"The Smiths: Johnny Marr looks back" - The Independent
posted by davidt on Friday February 24 2006, @10:00AM

Belligerent Ghoul sends the link:

The Smiths: Johnny Marr looks back - The Independent

The Smiths' most celebrated album, The Queen Is Dead, was recorded 20 years ago. Here, their celebrated guitarist reflects

Published: 24 February 2006

 
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"The Smiths: Johnny Marr looks back" - The Independent | Log in/Create an Account | Top | 76 comments | Search Discussion
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Best quote IMO (Score:1)
"Morrissey had the big corner room with the Jacuzzi. I'm joking about the Jacuzzi, but he definitely had the best room, partly because we liked making him feel good. We all loved each other, and Morrissey spent more time alone than the rest of us."
fut -- Friday February 24 2006, @10:23AM (#199942)
(User #401 Info | http://www.flickr.com/photos/iamklaus/ )
[ Reply to this comment ]
Great article... (Score:0)
And so well written. I wonder if Mssr. Marr had help.
I remember that Red Wedge tour. Apparently Paul Weller was an exceptional twat (normally he's a real prick to be around, but he was shooting daggers at johnny the whole tour... made me lose interest in the style council, to be honest).
Sounds like Morrissey was showing first signs of the Diva-like behavior he's since cultivated.
God Bless you Johnny Marr. Without you, Morrissey is only half as good as he used to be.
Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @10:33AM (#199952)
[ Reply to this comment ]
again about that 8 min version of queen (Score:0)
man i would give my liver to hear that
Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @10:53AM (#199966)
[ Reply to this comment ]
gud stuff (Score:0)
great read that, nice one johnny, the smiths were excellent, morrissey continues, shame you arent still working together, morrissey's work hasnt suffered, he's a living legend, who will be admired when we are all dust, here's to morrissey and marr
Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @11:01AM (#199969)
[ Reply to this comment ]
    Two Decades Later (Score:1)
    A great article. I have heard most of these facts before, but they somehow make more sense after all these years. Marr had ran himself down, was on the verge of collapse, and couldn't go on. Morrissey has had a hard time forgiving Marr, because in many ways, Marr's departure from the band killed Morrissey. But now Morrissey can now sing about the experience in "You Have Killed Me" and a dozen other songs. And, of course, as those songs say, Moz forgives him.
    everdene -- Friday February 24 2006, @11:03AM (#199970)
    (User #4392 Info)
    [ Reply to this comment ]
      Smiths reunion? Hardly! (Score:1)
      "I last spoke to Morrissey 18 months ago, just about business stuff. Whether we'll ever be on friendly terms again is hard to say, but it's nice to be nice, isn't it?"
      wemissumoz * <{nhsgary} {at} {yahoo.com}> -- Friday February 24 2006, @11:11AM (#199972)
      (User #4088 Info)
      [ Reply to this comment ]
        It's very bittersweet (Score:3, Insightful)
        It's a bit like the end of Withnail and I. In fact, now I've said that, I can see, maybe, where Moz was coming from with the Vauxhall and I title.
        Like Marwood, Marr breaks up the greatest partnership either man ever had and walks off into the sunset; not out of spite, or an attempt to ruin the friendship, but in the hope of leading an easier life. This leaves Morrissey / Withnail waxing lyrical to the wolves and facing an uncertain future.
        The trouble is, when a friendship breaks down, neither person can see how their actions were interpreted by the other. For instance, Mozzer's occasional absence was never a spiteful gesture to the band, but most likely a cripplingly shy day for the man where he didn't want to face friends, let alone an audience. And Johnny's departure, well, sometimes you have to do things for your own good and hope everyone else will eventually understand. It seems that they should have sat and talked things over at the time. But hindsight is a wonderful thing and who knows what else went on between them that's taken longer to forgive or forget.
        It was a sweet article though, and to look at it from a simple point of view, damn a renuion to hell; it'd just be nice if they could phone one another for a chat once in a while. I hate to see friends go their separate ways.

        Mozzersgirl -- Friday February 24 2006, @11:56AM (#199991)
        (User #14229 Info)
        But we can't give you love and rhetoric without the blood. Blood is compulsory.
        [ Reply to this comment ]
        • Re:It's very bittersweet by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday February 24 2006, @12:07PM
          • Re:It's very bittersweet by Anonymous (Score:0) Friday February 24 2006, @12:15PM
            • Re:It's very bittersweet (Score:2, Insightful)
              That's a lovely thought. Same here, I don't want them to kiss and make up so that the Smiths can come back, I want them to become friends again. They obviously loved each other so much, and it breaks my heart that they still haven't sorted it out.
              SarahG -- Friday February 24 2006, @12:31PM (#200009)
              (User #15576 Info)
              [ Reply to this comment | Parent ]
            • Re:It's very bittersweet by Dallow (Score:1) Friday February 24 2006, @12:35PM
              • Yes, yes, yes. (Score:2, Interesting)
                Bittersweet is exactly the right word. For some reason lately I can't stop thinking about Morrissey and Marr and how sadly it all ended, and you've made some very keen and insightful observations. I was actually quite happy (in a rather sad way, naturally) at how gentle and hostility-free Johnny's words for Morrissey were. I know there were some comments above about the whole "room with the Jacuzzi" thing and Morrissey's diva nature vs. Johnny's urge to paint Moz that way for his own benefit—but I actually saw neither view in Johnny's words. I thought it was genuinely sweet—“we liked making him feel good. We all loved each other, and Morrissey spent more time alone than the rest of us.” To me, that doesn’t sound as though it’s meant to be self-aggrandizing or a dig at Moz at all, just true and simple. And there were others, too—“Our relationship was very emotional, complex and deep,” of course, but another that really got me was: “We'd sit face to face about two feet away. I'd have an acoustic guitar and I'd be holding a recording Walkman between my knees to get a rough arrangement down. We wouldn't breathe out until I'd pressed the stop button.” My god, how vivid that is, and really, very poignant in the detail and clarity of the memory.

                And I absolutely, utterly I agree with your sentiment on the reunion—I've never been sure I wanted one, as nothing would be worse than one that went badly or awkwardly or even one that was merely average, etc., etc.—I have the very strong urge to leave the Smiths as they are/were, untainted and untouchable. But oh how I'd love for those two to find some peace with one other and to be friends of some sort once more.
                despair and i * -- Friday February 24 2006, @12:55PM (#200027)
                (User #12877 Info | http://nonameslob.com/ )
                ...every last inch of me's yours...
                [ Reply to this comment | Parent ]
              • Re:It's very bittersweet by BLACKSTAFF34 (Score:1) Saturday February 25 2006, @12:37AM
                The Beauty Of The Smiths (Score:0)
                I guess that Manchester benefit concert really knocked some sense into Johnny.

                Back on stage, playing with Andy again and with two of the best Smiths songs really made Johnny appreciate what he had accomplished.

                It's nice to hear nice comments from the man about his former partner. I don't want to see a reunion, I'd rather just seem them become friends again.
                Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @01:13PM (#200035)
                [ Reply to this comment ]
                  Morrissey is looking forward (Score:0)
                  while Johnny Marr looks back to 1985.

                  This i because Marr realises the healers are so dire, nobody wants to ehar about them. So he can only promote his new album by promoting the Smiths.

                  Serves him right for breaking up the band!

                  broken
                  Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @01:33PM (#200045)
                  [ Reply to this comment ]
                  Aww... Why can't they just get along? (Score:0)
                  He sounds like a man that can make peace with a situation. I wish they could all get back together, but with the recent news on Mike Joyce, I don't think that will happen, but you never know...

                  Peace,
                  Mirra and John
                  Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @01:53PM (#200050)
                  [ Reply to this comment ]
                    Very Cool (Score:2, Informative)

                    I loved this artice. Johnny sounds like he really is trying to keep open the chance of
                    him and Morrissey getting back to friendlier terms again someday. I had the pleasure of meeting Johnny Marr twice FULL STORY & PIX [tripod.com]
                      HERE and I asked him on July 5th, 2002 about his Ex-band members in the Smiths
                    and he said "I love all those guys. How can you play that many shows and spend
                    that much time together in the studio and not love someone?"



                    I did NOT want to be the 1,000,000, 000-th dude to ask him about a possible
                    Smiths reunion...

                    Bless you, Johnny!

                    Cheers,

                    Jay

                    Mud * <reversethis-{moc ... {ta} {odnatyaj}> -- Friday February 24 2006, @02:00PM (#200051)
                    (User #454 Info | http://jaytando.tripod.com/meeting-morrissey/ )
                    I'm really just Some Totally Random Moz Fan
                    [ Reply to this comment ]
                      Great interview. (Score:0)
                      Love Johnny. Love him. Reading this article reminds me again why the breakup of The Smiths was so tragic. It's hard to say that considering Morrissey has made so many great records as a solo artist, but you just have to shed a tear when something as special as The Smiths goes away.

                      -- Worm
                      Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @03:58PM (#200083)
                      [ Reply to this comment ]
                      lookit. (Score:0)
                      I remember when The Smiths broke up. Everyone just figured Morrissey was finito w/o Marr, and it kinda turned out the other way, didn't it? So much for the "trophy boy precious diva" lead singer theory with respect to The Smiths. OK, so Morrissey has a knack for picking side men, hence is solo career. But really, what has Marr produced? Electronic? Boomslang? If that's so great, why aren't we all sporting Johnny Marr haircuts and posting on marr-solo.com???? Absolutely no comparison. As far as reunions go, it's obviously up to Morrissey. I don't see what he'd get out of it at this point.
                      Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @05:56PM (#200111)
                      [ Reply to this comment ]
                      • Re:lookit. by Anonymous (Score:0) Monday February 27 2006, @05:55AM
                        some naff show in Italy? (Score:0)
                        I feel you Johnny. Nobody normal could put up with it forever.

                        And to the people who think Morrissey is looking forward and Johnny back, my only word will be "parrot".

                        Now, Coco how do you like the water in your jaccuzi? A bath might inspire you to write a song or two.
                        You're so easily inspired, mind you. If ever so slightly repetitive.

                        So far Coco, has learnt 10 words: nme, boxer, beer, gucci, lawyer, palm, hotel, tour, plane, album.
                        And he's only 46! Well done Coco.

                        You know you're better off without him, Johnny. You're not fooling me.
                        Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @09:24PM (#200128)
                        [ Reply to this comment ]
                        • Re:sour.... by Anonymous (Score:0) Saturday February 25 2006, @12:38AM
                          But when you're tied to your boxer's apron (Score:0)
                          Nooooooo one talks about

                          Life is very long
                          When you're Morrissey...

                          life is veeery lo-ong...
                          Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @10:04PM (#200132)
                          [ Reply to this comment ]
                            Jesus please help me (Score:0)
                            The creative alliance of the two greatest souls alive today was severed due to lack of van drivers in the world.
                            Granvik -- Saturday February 25 2006, @12:27AM (#200139)
                            (User #14586 Info)
                            [ Reply to this comment ]
                              Stephen Street (Score:1, Interesting)
                              I like how Johnny threw Street's name in there too, citing him as a crucial piece of the Smiths.

                              While I think Street is a good producer and songwriter, he often tries to get people to feel sorry for him. He makes himself look like the good guy too much...especially during the Viva Hate sessions (about how Reilly didn't want to do this and that and even when Paresi didn't want to listen to him).

                              And then when the ex-Smiths came back into the
                              fold (how he felt he was pushed to one side and that the Smiths were taking over).

                              And then the delay of the single Interesting Drug (how he hadn't gotten any credit for his involvement on Viva Hate).

                              Poor Stephen.
                              Anonymous -- Saturday February 25 2006, @08:05AM (#200174)
                              [ Reply to this comment ]
                              Clear Waters (Score:1)
                              What a lovely memoir, Belligerent Ghoul! Filled with details, told coherently and with flawlessness. This article is a really the "imprint" of palatable lucid moment of Johny Marr's life. A moment in which all that lingering 20 year-old bitterness has been taken away, the type that we saw in past denigrating comments of his on Moz's solo work. He's a terrific one to talk to, too bad I don't see more of that clearness of mind reflected more in his art. He'd make a terrific lyricist, if he'd let himself become one, I guess...
                              Mrs. Woolf -- Sunday February 26 2006, @12:38PM (#200302)
                              (User #14157 Info)
                              [ Reply to this comment ]
                                Morrissey's new Album (Score:0)
                                Folha de Sao Paulo online:
                                Info on Morrissey's new Album, in Portuguese:

                                http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/ilustrada/ult90 u58284.shtml
                                Anonymous -- Monday February 27 2006, @05:53AM (#200373)
                                [ Reply to this comment ]
                                  Marr the magnanimous (Score:1)
                                  It's a great shame that apart neither has achieved the magic of the Smiths. Johnny Marr hasn't set the world alight, but on the other hand he probably hasn't written a lyric as bad as "There are explosive kegs between my legs".

                                  Johnny Marr has rarely made slighting remarks about Morrissey, post Smiths, whereas Morrissey has rarely made anything but slighting comments about Johnny. Marr has shown far more class and dignity over the years. I wonder, though, whether if they did record together they could even approach the Smiths in quality again.

                                  Regards
                                  Robert.
                                  Robert Stanfield -- Wednesday March 01 2006, @08:49AM (#200810)
                                  (User #8298 Info)
                                  [ Reply to this comment ]
                                  Re:I still love him... (Score:2, Insightful)
                                  He always seems to look back, but never forward.

                                  I think he is a brilliant guitarist..but please Mr. Marr look to the future for once!
                                  WhyteGrrrl <WhyteGrrrl@gmail.com> -- Friday February 24 2006, @10:24AM (#199943)
                                  (User #13540 Info | http://www.alainmatters.com/ )
                                  No One Can Hold A Candle To You
                                  [ Reply to this comment | Parent ]
                                    Re:I still love him... (Score:2, Insightful)
                                    I imagine if anyone asked him about his current or future projects, he'd be more than happy to talk about those instead; it's not like JM is calling up the BBC and asking, "Who can I talk to about the harpsichord in 'Rush and a Push'?" The problem is that anything he is doing right now is very boring.

                                    Several facts: 1) the Smiths had two principal songwriters; 2) one of them seems completely uninterested in nostalgia interviews; 3) JM is a guitar god who gives good quote. And, if Morrissey had never had any solo success, he'd be yammering on about TQID too.
                                    Ship Erect <steven@shiperect.com> -- Friday February 24 2006, @10:48AM (#199963)
                                    (User #15399 Info | http://www.shiperect.com/ )
                                    [ Reply to this comment | Parent ]
                                    • Re:I still love him... by everdene (Score:1) Friday February 24 2006, @10:51AM
                                      • Re:I still love him... by Anonymous (Score:0) Saturday February 25 2006, @12:44PM
                                        Re:I can't imagine (Score:0)
                                        finally! someone who is not blinded by BAD 80s guitar...

                                        but good comeback to the boomslang comment. no really. but what can one say of the worst noise ever recorded? thank you healers! :)

                                        dumbass.
                                        Anonymous -- Friday February 24 2006, @03:16PM (#200070)
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