The Return of the King? - statement from Len Brown on his contribution to this week's NME

Len Brown sends the statement about his rare contribution to this week's NME:

The Return of the King?

Very very nice to be quoted by my old employers in this week's New Morrissey Express. It makes me nostalgic for those heady Eighties days when journalists hated big-mouthed Moriarty but publishers realized his working class mug sold thousands of copies. Interesting piece by Gavin Haynes with useful insights from Mssrs Walker, Manzur and Tobias. But, in truth, if I do qualify as being one of "the people closest to him" in 2014 then I'm afraid Morrissey must be in a very lonely place. "His Greatest Ever Comeback?" Plenty of enthusiastic reviews suggest this but surely the main point is that, love him or loathe him, he's back infecting the airwaves, extending the subject matter of the art form and - whether he likes the old prizefighter tag or not ("the Crumlin Hardchaw" according to Damien Dempsey) - the showman seems to be unbeaten and unbowed. Cue the usual Radio Four questions about why he expresses such pessimistic and negative views of our world in lyrics. (Wouldn't it make more sense to question why so much of early 21st century pop music seems to be about absolutely nothing at all?)

Len Brown, Halfway down the Poly staircase, Giggleswick
 
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I love Len. He was gracious enough to actually reply to my amazon review comment on his excellent 'Meetings with Morrissey' book. Top man. I'd greatly repect anything Len has to say.
 
I met him in Glen Eagles hotel. He was with 3 people who I assumed were friends and/or family. Once I'd approached and spoken to Morrissey it became apparent that they were his tour manager and 2 security guys. Felt sorry for Moz a bit.
 
Anonymous said:
How does anyone actually know he's lonely? Come on!
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I think Len's remark was really meant to be a comment on the NME's obvious sensationalism, using the tagline of "the people closest to" Morrissey in order to make it appear as though they'd gotten some grand exclusive interview with Moz's nearest and dearest.
 
Anonymous said:
I met him in Glen Eagles hotel. He was with 3 people who I assumed were friends and/or family. Once I'd approached and spoken to Morrissey it became apparent that they were his tour manager and 2 security guys. Felt sorry for Moz a bit.
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He does seem to only hang out with those on his payroll, but what do I know?
 
Anonymous said:
I met him in Glen Eagles hotel. He was with 3 people who I assumed were friends and/or family. Once I'd approached and spoken to Morrissey it became apparent that they were his tour manager and 2 security guys. Felt sorry for Moz a bit.
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You have to remember that Morrissey is an introvert. Introverts have a lesser need for socializing and recharge their energy when they're alone. In a few interviews I've seen of Morrissey as an adult he said he no longer identifies with the place he was in when he wrote songs for the Smiths but he still sings them because they're good songs. I kind of think his life is a lot better than people assume.
 
Brown is right....so much music today is about nothing....

Morrissey's new album is so damn good.....powerful, like in Raw Power.......He's doing it his way. I hope all you fans are enjoying this as much as I am.....
 
I thought the article was a strange one, personally. The band members seemed to have one brief quote each regarding the album. There was very little in the way of new information; the piece seemed to talk about the events leading up to the 2004 comeback and it was a sort of 'potted history' of '00's Morrissey. It also looked like the writer trawled Moz-solo for some recent news type stuff. Why mention the 'PAWS'/We Are Scientists simultaneous performance malarky? The Kristeen Young germ-giving? OK, so cancelling shows has been a pretty hot topic, I can see that maybe being given a passing mention in the article. As a 'puff piece' it was lame, new info was scant and there was too much too-ing and fro-ing. I now remember why I stopped buying that magazine.
 
Anonymous said:
You have to remember that Morrissey is an introvert. Introverts have a lesser need for socializing and recharge their energy when they're alone. In a few interviews I've seen of Morrissey as an adult he said he no longer identifies with the place he was in when he wrote songs for the Smiths but he still sings them because they're good songs. I kind of think his life is a lot better than people assume.
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Of course it is! He's no longer locked in a London flat by himself all day ( ever read the day in the life article from the smiths days?) He's probably lounging by the pool while Major-domo caters to his every whim. He may still be anti-social, but he's not feeling the despair he did when in his 20s.
 
ACTON said:
I love Len. He was gracious enough to actually reply to my amazon review comment on his excellent 'Meetings with Morrissey' book. Top man. I'd greatly repect anything Len has to say.
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Thank you guys for these kind words! The beers are on me next time!
 
Anonymous said:
You have to remember that Morrissey is an introvert. Introverts have a lesser need for socializing and recharge their energy when they're alone. In a few interviews I've seen of Morrissey as an adult he said he no longer identifies with the place he was in when he wrote songs for the Smiths but he still sings them because they're good songs. I kind of think his life is a lot better than people assume.
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I think his life WAS in a better place, circa 1993 - 2003, and that's probably the period most of those interviews come from that you're thinking of. But between 'You are the Quarry' and 'Ringleader of the Tormentors' I perceive a real change of demeanour. It may be my imagination, of course, but to me he has looked and sounded ever since that album, like a man living on borrowed time. I wouldn't be surprised if he was diagnosed HIV positive during that period.
 
Anonymous said:
I think his life WAS in a better place, circa 1993 - 2003, and that's probably the period most of those interviews come from that you're thinking of. But between 'You are the Quarry' and 'Ringleader of the Tormentors' I perceive a real change of demeanour. It may be my imagination, of course, but to me he has looked and sounded ever since that album, like a man living on borrowed time. I wouldn't be surprised if he was diagnosed HIV positive during that period.
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Yet another example of an outrageous claim based on knowing nothing. And yes it is your imagination.
 
marred said:
Yet another example of an outrageous claim based on knowing nothing. And yes it is your imagination.
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Fine, it's my imagination - thankfully, I've got one.

No, it's not a claim, it's speculation. Read the post again, dipshit.

No, it's not outrageous. People contract HIV. It happens. Sorry to burst your bubble.
 
Anonymous said:
I think his life WAS in a better place, circa 1993 - 2003, and that's probably the period most of those interviews come from that you're thinking of. But between 'You are the Quarry' and 'Ringleader of the Tormentors' I perceive a real change of demeanour. It may be my imagination, of course, but to me he has looked and sounded ever since that album, like a man living on borrowed time. I wouldn't be surprised if he was diagnosed HIV positive during that period.
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Stop it right now. You should be ashamed.
 
Sunday Girl Everyday said:
Stop it right now. You should be ashamed.
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They have a right to speculate. I don't see him acting rosy from 93-03 ( he seemed more content during the Jake years, however), but something life changingly bad may have happened to cause him to be so erratic lately.
 
Anonymous said:
They have a right to speculate. I don't see him acting rosy from 93-03 ( he seemed more content during the Jake years, however), but something life changingly bad may have happened to cause him to be so erratic lately.
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Or good. Fantasy takes a back seat when reality slaps you in the face.
 
CrystalGeezer said:
Or good. Fantasy takes a back seat when reality slaps you in the face.
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If he was madly in love as you always claim he is, it would be pretty ridiculous how he's been behaving. Even peoe in love have to work and maintain their responsibilities.
 
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