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Johnny Marr interview in The Word (Sep. 2007), Smiths box set details
posted by davidt on Wednesday August 08 2007, @08:00AM

 Andrew writes:
...here's an excerpt from my Johnny Marr interview in the new issue of THE WORD. He give some interesting revelations about the potential Smiths box set - it appears it's definitely going ahead now.

Johnny Marr in The Word (Sep. 2007)
Click to enlarge
THE WORD can be purchased online at:
www.wordmagazine.co.uk
---
JOHNNY MARR INTERVIEW EXCERPT:

As a substitute lap of honour for The Smiths, there was talk of a box set of rare and unreleased Smiths music. Is that possible, given that The Smiths released pretty much everything the recorded.

I was approached by the record company [Warners] a few years ago with the box set idea, and I was somewhat sceptical until I was sent some live concerts and monitor mixes. Then it started to sound like a really good prospect. There are some curios, instrumentals, a few odd films shot by people on these enormous old video cameras on the balcony at gigs in Wolverhampton in the 80s they are really impressive, they'd make great DVDs. There's the Troy Tate album [the first version of The Smiths debut album which was scrapped and never released] which is a really interesting sound and a great picture of the band at a time when most people aren't aware of us. That early, embryonic period where we had our very first live set, songs like *These Things Take Time, You've Got Everything Now, Wonderful Woman* just the band's live show recorded very, very well. It's a fascinating thing and itıs not quite the band that people know. It's a very odd band. I canıt put my finger on what it is, and I was in it. But unfortunately the record company *now* seem to regard The Smiths as something they've inherited in the attic, almost an inconvenience. I despair of what's going on with the Smiths catalogue.

How do you mean?

They're putting the albums out shoddily, mid-price releases with cheap sleeves, bad reproductions of the artwork. Iıve wanted to remaster the albums properly for years, but there is no-one at the record company whose job it is to look after The Smiths. I find it incredible and frustrating, and most fans of music would find it a ridiculous state of affairs.

Warners have the catalogue in perpetuity. What happened was, when Rough Trade was going through bad times in the early 90s Morrissey and I mortgaged our houses so that, for literally about five minutes, we owned the catalogue ourselves. We then immediately sold it on to Warner Brothers with the promise that it would be looked after as a major historic British group would be. Thatıs far from the way The Smiths is being handled right now. It really is being devalued. You can see thereıs no love there. With The Beatles, the Stones, possibly The Doors or Fleetwood Mac there seems to be someone behind it who really loves the music. We seem to be getting thrown out there in the bargain bins in a really cheapo fashion.

Are you pursuing it? Has Morrissey any interest in pursuing it?

Not right now because Modest Mouse is my main concern, and I donıt think I can do it on my own. I wrote to Morrissey about it, he hasnıt replied so far but we'll see. I'm just pissed off because the music doesn't sound as good as it could. I'll settle for that, and re-releases with decent sleeves on. It's beautiful music and it's being treated like shit. But apart from that, I can't and won't ­run the band on my own.

[LATER, AT GLASTONBURY]

There have been some developments since we last spoke, Johnny says. Morrissey has replied to Johnny's letter and the two are addressing the Smiths catalogue issue with Warners together for the first time in some years. It seems likely that the box set will come out some time in the next eighteen months. There's a crack of light ­maybe The Smiths will finally get the treatment they deserve as the best British rock band of the last thirty years.

 
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Johnny Marr interview in The Word (Sep. 2007), Smiths box set details | Log in/Create an Account | Top | 108 comments | Search Discussion
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What kind of guitar is he holding on the cover? (Score:0)
Crikey, it's beautiful -- got a shape like a Jaguar, but might be custom-made, methinks.
Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @08:22AM (#270745)
Two Marr interviews this month... (Score:0)
Apart from Word there's also a Johnny Marr interview in the new issue of Q. Johnny's on the cover (a fold out guitar legends special) and inside he talks through some of his favourite albums including Meat Is Murder.

The box set news is good - but we have heard all this before. A shame Morrissey and Johnny can only talk through letter and are unable to pick up the phone.
Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @08:23AM (#270746)
What we really really want (Score:0)
Can this be true? the box set at last! Would be great if the Troy Tate demos finally got a proper release but I just hope that also we get all the stuff mentioned in Songs That Saved Your Life. The full Queen Is Dead. Frankly Mr Shankly with Trumpet. Sheila with sitar! I'd kill to hear A Matter Of Opinion. I'm just praying that Warners have the sense to share everything mentioned in the Goddard book and not just give us "remastered" official versions.

When Johnny said he sent Morrissey a letter, do you think it was a paper letter or an email? Very intersting.
Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @08:33AM (#270747)
"I can't and won't ­run the band on my own." (Score:1)
Interesting how Marr spoke of the Smiths in the present tense.
jessesamuel -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @08:35AM (#270748)
(User #1984 Info)
 On an occasion of this kind it becomes more than a moral duty to speak one's mind. It becomes a pleasure. -O.W.
You can see why Moz and Marr are pissed at Joyce (Score:0)
They took all the risks (mortgaging their houses) and he takes them to court and runs off with the loot.
Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @09:21AM (#270754)
The Word is the best UK music/culture magazine (Score:1)
Or perhaps it is just my age/demographic.

I can't tell you how much I've been enjoying reading it.
David T (different) * -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @09:40AM (#270757)
(User #256 Info)
 david_t[at]boltblue.com
    Thank you, Andrew! (Score:0)
    I've got to say that is one of the most interesting excerpts I've ever read on this site. Same old Johnny, always moaning, but at least this time he's moaning about something that's highly relevant to all of us who care about The Smiths. Let's hope Moz and Johnny can make Warners see sense!
    Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @10:01AM (#270760)
      He's in Esquire too (Score:0)
      Apart from Word and Q he's in the new issue of Esquire too. Single page interview with a couple of nice photos.

      Sorry I don't have a scanner and I cannot be arsed to type it up.
      Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @11:41AM (#270775)
        Reunine (Score:0)
        I have a simple solution, to a reunine. Obviously Morrissey, and Marr and not happy with Mike, and Andy. If they had a reunine that would generate $25,000,000 they can have a deal in place Morrissey and Marr get Their share in the beginning until what was lost in court is paid back. All parties would be happy. So much money would be made from this where they wouldn't be getting otherwise. Maybe it is wishful thinking.
        Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @02:02PM (#270784)
        Someone bless Johnny. (Score:0)
        Marr put up with a lot of shit from Morrissey in The Smiths. Morrissey tried to treat everyone close to him as surrogate mother, and clearly Johnny got sick of it. I've known people like that in my life, and they should be abandoned before they're given chance to drive you insane.

        So, it's understandable that he is annoyed with Morrissey. Morrissey ran Johnny out of the band because he made Johnny deal with the worst aspects of it, and he is still difficult to communicate with. You would think that Morrissey has matured somewhat since then, but he clearly suffers from permanent adolescents.

        Also, the band being Morrissey & Marr
        contractually has little to do with what Joyce was asking in the court case. Most people on here don't even know what the court case was about, and of course they blindly side with Morrissey like the sheep that they are.

        So, let it be known, Morrissey's feminine nature, and inability to deal with people in a mature, and honest way is what ended The Smiths. His behavior was actually embarrassing.

        "Devious, truculent, and unreliable" absolutely nails Morrissey's mentality.

        Johnny should be given Sainthood after what he dealt with.
        Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @06:24PM (#270804)
        ooh (Score:0)
        Risking all to buy the catalog, and then selling it to Warners with the assumption that they'd keep their promise to treat it with respect, is so a Moz/Marr gesture it's incredible.
        Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @06:59PM (#270807)
          good news (Score:1)
          at last [maybe] a decent back catalog DVD of
          the Smiths

            [well, best off 1 and 2 are must haves]
          Celibate Cry <vauxhall@mail2uk.com> -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @08:51PM (#270811)
          (User #220 Info)
           and the hills are alive with celibate cries
          • Re:good news by poetrylover (Score:1) Friday August 10 2007, @10:54AM
            Has he had some work done? (Score:0)
            ...on his boat race?
            Anonymous -- Wednesday August 08 2007, @09:00PM (#270813)
            The Very Best of the Smiths I and II (Score:1)
            I always felt bad for people whose entry point to the Smiths were these two shitty compliations. Artwork was naff and the track order retarded.
            9 x Fined -- Thursday August 09 2007, @07:15AM (#270855)
            (User #18826 Info)
            No Subject (Score:0)
            Dear Johnny,

            If the sound quality is bad, why don't you just listen to the music on vinyl?
            Anonymous -- Thursday August 09 2007, @04:52PM (#270901)
            • Subject by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday August 10 2007, @12:47AM
              Look what I have! (Score:1)
              Marr is like a trophy wife for that awful band Modest Mouse. It seems they keep him around to show him more than he actually is involved in anything....
              Anatomy_not_destiny -- Thursday August 09 2007, @08:39PM (#270911)
              (User #19782 Info | http://milicacocteau.blogspot.com/ )
                wow... (Score:1)
                he looks... erm, younger. it would be cool to have some sort of book that provided commentary from morrissey & marr about each and every smiths' song. like dvd director's commentary but in book form. there's a pretty cool one out for 69 love songs. maybe one day.
                fut -- Thursday August 09 2007, @09:02PM (#270912)
                (User #401 Info | http://www.omgmyblog.com/ )
                • Re:wow... by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday August 10 2007, @10:45PM
                  Johnny Marr. Fookin class (Score:0)
                  Johnny Marr. Fookin class.
                  Anonymous -- Friday August 10 2007, @02:00AM (#270925)
                  The Music is Immortal (Score:1)
                  Morrissey and Marr will leave this happy planet one day. All that will be left will be the music. They should both be concerned with what is left behind, come together, and at least have a say in the releases and such. The Smiths cache of sights and sounds is THEIR legagy, they should take it into their own hands....frome every little detail from the artwork to the sound remix!!
                  I am encourgaed to read that Morrissey at least responded to Marr.
                  musicmattersman -- Friday August 10 2007, @05:33AM (#270929)
                  (User #18472 Info | http://www.musicmattersman.blogspot.com/ )
                    Breaking News (Score:0)
                    It has just been announced that thee Johnny Marr has asked the lovely Gerard Way for his autograph...RESULT!
                    Anonymous -- Friday August 10 2007, @10:44AM (#270949)
                      I'm so upset. (Score:0)
                      Johnny and Morrissey are 2 big idiots. They owned the rights to their music only to give it away. I can't believe they fell into Warner's trap. They know how greedy and what big liars record companies are. This should serve as a lesson to everyone. Don't every sign anything without reading the contract and get any special provisions in writing.
                      Anonymous -- Friday August 10 2007, @11:06PM (#271003)
                      No, this is Marr's INVITATION (Score:1)
                      I read this excerpt and think that something much larger is at play.

                      He says, "...I can't and won't ­run the band on my own."

                      He speaks of The Smiths in the present tense, just a moment after saying he'd written to Morrissey about the box set. There was an anticipatory tone to his answers in that part of the interview.

                      On Wednesday, jessesamuel had it right.

                      J
                      whitedj <whitedj@yahoo.com> -- Saturday August 11 2007, @05:27PM (#271055)
                      (User #3614 Info)
                       "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." -- Oscar Wilde
                        Smiths in the present tense (Score:0)
                        Johnny Marr refers to the Smiths in the present tense as, in a business sense at least, he and Morrissey have to have some form of a relationship as reissues, royalties etc. have to be tended to. This does not mean that they will ever work together artistically again.
                        Anonymous -- Sunday August 12 2007, @04:06AM (#271071)
                        Nice photos (Score:0)
                        Surfing the Net I found some nice photos at Salford Lads Club, please check this:

                        http://www.smithsphotos.com/

                        http://www.instantmemories.co.uk/fyp-photos.asp?cp os=2
                        Anonymous -- Sunday August 12 2007, @06:57PM (#271096)
                          Marr is a God. (Score:0)
                          He is so much better than Modest Mouse.
                          He must need the dough, re, mi for children's othodontic's bills.
                          I can't imagine any other reason to join this band.
                          Anonymous -- Sunday August 12 2007, @08:09PM (#271097)
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