"The Smiths: Better than the Beatles?" - Salon article, interview with Tony Fletcher

The Beatles are overrated, The Smiths are underrated

Wonderful read, thanks for this.

Originally Posted by mcrickson

Wonderful read, thanks for this.

I thought it was a great interview as well. Although, the title is a bit misleading.

Whether they're the best or not (whatever that means) can be debated, but I think the Smiths are certainly more unique and less imitable than the Beatles.

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Originally Posted by realitybites

No band captured the tormented teen soul like The Smiths. The author of a new 700-page bio explains why they matter.

The terrific British music writer Tony Fletcher has just published the definitive biography of the group, “A Light That Never Goes Out: The Enduring Saga of The Smiths,” taking almost 700 pages to tell the story of just 70 songs and this essential slice of the 1980s.

Article/Interview in Salon

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As songwriters, yes, The Smiths were more talented than the Beatles, but The Smiths wouldn't exist without the Beatles. Even if The Smiths weren't fans of the Beatles, everyone that they were influenced by (besides the girl groups and early motown) were. So every band that Johnny and Morrissey loved (which gave them a musical goal to shoot for) and hated (giving them a musical goal to rally against) wouldn't exist, and I don't think they would've had such a great drive to prove they were the best band of their era.

Smiths > Beatles

the smiths had the best of johnny and me, i have not heard that quote before, would have been a better title for the article

I grew up listening to a lot of the Beatles, but they were "my mother's music" to me
however, I do have to admit, The Smiths were one of the few bands of "mine" my mother really liked
so to me they are inextricably linked, both being really great, just from different eras

Really, really enjoyed that article. Fletcher really knows his stuff when it comes to Morrissey & Marr - and kudos to him for being honest enough to discuss Morrissey's sexuality and "Catholic repression" etc. A great article.

Originally Posted by jimmotherwell

the smiths had the best of johnny and me, i have not heard that quote before, would have been a better title for the article

It's a great quote, but out of context in the interview - Moz said that in 1990 when his solo career had barely begun, and Fletcher makes it sound as though it's some sort of nostalgic comment from 2010 or something. I think it's pretty clear these days that Moz doesn't want to romanticise the Smiths to the detriment of his solo career.

I didn't get a good impression of Fletcher from that interview. He speaks with glib assurance of things he can't possibly know. Which usually s typical of the worst kind of muso journo writing. Anyone read his REM book?

I'd suggest The Beatles have had better books written about them

Originally Posted by Amy

Really, really enjoyed that article. Fletcher really knows his stuff when it comes to Morrissey & Marr - and kudos to him for being honest enough to discuss Morrissey's sexuality and "Catholic repression" etc. A great article.

I agree. I am looking forward to reading the book. Perhaps after the holidays.

Originally Posted by Amy

It's a great quote, but out of context in the interview - Moz said in 1990 when his solo career had barely begun, and Fletcher makes it sound as though it's some sort of nostalgic comment from 2010 or something. I think it's pretty clear these days that Moz doesn't want to romanticise the Smiths to the detriment of his solo career.

Great insight.

Originally Posted by Qvist

I didn't get a good impression of Fletcher from that interview. He speaks with glib assurance of things he can't possibly know. Which usually s typical of the worst kind of muso journo writing. Anyone read his REM book?

No good? He mentions R.E.M. several times in this article. I figured he had written about them or was in the process of doing so.

Here is an excerpt from the book, published online in Time, Dec 3, 2012: Knocking on Morrissey’s Door: Remembering the Day The Smiths Met

Originally Posted by Amy

It's a great quote, but out of context in the interview - Moz said in 1990 when his solo career had barely begun, and Fletcher makes it sound as though it's some sort of nostalgic comment from 2010 or something. I think it's pretty clear these days that Moz doesn't want to romanticise the Smiths to the detriment of his solo career.

thanks amy, 1990 does add context,