Morrissey interview in Village Voice

An anonymous person sends the link:

Morrissey On His Hatred of "Cellphone Nation," His Skin of "Perished Rubber"and Why He Loves System of a Down - Village Voice
By Kory Grow

 

[Skylarker]

Jesus Christ man, I've been sitting here reading your negative ass comments that are so comfortably nestled inside every damn news story for the past week.

Are you sure? In the last week have only logged entries here since October 9th. It is now October 11. Has a week passed in two days? Does time move faster when you're a moron?

I am really tired of it,

Explain to me why I should give a f***.

so please get the hell off a Morrissey fan site if your not a Morrissey fan.

Oh yes, right away sir. So sorry to have offended you, sir.

So...in order to discuss an artist whose work I am extremely familiar with, I need to be a superfan who gives absolute approval of his every continuing shit he takes?
In order to discuss something, I need to be in favor of it? You're a genius!

And, let me stop you before you try to convince me that you are somehow a Morrissey fan,

I have no desire to "convince" you of anything other than your own worthlessness.

while you proceed to lump everyone who is not you into one stereotypical category, I point you in the direction of a therapist, so he or she can help you understand what you are.

Says the person who either

a) has had their membership here revoked yet STILL continues to duffer the illusion that their opinion is wanted here, or is

b) a regular poster in good standing who is afraid to address me under their recognized handle...even though it's an internet forum, and nobody is going to reach through the screen and choke you.

But sure, let's hear more about how I am the one who needs a therapist.

Not a bad interview. Thought he took his brain out when he answered this question though...

The idea of a Smiths reunion came up in the press again this week. You haven't abandoned that band's repertoire in recent years at your concerts. Which of the Smiths songs that you still perform mean the most to you today and why?
I don't feel that they are somebody else's songs. The sentiments in songs from the Smiths period were always mine, and mine alone. I wasn't the voice of a collective. I don't even think that the other three Smiths even liked the lyrics.

Yet he had no problem involving Mike and Andy in the Wolverhampton show, not to mention his post-Viva Hate singles singles...and he had no problem continuing to write with Rourke.

But c'mon Morrissey, I wanna hear some more about how back in '88 it was you vs. the big bad evil Smiths rhythm section.

Blah blah blah, more words, more words, etc. etc. etc., blah blah more words, more words, you hate Morrissey, more words, more words, blah blah blah... we get it. Have a ice cream sandwich and go listen to the gas light anthem or whatever the name of that sucky band is. Tout à l'heure

(it was a nice interview)

Blah blah blah, you're banned, we get it, blah blah blah.

Ya, that caught me off guard. Almost as odd, was this statement "I miss the large record stores. I think it's so sad that they've been wiped out. I mean, who would ever have thought it likely? Yet Bed Bath & Beyond survives. Why?" Doesn't he realize one cannot buy digital bath salts?

Music isn't a product that needs to be packaged in a physical body any longer. Everything from Bed Bath & Beyond still does--including the gift cards. It was a strange comparison.

That's because modern day Morrissey is a delusional jackass.

 

[Anonymous]

I thought this was a fan site? My goodness, Skylarker. At any rate, the reasons people dislike the man are generally why I love him so. I enjoyed the interview immensely. I must admit, however, that touching a bleeding, rabies-infested rat with wings is beyond me.

 

[Amy]

To be able to weather the loss of The Smiths (no doubt an extremely taxing event, emotionally) while at the same time immediately moving forward, taking no time to mourn, NOT giving up, and then within a few months coming up with two albums' worth of some of his best ever work, well...that doesn't seem very "zombie"-like to me. It seems driven and focused and creative and alive...traits he has lost by the truckload ever since he lost the court case, and especially since the 2004 comeback-fervor died down.

But looking back, as he is, in bitterness on the joke that his career became, and all the things he's done to sabotage himself and his legacy, then yes, I'm sure he finds it very easy to just claim he was not in his right mind when the solo thing got started.

Not sure I agree on that one, I found the "zombie" comment very consistent.

I don't think it's accurate to say he took no time to mourn - Viva Hate is his mourning period set to music, full of songs directed towards Johnny (Angel, Angel..., I Don't Mind If You Forget Me) and songs that are wistful about the past (Maudlin Street, Break up the Family). The album in its entirety is a reaction to the Smiths split, and when it was finished he said he still didn't feel like a solo artist because he was hoping Johnny would come back. He's said it countless times over the years - I don't think any history was re-written here.

"The Smiths were almost like a painting," says Morrissey, with genuine sadness, "every month you'd add a little bit here and a little bit there... but it wasn't quite complete and it was whipped away. And I find it quite hard to adapt to that. Those people who patted me on the back and said, 'Oh! Smiths split! Very clever, very wise, very cunning'... I hadn't a clue what they were talking about. Even people who enjoyed the music thought the split was very timely; it's a very popular attitude that the split occurred at the right time. I get quite violent when people say that to me."

That was 1988, just before the release of Viva. I don't think he properly "moved on" until well into the Lads era; he certainly didn't seem to have the mindset of "f***'em all, I'll be a worldwide superstar on my own" until much later.

 

[Giselle]

Ya, that caught me off guard. Almost as odd, was this statement "I miss the large record stores. I think it's so sad that they've been wiped out. I mean, who would ever have thought it likely? Yet Bed Bath & Beyond survives. Why?" Doesn't he realize one cannot buy digital bath salts? Music isn't a product that needs to be packaged in a physical body any longer. Everything from Bed Bath & Beyond still does--including the gift cards. It was a strange comparison.

I interpreted his statement there as more in line with the whole- art vs. crass, mundane commercialism represented in Bed Bath and Beyond-struggle.
I didn't find it that strange, as I've heard similar comments from some of my more hipster-y friends whenever I mention going to the mega outlet mall.

 

[realitybites]

I interpreted his statement there as more in line with the whole- art vs. crass, mundane commercialism represented in Bed Bath and Beyond-struggle.
I didn't find it that strange, as I've heard similar comments from some of my more hipster-y friends whenever I mention going to the mega outlet mall.

But he wasn't talking about the mom and pop shops. He said large record stores--probably Tower Records etc. Big businesses--no different from Bed Bath & Beyond--both corporate chains. And really, since when has Morrissey been against capitalism, big record contracts, mainstream billboard charts, designer labels etc.? He doesn't want to be adored by the indie, alternative hipster types. He wants to be a pop idol--revered by the mainstream masses. Any indie cred he has comes from his alternative lifestyle choices and tastes in music. Hi ambitions point to Manhattan not Brooklyn.

 

[Simplysmiths]

Not sure I agree on that one, I found the "zombie" comment very consistent.

I don't think it's accurate to say he took no time to mourn - Viva Hate is his mourning period set to music, full of songs directed towards Johnny (Angel, Angel..., I Don't Mind If You Forget Me) and songs that are wistful about the past (Maudlin Street, Break up the Family). The album in its entirety is a reaction to the Smiths split, and when it was finished he said he still didn't feel like a solo artist because he was hoping Johnny would come back. He's said it countless times over the years - I don't think any history was re-written here.

"The Smiths were almost like a painting," says Morrissey, with genuine sadness, "every month you'd add a little bit here and a little bit there... but it wasn't quite complete and it was whipped away. And I find it quite hard to adapt to that. Those people who patted me on the back and said, 'Oh! Smiths split! Very clever, very wise, very cunning'... I hadn't a clue what they were talking about. Even people who enjoyed the music thought the split was very timely; it's a very popular attitude that the split occurred at the right time. I get quite violent when people say that to me."

That was 1988, just before the release of Viva. I don't think he properly "moved on" until well into the Lads era; he certainly didn't seem to have the mindset of "f***'em all, I'll be a worldwide superstar on my own" until much later.

sorry mate , I dont mind was wrote as a direct message to fans who at the time were writing to him saying , it was good while it lasted now its over...

 

[Simplysmiths]

It's only a confusing comment if you're a dolt. Morrissey has been on a relentless mission to rewrite his personal history ever since the court case happened, and his lies and delusional nonsense have only been exacerbated as he's aged.

To be able to weather the loss of The Smiths (no doubt an extremely taxing event, emotionally) while at the same time immediately moving forward, taking no time to mourn, NOT giving up, and then within a few months coming up with two albums' worth of some of his best ever work, well...that doesn't seem very "zombie"-like to me. It seems driven and focused and creative and alive...traits he has lost by the truckload ever since he lost the court case, and especially since the 2004 comeback-fervor died down.

But looking back, as he is, in bitterness on the joke that his career became, and all the things he's done to sabotage himself and his legacy, then yes, I'm sure he finds it very easy to just claim he was not in his right mind when the solo thing got started.

But the albums and the artifacts say otherwise, if you look beneath his spin.

Moz was driven , very driven actually. He wanted to get away from the smiths as far as he could and he couldnt wait to get viva hate recorded and 'out'...stephen street confirms this.

 

[Simplysmiths]

Moz has stated before that he and Johnny signed to EMI for a multi-album contract, then Johnny walked away leaving Morrissey to fulfil the contract alone.

well he wasnt that distraught about the emi contract , he recently described them as lovely people or words to that effect..

 

[Amy]

sorry mate , I dont mind was wrote as a direct message to fans who at the time were writing to him saying , it was good while it lasted now its over...

Oh? Okay. Still, I'd be very, very surprised if it wasn't also a back-handed "f*** you then!" to JM - fits perfectly with the end of the band and Marr's desire to dabble in "forbidden" music.

"The pressure to change, to move on, was strange and very strong" ..."Rejection is one thing but rejection from a fool is cruel"? I don't think he'd be that wounded/angry about a few disgruntled fans. Then again...most people did seem to think that Moz would vanish into the abyss on his own.

 

[Simplysmiths]

Oh? Okay. Still, I'd be very, very surprised if it wasn't also a back-handed "f*** you then!" to JM - fits perfectly with the end of the band and Marr's desire to dabble in "forbidden" music.

"The pressure to change, to move on, was strange and very strong" ..."Rejection is one thing but rejection from a fool is cruel"? I don't think he'd be that wounded/angry about a few disgruntled fans. Then again...most people did seem to think that Moz would vanish into the abyss on his own.

I remember reading an interview he did , probably showing my age now , but it was around the time everyday is like sunday was released..he mentions the letters he was receiving and in his words , he says fans were saying it was good while it lasted but...blah blah blah

i get your point about JM aswell....wouldnt be surprised if it was aimed at Johnny aswell.

 

[Simplysmiths]

here you go...you know the lyrics but here goes

So now you send me your hardened 'regards'
When once you'd send me 'Love'
Sincerely I must tell you
Your mild 'best wishes'
They make me suspicious

direct reference to letters...

 

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why EMI regarded Morrissey alone as being responsible for honouring the Smiths contract. Why wasn't Johnny Marr obliged to honour it too?

 

[Giselle]

But he wasn't talking about the mom and pop shops. He said large record stores--probably Tower Records etc. Big businesses--no different from Bed Bath & Beyond--both corporate chains. And really, since when has Morrissey been against capitalism, big record contracts, mainstream billboard charts, designer labels etc.? He doesn't want to be adored by the indie, alternative hipster types. He wants to be a pop idol--revered by the mainstream masses. Any indie cred he has comes from his alternative lifestyle choices and tastes in music. Hi ambitions point to Manhattan not Brooklyn.

You're right- he was indeed talking about the big record stores.From the June TTY statement:
"Record shops also continue to exist in Japan – most notably Tower Records, where we are allowed to remember the joy of 'accidental discovery'."
http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_120603_01

All I was saying is that-whether he wants to be associated with them or not-Morrissey's comment there did remind me of similar comments that I've heard from some hipster-type friends.
In that they would take a corporate Barnes & Noble or Tower Records over a corporate Bed Bath and Beyond any day. The reason being that they place greater value on books and CDs than they do on toasters and blenders.

I'm not saying I agree with any of this. I don't.
I'm just hypothesizing an alternate viewpoint of what M might have meant with that comment. That's all.

 

[Carly]

" I didn't want to be a solo artist"

What complete and utter bull shit.

They carried on as the smiths with the guitarist out of Easter house ( can't think of his name ) and when mozz didn't feel it wasn't working he gets mike to fire him...

Then Stephen street in a recent interview states that Morrissey wanted to get as far away from the smiths as possible...

He has always wanted to be a solo artist because by all accounts he hated being in the smiths.

He really needs to listen and read about what others say before he gives his answer because time and again he is being found out as a liar.

Just because he stopped wanting to be in the smiths that doesn't mean he always wanted to be a solo artist...
Calm the f*** down.

 

[realitybites]

You're right- he was indeed talking about the big record stores.From the June TTY statement:
"Record shops also continue to exist in Japan – most notably Tower Records, where we are allowed to remember the joy of 'accidental discovery'."
http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_120603_01

All I was saying is that-whether he wants to be associated with them or not-Morrissey's comment there did remind me of similar comments that I've heard from some hipster-type friends.
In that they would take a corporate Barnes & Noble or Tower Records over a corporate Bed Bath and Beyond any day. The reason being that they place greater value on books and CDs than they do on toasters and blenders.

I'm not saying I agree with any of this. I don't.
I'm just hypothesizing an alternate viewpoint of what M might have meant with that comment. That's all.

I do understand that a lot of people have great nostalgia for record stores. It was an outing--an adventure--finding a new treasure, getting the latest release by their favorite band. I was never one of these people. I'm not all that into objects. I like keeping it simple... being free and light without much baggage to worry about. The digital age is ideal for me... 1,000's of songs/albums in the palm of your hand. So I am not sad about the change in music distribution. It suits me. But I know Moz is old school and misses those days and methods of acquisition. I still say though that his comment was more out of ignorance or reluctance to embrace change. He is a bit of a technophobe. He doesn't see the joys of the digital age. If he had his way we'd all be listening to music on vinyl.

 

[Southport Grandma]

Oh? Okay. Still, I'd be very, very surprised if it wasn't also a back-handed "f*** you then!" to JM - fits perfectly with the end of the band and Marr's desire to dabble in "forbidden" music.

"The pressure to change, to move on, was strange and very strong" ..."Rejection is one thing but rejection from a fool is cruel"? I don't think he'd be that wounded/angry about a few disgruntled fans. Then again...most people did seem to think that Moz would vanish into the abyss on his own.

Johnny Marr is quoted as saying at the meeting at Geales that the quiffs have got to go. Get rid of a quiff and you end up with a Suedehead.

 

[Mark. just Mark]

Morrissey? STFU. Skin of perished rubber.

Does he mean "vulcanised"? (which means it won't perish, purses lips, nods slightly)

 

[jm26]

Why does this Skylarker character post on here considering they seemingly despise Morrissey?

What a cabbage .

 

[Anonymous]

Why does this Skylarker character post on here considering they seemingly despise Morrissey?

What a cabbage .

Well said, jim26 - that sentiment applies to the mods too. No wonder DavidT was kicked out of that gig.

 

[jdbabz]

Something is squeezing journalists skulls when they try to ask more than 8 questions i.e. Morrissey's p.r. rep.