Main
Smiths Convention review in L.A. Weekly
Posted on Tue, May 9 2000 at 9:08 a.m. PDT
by David T. <[email protected]>
First with the link to the L.A. Weekly (May 5 - 11) review is Mel:

Mope Springs Eternal

To fully appreciate THE SMITHS (pictured) convention at THE PALACE, you needed to brush up on your Smithsology, including what German car the band used in the early days (white Mercedes-Benz), and which year MORRISSEY appeared on a British game show (1984, with GEORGE MICHAEL). Plus memorize the discography from A to Z. And most importantly, sport your tallest pompadour, cuffed jeans with wallet chain, and plucked eyebrows (men) or tired-looking Bettie Page ’do with painstakingly vintage ’40s frock and cat-eye glasses (women). Rare concert footage and pictures of the Manchester foursome, including the real man of the hour, guitarist JOHNNY MARR, loomed large over the crowd, 99 percent of whom were still teething when the Smiths formed in 1982. It sure didn’t take playing “Meat Is Murder” to prompt a mad dash to pick up the PETA pamphlets on converting to vegetarianism — out of respect for the Great Vegan himself, no doubt. After the look-alike contest and trivia rounds, JOSE MALDONADO, the singer for the tribute band SWEET & TENDER HOOLIGAN, pulled off a very credible and eerie finger-waving, microphone-cord-swinging and gladiola-throwing Moz. The other man of the hour was the gracious-as-always host RICHARD BLADE, who’s leaving his longtime KROQ DJ gig this week to teach scuba in the Caribbean. Some of the loudest cheers of the night, however, went to the guy who jumped onstage waving his flag of Mexico. ¡Viva Shoplifters del Mundo!

—Siran Babayan

* item archived - comments / notes can no longer be added.

Comments / Notes



mexican flag???? awww man.....and all these years i thought morrissey was English. plucked eyebrowes..i guess thats what happends when those silly rebels get into there hoochie girl friends purses... i just have one more thing to say.....SLAYER!!!!!!!

XslayerX
sandy gringo - Tue, May 09, 2000 at 12:45:09 (PDT) | #1




man what do you mean "mexican flag you say it like you hate mexicans well guess what i was the guy that whent up on stage with my big beutifull flag i love my mexico so there and i do think it looks like a rebel farm at the convention but oh well what are you going 2 do about it kick their ass you guys are to scared...lol

mozalbert <[email protected]>
- Tue, May 09, 2000 at 15:00:57 (PDT) | #2




Where's the love, Slayer fans????

Jeff <[email protected]>
- Tue, May 09, 2000 at 15:02:43 (PDT) | #3




lol i just barely finished reading the post of the convention i didnt know i was that famous but yes it was me the guy that whent up on stage with my flag proud of it 2 any of you guys/girls see me well leave me a letter saying hello and ill get back. lol man im still tripping out in how the people did really see me koo keep the morrissey spirit alive!!

mozalbert <[email protected]>
- Tue, May 09, 2000 at 15:04:50 (PDT) | #4




to bad your dumbass went up there and hung the flag upside down. and i have nothing against mexicans being that i am mexcan. but what does the mexican flag have to do with morrissey...he is from england. i myself am proud to be mexican but its a morrissey convention. there is a time and place for everthing.

XslayerX
sandy gringo - Tue, May 09, 2000 at 15:48:34 (PDT) | #5




PLUCKED OUT EYEBROWS?........WHAT THE F-U-C-K!!
Who let those CHEESY, LOW-BUDGET REBELS.....GREASERS....(WHATEVER THEY CALL THEMSELVES) IN THERE!!!???

Girl Afraid
MOZ Angeles - Tue, May 09, 2000 at 17:14:03 (PDT) | #6




Hang the rebels, Hang the Rebels, Hang the Rebels,
Hang the rebels, Hang the Rebels, Hang the Rebels,

Javier <[email protected]>
Moz Angeles - Tue, May 09, 2000 at 19:00:08 (PDT) | #7




slayer oh well why dont you just stop hating on me and just go on and live your lame ass life ass you were.and you guys talk all the @#!!! about rebels but hey why dont you guys tell them in their face?cause you know you guys will get beat down.the reason i took my flag well just cause i whanted 2 so f*** you

albert <[email protected]>
- Tue, May 09, 2000 at 19:08:52 (PDT) | #8




are you people dumb? what was the point of the flag waving? YEAH, MORRISSEY RULES! SO I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING EXTREMELY POINTLESS!! AND IF YOU DISAGREE WITH MY ACTIONS, I'LL CALL YOU RACIST!

i don't go to ricky martin concerts and start chanting "U.S.A." why? i'm patriotic, no doubt, but WRONG THING TO DO UNDER THE GIVEN ENVIRONMENT. well, not wrong, but STUPID, for sure..

embrace the pointlessness, and admit it was wrong. don't be stubborn..

XsLaCk3rX
- Tue, May 09, 2000 at 20:56:58 (PDT) | #9




i would just like to add one thing..

when you take a beautiful song like "Shoplifters of the World Unite" and spani@#!!!ize it, it loses its flair.

have you ever heard La Cucarach in english?

The cockroach
The cockroach
I don't want change.

sounds stupid. so does waving a mexican flag at a morrissey convention.

well, the guy IS mexican, he was probably drunk
just kidding. =)

XsLaCk3rX
- Tue, May 09, 2000 at 21:04:48 (PDT) | #10




O.K. So we´re proud Moz came down here and sold out el Auditorio Nacional with no promotion, radio or interviews whatsoever. And, yeah, we´re proud that maybe nowadays Moz has more mexican fans than from anywhere else. But come on, there is no point in taking the ol´eagle biting the snake to his shows. I know, it is my flag too and I´m quite proud of it but I think it would be more suitable to see it in a Selección Mexicana football match (anywhere in the world) or in a Jaguares (or whatever mexican artist you like) show. Best wishes to you all.

Proud Mexican In A Cama <[email protected]>
El Culo Del Mundo - Tue, May 09, 2000 at 22:06:15 (PDT) | #11




You guys rag on this guy Albert, but ironicly Morrissey was typically doing the same thing when he went on stage with a Mexican flag belt buckle and refered to saying some lines in SPANISH. I wouldn't have done it myself but to say that the convention was no place to do it. Well, how about saying that to Morrissey by giving him the same response your giving this guy Albert at his concerts. When the opposite happen, it seem at Morrissey's concerts that every time he mentioned something relating to Spanish or Mexican culture everyone cheered. Obviously guys, everyones entitled to do whatever the hell they pleased...especially when a man like MOrrissey is basically doing the same thing this Albert guy is doing.

SO please quite with your "Oh god, stop this Mexican thing" rant. It gets quite old, quickly.

Moz cowboy <[email protected]>
I dream when i tend to be lonely - Wed, May 10, 2000 at 00:22:09 (PDT) | #12




exactly like that mozcowboy said morrissey does it why not me cause he is "morrissey" thats why only he can do it atleast their is 1 smart person here (mozcowboy) thanks alot for understanding,and no i didnt do it cause of all the stuff morrissey said about wishing he was mexican ok i dont whant 2 star another mess about that i just did it for my own pleasure and so what if i took it... it was my buisnees anyways so you didnt get hurt by anyway did you???

mozalbert <[email protected]>
- Wed, May 10, 2000 at 09:59:37 (PDT) | #13




Please tell me there were no PETA pamphlets there!!!!! I do hope that was simply a sarcastic remark. I do not think people should become vegetarians solely because "Morrissey is".

I think it is sad that people feel they have to look like Morrissey, style their hair the way he does, eat the way he does to be a "real fan".

Don't loose your own identity!

Naomi
- Wed, May 10, 2000 at 11:57:51 (PDT) | #14




Well, in response to all that belt-buckle, cheering, spanish lines rant:

it's good to see Morrissey likes to get cultured. I'm sure he's going to get a lot of cheers down in So. Cal when he mentions anything mexican. the whole So Cal population (practically ;P) is mexican.

but let him decide when it's appropriate and when it's not. the guy obviously knows what he's doing, so don't "butt into his show", for lack of a better term. i know you're there to have fun.. but if he really thinks that waving a mexican flag at his show is best for producing the maximum experience of the whole concert, he'll do it. don't decide for him. he's a genius. you're not. neither am i. so LET HIM DECIDE... it was the wrong time. plain + simple.

XsLaCk3rX
- Wed, May 10, 2000 at 12:36:17 (PDT) | #15




I lOVE YOU ALBERT

mozgerl <[email protected]>
mozangeles - Wed, May 10, 2000 at 15:55:21 (PDT) | #16




#15 comment is hard to make sense out of...are you speaking directly or narratively, or are you just thinking out loud. That post made no sense, e-mail if you feel to explain your self.

Moz cowboy <[email protected]>
I dream when i tend to be lonely - Wed, May 10, 2000 at 16:02:48 (PDT) | #17




It seems to be that everytime there is always a posty concerning some Los Angeles Morrissey event, whether its about a concert venue or convention, there has to be remarks like.... "damn Mexicans...rebels...greasers... hoochies blah blah blah!" a word to the wise, GET OVER IT!!!! argh!, honestly, why is every one so concerned about actions taken by the different type of people who attend such events? I for one support anyone who has great passion for morrissey, regardless how they look, act and what they stand for.

>Just one more thing, I liked the convention. I mean, shees, there was loud speakers playing non-stop Morrissey and Smiths music, something rarely played in clubs and KROQ.

~Love, peace and Harmony~

ILVMOZ <[email protected]>
East Los Angeles - Wed, May 10, 2000 at 16:08:23 (PDT) | #18




Stay cool Albert dont let these negative remarks drag you down............

Adrian...HandSome DeviL79 <[email protected]>
Cali.....Orange County..Santa Ana - Wed, May 10, 2000 at 16:39:30 (PDT) | #19




Hey man! It just took Morrissey a few centuries to embrace a new culture, so it may take certain fans even longer. What the f-u-c-k is wrong with different cultures? If you like Morrissey and can understand the lyrics, then try to use your head a bit more......race, age, sex, sexual preference make f-u-c-k all difference.

I'm stating the obvious......

Johnny Marr's guitar
- Thu, May 11, 2000 at 00:24:58 (PDT) | #20




I THINK THAT EVERYBODY THAT IS TALKING @#!!! SHOULD LOOK AT THEMSELVES IN THE MIRROR BEFORE CRITISIZING OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT ALL THIS DRAMA SAVE THAT FOR THE TEA PARTIES I DONT KNOW WHY ARE PEOPLE TALKING @#!!! ABOUT GREASERS,REBELS,HOOCHIES,AND MEXICANS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS KIND OF PEOPLE SO STOP THE BULL@#!!! AND WHATS WRONG WITH BEING MEXICAN? FIRST OF ALL LATINOS ARE THE MOST BE8UTIFUL PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WERE A CREATED RACE BUT IF U EVER VISIT LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES WE HAVE EVERYTHING SO JUST QUIT TALKING @#!!! AND PLUS IN ENGLAND NOBODY LIKES MORRISSEY OR THE SMITHS SO BE PROUD THAT WE LATINOS APPRECIATE THE GET IT GOT IT GOOD!!

LADY LUCK <[email protected]>
WESTCHESTER - Thu, May 11, 2000 at 10:56:36 (PDT) | #21




Hey everyone just needs to relax a little. Why are you all coming down on the guy who went on stage with the Flag. Leave him alone already GET OVER IT. And to all you people who seem to be bothered by the increasing amount of greaser, rebel, hoochie,...etc. type of fans Well...Did you think that all Moz and Smiths fans would look alike and all be of the same style and dress alike??? Of course not all fans are going to have the same style so its obvious that you are going to have people with different styles that are also fans. So you guys who are bothered by this should learn to deal with it. If you people were to see me you guys would call me a rebel and probably be disgusted that a guy like me is a big Moz fan. Well I must admit I do know that there are many rebels/greasers that are into Moz simply because of the style and image and I think that is what bothers most of you people. But I think that right away when you people see a rebel or a greaser you assume that he's just into Moz for the image. Well I'm not a Smiths and Moz fan just for the image like most other rebels and greasers. So yes there is rebels and greasers that acually do like Moz becuase of the music even though most of of them don't. If you know nothing about a person and you are talking s*** about them based on their style then that goes to show how little you know.

Hey whats up ILV Moz! I agree with what you said completely. And by the way where you at in East LA cuz I'm in East LA too?

Johnny <[email protected]>
East L.A. - Thu, May 11, 2000 at 11:48:54 (PDT) | #22




1st of all i just whant to say "i love you" to mozgerl, but to all the people backing me up in what i did thank you so much and like that 1 dude said so what if people are greasers,rebels,etc just let them be more power to them it brings morrisseys name up more so its even better.and i dont really know what 2 say no more you people make me sick well the ones that were talking s*** like if it really hurt you when i took my mexican flag let me know in what way did that offend you?? and in england half of the people hate moz/the smiths i guess morrissey is just reallizing that mexicans are his biggest fans and is trying 2 kiss ass 2 us but oh well i bet alot of people are going 2 start hating me for what i just wrote up there but oh welllllll...

mozalbert <[email protected]>
- Fri, May 12, 2000 at 10:29:26 (PDT) | #23




I really wish the people that wrote all the negative @#!!! about mexicans,rebels,greasers and hoochie girlz that attend Mozzers shows would have balls to go up to these people and say what they feel..But thats just something that will never happen there just going to act like cowards and post stupid messages thinkin there really going to make people go along with them....But thats not going to happen....and another thing I have never really seen a hoochie attend a Mozzer show but what I have seen are some really cute lookin chiks everytime I attend the shows..So ladyz keep doing what your doing...
=)

Adrian...HandSome DeviL79 <[email protected]>
Cali.....Orange County..S-A - Fri, May 12, 2000 at 13:16:09 (PDT) | #24




haha...Ill have to go 100% along with 'SLAYER'
and 'SLACKER'.
That flag was just lame, no point what so ever but to look like an sillybastard.

oh ya Javier: "Hang the Rebels!!!"
YES!

DaNNyBoy <[email protected]>
chula vista - Fri, May 12, 2000 at 13:35:46 (PDT) | #25




What does any of these post have to do with the Morrissey Convention?

Shut up already
- Sat, May 13, 2000 at 10:18:26 (PDT) | #26




all this makes me laugh, alot of you people need to learn something about love, peace, and, understanding. it's funny how i see moz/smiths fans talking about eachother when they have such a great thing in common(good music). and all this rebel greaser crap, a moz/smiths fan is a moz/smiths fan who cares how they look. all those "fake" fans that jonny (comment #22)was talking about who do it for image, dont worry about them, they will find themselves someday.

LOVE PEACE & HARMONY

jer's <[email protected]>
RIVERSIDE CA. - Sat, May 13, 2000 at 17:08:08 (PDT) | #27




the moz convention sucked just like the rebels and their hoothie girls.i am also very proud of the mexican flag, but there is a time and place for that and its not at morrissey show. do it at mecha or ufw (viva cesear chavez) ralley. please boycott grapes.

MozDef
sandy gringo - Sun, May 14, 2000 at 11:04:02 (PDT) | #28




Who in this world is holy enough to determine when and where any such public display of affection is just service. Give me a break you anal retentive morons. There are some people here who believe their opinions will eventually change the world...or actually believe they have anything intelligent to utter.

"...once when i was young i dreamt of many things, as i grew older i tend not to dream anymore...for what reasons to they hold."

Moz cowboy <[email protected]>
long beach ca - Sun, May 14, 2000 at 20:01:59 (PDT) | #29




I am chicano and proud of it..I also have been a fan since the late 80's before thier was Rebels. I think greasers is a better word but even before that it was all about Rockabily so lets get it straight for once..It was cool to see the Raza thier but come on thiers a time for everything do that at a Rock en espanol concert. A true Moz fans knows what up U dont stupid Rebel! and me and my friends will tell U and your wanna bee friends..us grown ups will tell U whats up..tired of seen crap like that grow up. For once lets Get it right its about the music we attend for nothing more nothing less. IT WILL ALL END TOMMORROWWWWW and yes you and your style will to but not the music! asta luego'

Fino101(fellas93) <dcuevas2cnusd.k12.ca.us>
- Mon, May 15, 2000 at 15:57:17 (PDT) | #30




MAD CHICANO ALERT MAD CHICANO ALERT MAD CHICANO ALERT MAD CHICANO ALERT MAD CHICANO ALERT MAD CHICANO ALERT MAD CHICANO ALERT MAD CHICANO ALERT

FIRE MARSHALL <this is only a warning >
this is only a warning - Mon, May 15, 2000 at 16:42:11 (PDT) | #31




Why must people bring down their fellow man/woman with cursing and hostility? It doesn't upbuild anyone, rather it destroys and divides. And are we Moz fans not UNITED? Think about it...

the unloveable girl afraid <[email protected]>
somewhere between here and there - Mon, May 15, 2000 at 19:46:05 (PDT) | #32





i hear you #32(unloveable girl afraid)

jer's <[email protected]>
RIVERSIDE CA. - Tue, May 16, 2000 at 18:51:12 (PDT) | #33




Speaking of Morrissey conventions, who wants to buy my Smiths song list with MOZ's writing I bought @ the 97 Smiths Conventiion? Its signed by Andy and Mike. Anyone?

edgar <gomezedgar@hotmail>
santa ana - Tue, May 16, 2000 at 19:10:49 (PDT) | #34




#21: you dropped these ..,.,,.,,,.,..

and addressing all the people who believe i'm anti-rebel, hoochie, etc.. think again. why would i (we) discriminate against a certain style? the issue at hand is that of the flag-waving. it was inappropriate. I DON'T SEE HOW YOU CAN SEE IT ANY OTHER WAY! it's not Ricky Martin, it's Morrissey. wave the Union Jack or something.

XsLaCk3rX
- Tue, May 16, 2000 at 21:20:29 (PDT) | #35




Thank you # 30 Fino101(fellas93).........we think alike!!!!
MORRISSEY FOREVER!!!!!!!

Girl Afraid
MOZ Angeles - Wed, May 17, 2000 at 17:39:50 (PDT) | #36




I agree with you on one thing (referring to comment #30) that its all about the music and nothing more. Unfortunately thats the only thing I agree with you on. Ok so if you say its just about the music then why do you waste your time talking S*** saying that you tell us rebels and greasers whats up??? Why don't you just worry about the music if you say thats what its all about??? Why don't you just worry about yourself and stop worrying so much about other peoples styles. Everyone thats talking S*** needs to stop obsessing about us rebels and greasers so much GET OVER IT!!! Your not gonna get rid of us so just let it be. Its all about the music right???! Well then why don't you people talk more about the music and less about the people who listen to it!!!

Johnny <[email protected]>
East L.A. - Thu, May 18, 2000 at 11:57:34 (PDT) | #37




ok good comment my fellow man(Rebel/Greaser/whatever you are)..but its like this I
have been a fan since it all started before Moz was Moz when he was a Smith. So I have seen it all
and I think that of course everyone has thier style just as Moz dose.(I would say 50's look)right? So to say Rebels are lisening to Moz becuase they like the music mite be right..but come lets face it. its the STYLE..WERE WHERE THEY IN THE BEGINING.. huy!As far as greasers well I think they mite have it right...but now a days how can U tell..go back to the early 90's when rebels started ..they didnt fallow Moz ..they were
into Rave..undergrounds(they would use Harley Davidson stuff..whats that!)..believe me I know..seen it all...and yes us grown ups from the Old school if you want to call it that..dont want to be with wanna beess fans to mess things up I have been to many concert .in the mid 90s thier were alot of concert canceled because of riots not htat I am pointing the finger but it wasint the true fans that mest things up and thats why I belive thiers a time for everything so at these convention we need to remember or fellow man an let them enjoy the seen..understand..look how old is Moz?..think about that...nothing more...nothing less..Viva MOz

Fino101(fellas93) <long time Fan...!!!>
- Fri, May 19, 2000 at 09:30:33 (PDT) | #38






* return to Morrissey-solo