But this "True To you" message was a real one or not? 'cause if not, welcome to the court my dear Julia...

Seems a bit vague to me. I wish Morrissey would come out and make a proper statement.

*ANYBODY* can download the Morrissey font from the internet! :)

If Morrissey signed the documents himself (I wonder if he signs official papers in the same unique block letter handwriting that he autographs?), would the IoW organizers be able to go after him directly for losses incurred? Where's that user "Punk Lawyer", was it?

Sanctuary and IOW were striking a deal.

They tried to get in contact with morrissey, who in turn never returned their phone calls.

The person at Sanctuary went ahead and signed the deal because they thought that this was an excellent marketing opportunity and IOW needed an answer soon.

Morrissey still never really got in contact with either of them. He sent a note to Janice Long, and that was about it.

It doesn't appear that Morrissey ever tried to get in contact with the festival organizers and tell them that there was a mistake. He left it strictly up to his label to contend with, and either they didn't know or were too embarrassed to come forward to turn around and cancel it.

It would have been nice to have had this much coverage for him cancelling the Houston and Austin shows...

http://www.playlouder.com/news/+mozseekingnewsan/

"we are not commenting on anything about HIM at the moment"

after reading the 6 music link i know why solo are so pissed off - it's because the rest of bill is so dull i almost fell asleep: REM, Snow Patrol, Embrace, Faithless, Razorlight, Supergrass, Idlewild, Roxy Music, Feeder, Goldie Lookin' Chain, Babyshambles, Ray Davies, Nine Black Alps, Starsailor and The Magic Numbers. and now travisssssszzzzzzzzzz

the promoter is well aware (as are all the above) of the buzz generated by having moz on your bill - he's the pivot shining his charisma on the old once-interesting-now-boring bands (roxy, davies, REM) and the new boring-before-they-even-began bands. i bet solo wouldn't have been half as angry if any of the above had cancelled (including REM)

if i'd bought a ticket i'd sell it for a fiver rather than travel to endure that lot. sorry if you're going, have a good weekend!

At least Travis must be pleased to have the coveted bill-topping spot. The SOLO manager should have found out who signed the festival contracts -Sanctuary preumably - before assigning blame. It's not a pretty juncture and a cold shower might do everyone good. Since so many are getting anything but 4 when adding 2 and 2, in the same vein this can be entertaining and quite safe in some instances!:

"A first grade teacher collected well known proverbs. She gave each child in her class the first half of a proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading these keep in mind that these are first graders... "6" year-olds, because the last one is classic!

Better to be safe than........punch a 5th grader.
Strike while the....................bug is close.
It's always darkest before...............Daylight Saving Time.
Never underestimate the power of........termites.
You can lead a horse to water but...........how?
Don't bite the hand that.............looks dirty.
No news is.......................impossible.
A miss is as good as a...................Mr.
You can't teach an old dog new.............math.
If you lie down with dogs, you'll...........stink in the morning.
Love all, trust........................me.
The pen is mightier than the.............pigs.
An idle mind is...........the best way to relax.
Where there's smoke there's...........pollution.
Happy the bride who........gets all the presents.
A penny saved is.....................not much.
Two's company, three's..........the Musketeers.
Don't put off till tomorrow what..............you put on to go to bed.
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and.......you have to blow your nose.
There are none so blind as.....Stevie Wonder.
Children should be seen and not.............spanked or grounded.
If at first you don't succeed..................get new batteries.
You get out of something only what you........see in the picture on the box.
When the blind leadeth the blind.............get out of the way.

And the favourite:
Better late than....................pregnant!!!!"

   

When someone you admire so much gets mixed up in/does something like this and the bickering (official that is - fans can talk over stuff all they want) just carries on...and on, I really am too tired of it all to speculate. I shall go, enjoy Travis, Feeder, even though I'm too old to enjoy either, when what I really wanted to see was the lovely, moral, heart-warming individual I was going to hop on the ferry for. Morrissey - please don't leave me thinking you did this on purpose. I do wish you would (officially) say something!

I think it's hilarious that anyone would consider Travis a comparable replacement to Morrissey. They have been writing 4th rate Smiths songs for years. Although I would upgrade "Writing to Reach you" to maybe 2nd rate.

I seem to remember him giving them a positive mention early in their career.

With Roxy Music also playing perhaps he'll be on e-bay trying to get a ticket.

He is obviously experienced in booking musicians for Festivals and must have thought Morrissey was booked. Whether he or his record company signed the deal, he must have took it as read. The man sounds furious to me. It still makes me wonder, whether Morrissey purposely left it til the last minute to announce his withdrawal, in order to make sure all the tickets had been sold and therefore they could not sue for losses incurred by his loss.

That's what I'd have done.

Devious Bastard that I am.

I wish everyone involved in the alleged signing of contracts will post proof or retract, or at least shut the hell up. Someone (Moz, Sanctuary or the IOW entity) is lying or there was some sort of failure to communicate.

But who exactly is at fault? I'd say all three. Think about it:
IOW for promoting the hell out of it without having confirmation from the mouth or pen of Moz.

Sanctuary for signing the deal without clear written approval from Morrissey.

Morrissey himself for not siccing lawyers to stop the whole thing before people bought their plane tickets from all over the globe to see him live.

Of course, this is all assuming there is some proof he agreed to play in the first place.

I love Morrissey's music, and as a result of that I have respect for him as an artist.

Frankly if he's screwed everyone about, I couldn't care less. As long as the next album's good.

broken

aimed at concert promoters on the next album

If all this is true, I'm sure Moz is spending a pretty penny on postcards and postage.

So John Gidding‘s never going to invite Moz around to his house for tea, because of what he’s done? How endearing! I know very few people who’d say that when they’re at the end of their tether with someone, unless they were just sulking and in a temporary huff, lashing out indiscriminately, if unarmed because they’re not getting something they want. I can’t imagine that many musicians would be pleased to be used as promotional material for events that they have not agreed to attend. Rather than standard, it’s more like exploitation, but inadvertent more than likely, in Gidding’s case.

I reckon when he realizes in the calm light of day that the cause of the communication breakdown lies elsewhere, that he’d be glad, on the off-chance, to boil the kettle for a nice civil pot of Ceylon, served in best china to the last of the famous international playboys!

Very very sad.

As sad as it gets.

Wanna let him know how you feel?

Morrissey's email:

wildEyes@newnet.co.uk

Don Henley testified to the US Congress concerning corporations in control of so much in the industry; part of his testimony is nearly identical to this IOW situation with Sanctuary dealing with promoters without involvement from Morrissey's camp.

Don Henley (of the Eagles) testified:
"There was an incident not too long ago involving my manager and one of the other artists that he manages, and Clear Channel Entertainment. This artist was asked to do a promotional concert for Clear Channel Entertainment. She had done a couple of these things before. She declined in this instance, for very good reason. She was in the studio, trying to finish an album on deadline. The record label was breathing down her neck and she declined to play this promotional concert. My manager received a phone call from a gentleman named Michael Martin, who was a San Francisco programmer for Clear Channel, requesting this appearance by the artist. Also on the phone was an independent promotion man. My manager was told, after he declined the artist's particpation, that Michael Martin programmed all 40 rhythm stations owned by Clear Channel. And to make a long story short, the artist's next single was basically boycotted. ...Clear Channel, of course, denies this. My manager would be glad to speak to any of you about this incident."

Clear Channel owns a huge chunk of radio and TV stations in North America, as well as venues and exclusive licenses with Ticketmaster (known most affectionately as "Ticketbastard".

Although this statement concerns the concert promoter rather than his label, the situation with the IOW concert is parallel in regards to how the record labels regard the artists they publish.
No...It's no novelty situation unique only to Morrissey. This type of thing goes on CONSTANTLY. But Morrissey has once again shown balls in a castigating Medieval Caste system known more generally as "The Music Industry".

What damage has been done to Morrissey?
Henley goes on to say:
"This institutionalized conflict of interest places the artist in a vastly uncompetitive and weak position. What happens when an artist refuses to perform in venues that are owned by the radio network, or chooses not to go on tour with a promotion company owned by the radio network? Will the artist's records be played on that network or will the company reduce or eliminate radio airplay? Most artists cannot afford to find out. In fact, I come here today at my own peril."

So, those of you who are quick to judge and readily take the side of the SUITS and not believe the statement that has been asserted in the statement from "True to You website" are naive at best and will invariably eat shite in the end.

Since this is a matter of public testimony, Fair Use allows the extended quotes in regards to my commentary.

Read the full transcripts here:
http://www.azoz.com/news/0019d.html

Morrissey is a genius - he can make a true friend an enemie without even knowing it. Keep the good work up, and you will be lonely at last

He did the same last year in Spain at Benicassim Festival. I travelled 1300 kms to see him play live and he didn't appear. His manager said that he was "an ill man" after he couldn' get more money from the Festival.
Reading this only makes me realize how capricious he actually is. I can't understand it in 5 or 6 year-old children, not in a "music star" who constantly asks us to remember him and don't forget him.

Me and my friends, unfortunately, also have to adapt this attitude as well. Whilst we all bought tickets for morrissey, plus paid for accommodation and travel, we too are just going to go, and enjoy Babyshambles, Ray Davis, Feeder and Roxy music. We work all week 9-5 (sad i know) and are not going to let Moz ruin a weekend that we were looking forward to. The isle of Wight is a beautiful place, and there will be lots of things to do, see and enjoy.

I'm afraid We have to adopt a bit of a 'sod you morrissey attitude'.
I still can't wait until next weekend. It will still be a good two days away frrom my normal life, spent with friends, abd listening to some great bands. Its good to be alive !!!! eh Mozzer ????

I have enough to be depressed about with my life, and this news about Morrissey cancelling his festival appearance, really doesn't make it any worse to be honest.

If the Moz is Lying, then why John Giddings from the festival promoters is not suing him.
Very simple.

as far as i was aware, moz has not got a record company to 'spark a row' with

If this "promoter" says that if they called Morrissey two weeks before the show to cancel it, they could be facing law problems... well, then, if it's the other way around (assuming Morrissey pulled off) why don't they just put Moz or Sanctuary or whoever in court? Maybe because Moz didn't sign anything... don't you think?

Christmas aint far off is it? God, it gets earlier and earlier every year. In my day...........

Md

I really thought he'd have enjoyed this.
I would have, but it just goes to prove how wrong you can be.

Morrissey has been made a scape goat isn't it obvious,his band members have not split with him not any of them, sanctuary and their pen pushers are all cowards and liars also who'd want to go round John Giddings house for a cuppa i wouldn't and frankly mr shankly i dont think morrissey would either, in his life why does he give valuable time to people who he'd much rather kick in the eye.

Seems that next week, morrisseytour.com will have some sort of interview/story with IOW promoter, that is sure the rile some people up some more:

Friday, June 3, 2005

Morrissey IOW, storying brewing...

Just to let you know, we're currently working on a Feature story about this Isle of Wight fiasco. John Giddings of the Solo Agency, (the agency promoting the Isle of Wight Festival) spoke with MorrisseyTour.com about the situation.

Said Giddings, "I think his [Morrissey's] reply is rubbish. His manager and agent are of the highest standing in this business, and I cannot believe they negotiated the show and issued the contract without consulting him. Why did he allow tickets to be sold in his name for 4 months? He is a sad person who seems not to care about letting people down. It's not the first time,and it won't be the last."

Story coming next week. Stay tuned.

Posted by slug @ 10:56 AM GMT [Link]

i bet he agreed to play months ago, like the festival advertised and now has cold feet.

moz is notorious for pulling the plug on shows at teh last minutue.

i think he should have spoken up months ago when the line up was announced. not leave it until a month prior and cry like a baby he had no idea.

once again, the fans lose.

moz is getting crustier by the minute.

1. Sanctuary screwed up. 2. Moz did not SIGN ANY CONTRACT saying he would appear at IOW. 3. This is not some secret message. It's very easy to understand. Be furious at Sanctuary; not at Moz. Yes, he has been well known to cancel things at the drop of a hat. (But maybe he has valid reasons for this, you don't know.) I believe him.

I have this morning recieved two tickets in the post for the Isle of Wight festival next weekend.

I never agreed to attend this festival and deny any knowledge of my credit card being used to purchase these tickets.

I am not sorry to disappoint you all.

Love you all. Spellbound

I cannot believe all the rubbish and rumour.

What has happened is that yet another record company has done the same old thing. I cannot believe Sanctuary have done this, but it has happened before and it will happen again. Morrissey is better on his own, waiting for the right deal to come along again - and it will - because he is loved, deeply, and he is an amazing STAR in a music world that is still devoid of major talent.

These antics really should be reserved for comic book clowns - is that what Sanctuary's men really are ? And they can do the same thing with Lou Reed !!

Thank goodness Morrissey has been able to publish the truth, but to be frank, he is damned if he does and he is damned if he does not. I'm glad that he did, because a few words here and there really show that he loves his fans.

I am very much looking forward to the new songs.

Strawberry.