Only First of the Gang got as much airplay. It provided impressive first week sales for Low in High School (despite awful reviews) and powered the ticket sales for his biggest ever UK solo tour in early...

Yep, that was the start of it all. The start of the bleakest 18 month period in Morrissey's several decades of fame. The only positive is that it did at least end in spring 2019 - there's been nothing to add to it all since. It's almost as if Morrissey was set a task in the summer of 2017 to...