Morrissey interview by Thomas Conner in Chicago Sun-Times

It's over, still you cling: Morrissey on Smiths reunion by Thomas Conner - Chicago Sun-Times

...His return to Chicago makes good after last fall's cancellation of a string of shows (including Oct. 27 here) in order to return to England to care for his ailing mother. Days before that announcement, Morrissey answered our questions via email -- the only way he'll consent to most interviews nowadays, after years of claiming to be misquoted -- about his pending memoir, American politics, the endless Smiths reunion queries and his years of refusal.

 

[Anonymous]

Nice article, I thought Girl In A Coma were a great opening act that fit his audience well. I also liked The Courteeners. I just can't get my head around Kristeen- apart from the abscence of a discernible melody, it just sounds like a cacophony, someone banging random notes out vigorously. She was a bit more tolerable when she had the live drummer - but maybe just because it was so loud it was a nice distraction from her horrendous keyboard. That said, she does have a good voice you can hear it now and then and it would be interesting and probably very beautiful if she ever decided to cover a Moz or Smiths song in her opener and we really got a chance to hear her actually sing. As for this current "band" I was watching video from "introducing Morrissey" and was painfully reminded of how achingly beautiful the songs sounded when played with Spike and Alain there really is just no comparison (go back and listen for yourself) which is sad and more importantly does not do justice to these great songs which is my major gripe...I was lucky enough to see the original line up live and it was phenomenal...always a fly in the ointment.....

 

[Anonymous]

I think the issue there was that Bowie suggested that at a Wembley show Morrissey and his band would finish, and while the lights were down at the end of their last number Bowie and his band would slope on to replace them and start their set. Hence, no applause or appreciation for Moz. Something like that. Bit cheeky on Bowie's part, bit OTT on the part of Morrissey.

I don't know if that rift was ever healed, but judging by the snippy comment Jonathan Ross attributed to Morrissey following DBs return a couple of weeks back it seems not. Perhaps I've been harsh though. Does anyone know if Morrissey tends to bear grudges?

Yes Johnny that is a spot on account I remember it well I had all my plans made for the Manchester date, I was gutted.

 

[Anonymous]

Do any of these interviewers read previous interviews. The 'Do you have a record label? question has been asked multiple times.

I agree so lets have a debate about who fans think could do a good interview with him I have two in mind J K Rowling (she's a fan) and Victoria Wood (Northern cleverness). I rule out J Ross and R Brand for being childish and their stupidity in the classroom.
Anybody else have any ideas ?

Pin and mount me Hockney

 

[marty c]

xxxxx

 

[CrystalGeezer]

It's painfully clear to me that I'm no poet, so here goes. I love Morrissey. period. full stop.

Well that settles that. Okay next topic!

 

[Chip]

Do any of these interviewers read previous interviews. The 'Do you have a record label? question has been asked multiple times.

I suspect the repetition isn't so much for the interviewer, but for the intended audience. While we at Morrissey-solo have read many Moz interviews has the average reader of the Chicago-Sun Times blog or the Pittsburg Gazette? Probably not.

That being said I'd love for somebody to ask Morrissey a question beyond "Why don't you have a record label" and "Will the Smiths ever get back together?"

I'd like to see someone ask him about his recent fixation on Pasolini, but I doubt that would go over with many people other possibly the folks at the Criterion Collection.

 

[viva pffft.]

I think the issue there was that Bowie suggested that at a Wembley show Morrissey and his band would finish, and while the lights were down at the end of their last number Bowie and his band would slope on to replace them and start their set. Hence, no applause or appreciation for Moz. Something like that. Bit cheeky on Bowie's part, bit OTT on the part of Morrissey.

I don't know if that rift was ever healed, but judging by the snippy comment Jonathan Ross attributed to Morrissey following DBs return a couple of weeks back it seems not. Perhaps I've been harsh though. Does anyone know if Morrissey tends to bear grudges?

I swear I saw a interview with him once explaining why the thing with Bowie didn't work out. He said something about his fans not being able to properly say goodbye to him if he sort of disappeared into the shadows like Bowie wanted him to do, something along those lines?

Found it! First 2 minutes.

 

[sammka]

Does anyone know if Morrissey tends to bear grudges?

LOL!

 

[Johnny Barleycorn]

I suspect the repetition isn't so much for the interviewer, but for the intended audience. While we at Morrissey-solo have read many Moz interviews has the average reader of the Chicago-Sun Times blog or the Pittsburg Gazette? Probably not.

That being said I'd love for somebody to ask Morrissey a question beyond "Why don't you have a record label" and "Will the Smiths ever get back together?"

I'd like to see someone ask him about his recent fixation on Pasolini, but I doubt that would go over with many people other possibly the folks at the Criterion Collection.

Esther Williams reputedly carried a printed card which she would hand out to people who asked her a particular question at parties and such. It read "Yes, I still swim."

Maybe Morrissey should get himself down to the printers.

 

[CrystalGeezer]

Esther Williams reputedly carried a printed card which she would hand out to people who asked her a particular question at parties and such. It read "Yes, I still swim."

Maybe Morrissey should get himself down to the printers.

Vista Print FTW!

 

[Anonymous]

But in what way has he actually done any solo work? All he's done is worked with different songwriters and different musicians and, instead of coming up with a band name (as he did in the Smiths), he's just called the finished package 'Morrissey'.

Wouldn't it be intriguing if he actually did go solo like tons of other people, now including Johnny Marr, have done? So Morrissey would write the music (the proper music i.e. not the vocal melody), and teach himself to play guitar (or whatever instrument). Then we would genuinely hear him as a solo performer.
Also, if he wants his musicians to receive more attention he should stop calling his live and recording outfit 'Morrissey'. Come up with a band name, involve the band members (or at least the main guitarist/songwriter) in interviews etc (as he did with the Smiths), put them on the covers as well, and then we could all focus on the other people in the band a bit more. Involving other band members in his interviews surely couldn't make the interviews any worse these days.
As long as he continues to call his pop group 'Morrissey' then journalists will have minimal interest in the other players. Amazing how not one single journalist has asked him about Alain Whyte's departure when Whyte has written more Morrissey-sung songs than anyone else (and virtually all the decent ones from the last 10 years). As long as he continues to present his pop group as 'Morrissey' the musicians' profiles will remain low.

Your idea going solo would have to be appealing from a business point of view. He could just have singalongs and forget the instruments altogether. Would you want to see him tour with a keyboard like Kristeen Young? I think he should tour with a pianist and do the kind of thing Dean Martin thing.

I think the melody is the majority of the song. It contains the rhythm and implies the harmony. You can alter the chords behind it but the end result is based on the interaction with the melody. It would be really interesting to hear what Morrissey came up with if he worked that way. I think the demos he works from now already have the melody anyway, so if he really did write the music from scratch.

He's right about having continued a long time and not really getting the credit for it. I don't think it's unusual that people don't know the band members really because I don't know the names of members of most bands selling a lot more records. I have no idea who is in Coldplay besides Gwyneth Paltrow's husband. But I know who Baby Jeff is. It's all relative.

 

[Johnny Barleycorn]

"I'll have... Ten thousand "The Smiths are dead.", five thousand "No, I haven't got a record deal.", and a rotary stamp with "I hate..." then...

"the Queen",

"the Royals",

"Wills & Kate",

"disgusting newborn Aristos",

"Dead Norwegian proto-socialists.",

"Self determination for Las Malvinas.",

"Peace in Ireland.",

"Posh & Becks.",

"Foreign accents.",

and

"My support act."

Oh, and forty gallons of red ink. Thank you. Oh. Do you offer credit? I seem to have forgotten my wallet."

 

[Anonymous]

"I'll have... Ten thousand "The Smiths are dead.", five thousand "No, I haven't got a record deal.", and a rotary stamp with "I hate..." then...

"the Queen",

"the Royals",

"Wills & Kate",

"disgusting newborn Aristos",

"Dead Norwegian proto-socialists.",

"Self determination for Las Malvinas.",

"Peace in Ireland.",

"Posh & Becks.",

"Foreign accents.",

and

"My support act."

Oh, and forty gallons of red ink. Thank you. Oh. Do you offer credit? I seem to have forgotten my wallet."

Two you forgot for the rotary stamp Johnny

"Online hateful creche"

"Touring"