Ah,Morrissey. Anyone that that has ever dealt with the man has been down the same road. Its a pity that what makes you great also can create and encourage such dysfunctionality.

This is quite heartbreaking.....I hate to say it but now I'm even more dissapointed with Morrissey than I was before. I don't see his problem. Sometimes I suspect that Morrissey lacks any kind of respect for other people.

I'll take one anyway!

i talked to the singer of the sheila divine who opened for moz on a few dates on the oye esteban tour...i asked him what he thought of moz....he said "to be honest with you i met him him a total of 10 seconds" he also said "he's what you think he would be like" draw your own conclusions...who here really thought moz was all nicey nice anyways?

I believe that you had good intentions for making the DVD.
And I also believe what you say in regards to Morrissey not responding to you until the last minute.
If he is that upset over the DVD because of the money, I think that he should release something on his own and quit his complaining.

Well, I have never told this story on line but I would like to share it now. I have been a Moz fan for about 12 years now. It was always my dream to see him and meet him in person. I have now seen him live 3 times from the front row each time. It is amazing to see how he can connect with you in the length of a concert. He makes you feel as if he has always known you (eye contact, hand shakes, little looks). It is hard to explain unless you have been there. Anyways, about 5 years ago, I bought a gift for Morrissey that I promised I would give him if I ever got close enough. A gift that I knew would have sentimental value to him. I finally was able to hand it to him on his last tour. I was sceptical as to whether he would ever look at it again. When I finally met him at one of the in-stores (almost a year later) I started explaining that I handed him a gift and he instantly finished my sentence and described the gift to ME. He said it was amazing and was so happy to get it. He instantly got up and gave me a huge hug even as security told him to sit down. The point of this story is that he is who he is. Let him be that and if so many people did not have so many preconceived notions about him, they would not be so judgemental.

I went to that site, I saw the pictures, I was born in São Paulo btw. Then I noticed that on the down left side of the photos was written: www.southwithmorrissey.com.
So, the guy-with-some-other-name has never bothered with legal issues, being so superior to that, but never minded that people believed that the copyright of the photographs belonged to him or to his site????
Ah, Morrissey, I'm so glad, I knew you were right all the time!!!

OK, so if this is true, I'll take back what I said.

However, i would hope someone amongst either side has proof of what they are saying. Morrissey can't simply claim to own the images on the film because he waved at the camera, and I don't exactly know what Moz was thinking would happen to the footage after someone had flown all that way to film the concert and be allowed to have personal access to many things that even the girls of moztour.com and moz-solo couldn't get a hold of. I would have hoped after the legal debacle of what happened with not getting it in writing with Joyce and Rourke he would have learned to be more careful about these sorts of things.

Somebody fucked up. Who it was, we don't know, although, J. Barry could have done something to protect himself by getting everyone to sign waivers. Business is business, folks, and if they refuse to sign the legalese, then you don't even bother picking up your camera and flying to south america. I dont' care who it is coz there are many sharks out there. Although if it is true that this guy tried to contact Moz, Morrissey should learn at this point that if he doesn't get someone to deal with it early enough on, you are going to end up with messes like this. If you ignore problems, they don't disappear. They get worse and worse.

But neither side makes a whole lot of sense. I'm sorry. Both of you screwed up.

Would you please go to hell?

This is a very respectable statement.

Where are you Morrissey?

in the end it is not clear from j.barry's response if the dvd will be released or not.
first he says everyone who bought one will get one, then he says that maybe only david t. and morrissey will see it.
is it just me or is this guy a flake?

If it's not about money then why not make the whole DVD downloadable from your site?
or
Is it all about money?

the bootlegs are all we have to keep the moz legacy alive.nobody is going to sign morrissey at this age in his life i think morrissey should start his own record label something like a moz records with great bands on the label well,hey it's just a thought even if it is a little corny to think about it.

for christ's sake, if morrissey put out new product every now and then, this wouldn't be a topic up for discussion. obviously what's happening is that that this DVD is not in his control and as with most things, the existence of South With Morrissey is a control issue. There's no way in hell that J. Berry would have this kind of access to Morrissey & Co. unless Morrissey himself gave him the green light. Now it sounds like he's had a change of heart and Berry's work is doomed for the toilet becasue our beloved "Moz" is waving his royal hand in dismisal on what sounds like the most interesting look into the real world of Morrissey since Johnny Rogan's book (of course this is the real deal since Morrissey has obviously given J. Berry all access). I don't think we really have to worry about this matter though--eventually this DVD (and videotaped copies) will make it to eBay and we'll all pay the inflated price for it -- I know I will unless J. Berry keeps selling it through his site. If the issue is money, the guy said he'd split the profits 50/50--Morrissey's not going to get a better deal from any record company than that. And I can't imagine that his Gucci wardrobe is gettting any cheaper to maintain.

I don't see the problem.

Someone went on tour with Morrissey, and with the permission of Steven M himself, filmed what he saw. After which, Morrissey balked at releasing the film, so the filmmaker is releasing on his own. Its not an official release, it’s an all access bootleg.

Morrissey, his lawyers, management, whatever, don't want this DVD released, either by itself, or without their control. Ok. The lawyer even posts a message on M-solo, saying so much, even imploring us not to buy it. That’s within their rights, and Morrissey should express his opinions when he feels strongly about something. I don’t see the problem.

Morrissey if you don't want this film released, of course you should not have allowed it to be filmed. If you have a real legal leg to stand on, than stop its release. I won't hold it against you. Of course you know it will seep out, just because it exists. You can however hamper it, increase the value of it, make it harder to buy. By all means, if it’s your legal right, than do so.

When an artist ask the fans to do something, whether it’s Free Tibet or not buy a DVD, fans should not blindly follow their orders. Anyone who tells you different is wrong. You are a fan, not a dog. You should think about what the artist said and decide for yourself, how you feel about something and whether you agree with the artist.

I am glad the Morrissey spokesperson told me that this DVD is illegal and that he thinks I should not buy it, let me see if I agree…

When I buy something the main thing I am looking for, is the product WORTH the price. There is of course, the usual, is the seller usury, was something harmed to make the product, was the product stolen, etc. I guess this is where some fans are making a connection.
  They are saying, YES! The film is stolen images of Morrissey and therefore its morally wrong to buy it. Just so everyone knows, morals, aren’t and don't necessarily always follow laws. With that said, I don't view this film as being stolen, or that someone is being harmed by it being released.

A concert happened, it was allowed to be filmed. If this person doesn’t release it, is Morrissey going to release it? To me bootlegs are like museum pieces, artifacts, recordings of history. Thank one and all that someone, somewhere was an entrepreneur who recorded the many Smiths bootleg shows that exist. Thank goodness. If not for those who either through greed or love recorded those Smiths concerts, all record of those nights would be lost in the minds of only those in attendance. No bootlegs are good and this is a bootleg.

This isn't someone on a corner selling a bloody gold chain, its not stolen goods, in anything but the legal sense. It’s not a personal home video, it was a public concert. Why be shy about buying it? Because a spokesperson for Morrissey said I shouldn’t buy it?

Personally I don't see any quandary buying the DVD.

The one thing that did make my blood boil, the one thing that made curse to high hell was this line

“I ask Morrissey-solo NOT to promote this film”

What the fuck is that all about?

Preach to me regarding Morrissey wishes about silly legal and finance issues, but don’t ever, ever go any further and imply and any blame or slight of hand, on the website that has done more to more to sell and encourage the music, image and concerts of Morrissey than anyone. What gall! I swear, if Morrissey himself said this I’d feel the same. Here you have this site, the people who run it, who visit, all day wasting our youth away talking about and celebrating “Morrissey”. We never get a personal message from the messiah, which is fine, really. Yet when the one message we get from some spokesperson, has the nerve to try and tell this site what their content should be, well that pisses me off.

Seriously, it’s an insult if I ever heard one.

If I was Morrissey, right now I’d be laying off my spokesperso

Read the rest of this comment...

i wish you all the luck, your gonna need it though, the man and his ma have ways of twisting everything. As he has no intention of touring( no one will work with him) or recording (record co's wont touch him)I feel the fans are owed something.good luck!!!

that if it were up to Morrissey we would not have seen "James Dean is Not Dead", "Exit Smiling" or his essays on the New York Dolls? He acceepted 50 pounds from babylon books in 1978 as an overall payment...and of course changed his mind.

I`m so very sickened.Reading all these cruel,unkind comments people are making about Morrissey has broken my heart.Because I thought we were all here bacause we love him.Morrissey`s music has given me immense pleasure and comfort he means the world to me.I would never ever say such cruel and unkind about him things about him.Not only are the comments being said about him unkind they are also untrue.And all this Moz bashing turns my stomach.Also why does it matter if Morrissey has money now?He wasn`t born with it he made it all on his own.And again if someone had taken away something that was rightfully yours would you be upset?Just let him be and stop bashing him he doesn`t deserve this.BTW I think that the story Anonymous wrote about meeting Morrissey was sweet.Name another artist who reaches out and touches his audience during concerts.Name another artist who lets his fans rush the stage just so they can touch him.I think these facts illustrate what a sweet ,kind, and gentle soul Morrissey is.And by the way Julia Riley runs a fine Morrissey fanzine.There is no need to bash her.-Tibby-How I Love All Of The Very Mozzer Things Of Life........

What a wonderful story but it's hard to judge exactly what has been the cause of the breakdown in communication between the two parties.

For me, the possibly delightful prospect of watching Morrissey during a wonderful series of concerts would be such an amazing musical moment - especially since the lack of substancial material from the late 90's onwards.

I'd have thought that on first inspection, Morrissey would be pretty upset with the overall quality from the stills. Goodness knows what the rest of the film is like. The whole point to this is that Morrissey is not some jumped up singer with a crap band. The man deserves so much better. Is all that we are going to remember from such an eventful series of concerts (and hard work) this insignificant product ?

I'm sorry that my views are so destructive for the poor guy involved, but it's so hard to put down anything which could be seen to be positive. What a wonderfully wasted opportunity.

Morrissey, as a total professional, must be surrounded by real idiots to get himself into
this position. I can't think of anything that is such as big a kick in the face as this - to all the support team around him. I don't know
if he was doing all the work himself around this time but I really doubt it.

Hazard.

No, I really don't...

Just send me the damned DVD I have ordered, and make it quick!

I don't have a login but I was curious about the background of J. Barry and DV Arts Ltd which is the company selling this DVD. The address on the web page is Suite 387, 37 Store Street, Bloomsbury.

It's not a crime to use a Mail Boxes Etc. for a business address. ("Suite" my ass, however. "Box," just "Box.") If you're buying a bootleg you probably expect nothing less. But it does make the seller's response seem even more disingenuous than it did the first time I read it. As if he doesn't know he's sketchy. If it's "all about trust," well, then I guess it's about trusting a guy not to run off with your money, despite a pseudonym, a euphemistic mailing address, no film credits, and a probably meaningless company name. You only have to wait 28 days to find out for sure. It's probably fine.

Also, I think this is very different from a bootleg -- an audience or soundboard recording -- because of the matter of access. I'm not surprised Morrissey didn't have a contract with him. He has no film work to his name, or if he does he is keeping quiet about it. Morrissey wouldn't just give me a film contract either. It's routine for people in that position to work on spec, meaning "see what you come up with and if it's any good, we'll talk." Morrissey gave Barry an extraordinary opportunity that also carried some risk. Whether that was wise or not, it was generous.

So it didn't work out. That doesn't mean you act like you were doing Morrissey a favor by filming your "personal interpretation" of his work. It doesn't mean you sell that work as if you weren't selling him without consent.

He's obviously put a lot of work into his film, but I just don't feel J. Barry has earned my $29. No amount of misused, hijacked anti-corporate rhetoric will change that.

David

Is this was a porn video,I would have understood all the fuss from the Morrissey camp. Something really vile going on in there? Something that the main person would really feel like not releasing? It's just another bootleg for God's sake. Not to mention some nameless post from some spokesperson...I don't give a ****.If this thing was sold at the marketplace,or anywhre else, it would have gone ok. Just an other one. We all do have loads of bootlegs.
The only good thing about all this is that we seem to be pretty well monitored by moz's web slaves.Or even by himself.

I find J. Barry's statement to be VERY credible. Nothing else needs to be said.

First of all, Morrissey verbally agreed to this project which is considered a legal contract. Second of all, J Barry sent him a first version copy and Morrissey never responded. Morrissey had his chance to reject the deal. Then J Barry sends him the final version. Again Morrissey declines his right to end the deal. Therefore, because there were no rejections from Morrissey or his "people" J Barry has full right, per their verbal contract, to release the video. Now that the video has been mass produced and advertised Morrissey decides to take back the deal. Morrissey I love you but fuck off. The way I see it Morrissey had reasonable time to back out and didn't. He should not be able to stand in the middle of this project. But, Morrissey probably has better lawyers and a lot of money, so he will probably win.

we all are going to buy this dvd. who cares about morrissey. he just open his mouth when he has something awful to say, so fuck off, baby, yes, that's it.

please, please send me the dvd i ordered. to hell with the lawyers. i do love moz, but sometimes he just seems so selfish.
p.s. why was a dvd released entitled Oye Esteban? it had absolutely nothing to do with the tour. the fans want more!!

I appreciate the spirit behind J. Barry's comments. I believe and agree with what he said, and I will buy the video.

"Morrissey if you don't want this film released, of course you should not have allowed it to be filmed."

Everyone is overlooking something: Morrissey did not know what form the film would take when he allowed Mr. Mars Bar to come to South America with him.

They probably made a private agreement. Morrissey had he could film -- and if Morrissey approved of it -- then sell it. So it was filmed -- but it was crap, in Morrissey's eyes. Really, how impressive was that 30 sec. clip? It seemed pretty poor.

So Morrissey is totally in the right. And Mr. Mars Bar is upset because his work didn't pass muster, and now is trying to force it through against the original agreement.

that would be a great inspiration to Morrissey write a new song on this pathetic episode. what will be now? -j. barry on the gillotine?- dear, will you spend the rest of your life fighting, calling lawyers, and meaning at people? stop being a selfish hungry money, and allow your fans some fun. i want this damn video, and i will buy it. piss off.

If this video/dvd exists...then how many other (hidden) projects exist? Is it wrong to assume that there might be other "bootlegs" out there like this one? Aren't there videos shot for the crew and band members for each tour or did I just make up hearing about that?

please help the cause

I love Morrisseys music, he's also a nice fellow when you meet him. I wish he could have agreed to the dvd, but even though he didn't I'm still gonna buy it. It's not up to Moz to choose weather I buy it or not, it's my choice, also they'res tons of other bootlegs of Moz out they're, and he's never filed lawsuits against them or anything like that for making them. So why should he now? Morrissey obviously knew what he was getting into when he brought this guy barry to film.

Then what was the point of bringing Barry to film, what did Moz tell him, hey Barry film me and the rest of my band and crew, and then just store it away somewhere in some vault because were not going to show the world what you filmed. Sounds a bit ridculous to me. I wonder if Morrissey even paid the guy to film. All in all Morrissey is just being a stubborn butthead about it, and he should just let the Barry guy release it, at least he'll get half the doe of what the dvd/video makes. What is he so worried about this dvd, does it show something about him that he doesnt want us fans to see about himwe don't, I'm just wondering why he doesn't want it released, and don't say because the guy is making money off his image and art and that he took advantage of Morrissey, plenty of people make money off his image and art, and have taken advantage of him, note john Rogan, and he never does a thing about it. So I don't think he should now and that my final say on this matter.

Also for those fans that aren't gonna buy, well hey it's your loss

Well I'm no lawyer. But I have been thinking last night, and though it's always dangerous to say what one thought before going to sleep (easy, I'm just saying that such thoughts are sometimes quite surrealistic), I'll try to summarize it:
There are several levels by which property is assigned to an artist. There is the right of selling, the right of producing and of course the right of creating.
1) The right of selling is ensured to the commerce, they can legally sell what was produced by a label or record company in this case.
I think that is about this point that most people are angry here, but they should not anyway because I don't believe that's the issue Morrissey is worried about. As I develop my thought I hope that is made clearer. For the while I say that it is obvious that bootlegs cannot be sold in any legal way, for as Joe and others have already said, the whole thing is legally forbidden from the start - the use of cameras and tape records at concerts I mean.
2) The right of producing is allowed from the artist to some record company or video producer through a contract. For instance, as much as people didn't like that compilation, still the rc had all rights to produce it because they had a contract.
3) The "right" of creating is not a right by itself because it's obvious and self-evident. Still, legally there must be such a right because otherwise people can steal IDEAS. Stealing ideas is much worse than any situation named before, because the person who stole them can make whatever they want with what they legally own as an idea (or art, that is an expression of an idea).

Now, let's see if I put my point straight: for all you who are angry because you think that Morrissey bothered about the first point I mentioned, I'd recommend that you think twice before accusing him. I don't think that's what is troubling him at all. As I said in my prior post, I went to that site and there I noticed that in the pictures the name of the that site was written, as if the pictures were property of that site. That violates the second and perhaps even the third point I mentioned, rather than the first one. I feel that this guy wanted to make a bootleg, and to that Morrissey never bothered - what he bothered about, though, was the insinuation that the site owned the pictures and perhaps also the video (can't say, didn't see it and have NO intentions to buy it). So, the guy wanted to create a bootleg that had a copyright - but that is IMPOSSIBLE, that is an absurd, unless Morrissey had sold to him such righs, I believe. That would not be stealing Morrissey's money, that would be stealing his IDEA and rights over it! Now, before you believe in everything that guy is saying in his post, please go to that site, check the pictures and see if what I am saying is true. Then ask yourselves the same question I asked in my first post here: if the guy never cared about legal issues, why did he care to write the name of his site on the photographs, as if they belonged to him? To own the film is not the same as owning the idea of the film, and he certainly does not own the idea of the tour, Morrissey owns that! And by owning that, Morrissey has all rights over what he created! So, once more: making a bootleg is COMPLETELY different from wanting this bootleg to have a copyright! If he had such copyright, just that guy would have rights over the tour, can't you see that???

..gets my support. I don't think its about getting one over on Morrissey as well.. But Moz does seem so very precious about bootlegs and money and all the other paraphanalia that you'd expect around anyone famous..

This is very similar to the other Moz DVD that was released a few years back called "Malvideo". The quality was so-so and it was extremely hard to find. I am not sure who put it out though. There was no big deal made of it, so why this one?

I really hope this isn't completely over money. Honestly, this DVD may generate a a few thousand dollars, but what is that to someone as wealthy as Morrissey? Two years back I read that Morrissey is worth 8 million pounds (which is close to $20 million U.S). In my opinion it is quite petty. I know, I know....there is the principle of it all. But please, if Morrissey doesn't give his fans anything, and someone else does, I'd have to say thank-you. At least someone cares about us.

I have been a Morrissey/Smiths fan for about 10 years. As time passes....I have come to appreciate his talent more and more, yet there is also something else that has become painfully clear in the process....that for all he is that is great, there is also a very loathesome side to him. So much of his psychosis is still rooted in childhood. It is obvious in alot of what he does, and if that is not proof enough...read "The Severed Alliance". I think because of who he is, we have all elevated him to supernatural status, but with incidents such as this, it serves as a reminder that he is, like us.....human. Unfortunately as time passes, this behavior, at least in my eyes....becomes less and less acceptable, regardless of the man.

Barry, make 'South With . . ." available to download for free or I will.
Also does anyone want a quality copy of the DVD or VHS for £5 or $10(I will make no profit.)

Post your interest here and I may supply contact details depending on the response.

Yours truly
tufwfo

I think your Morrissey bashing is truly horrid .What a shameful way to pay him back for all the beautiful music he`s created.From bashing his looks,his music and his credibility.Just because you don`t agree with him is no reason to insult him try expressing yourself in an intelligent manner.Morrissey`s music will always be truly beautiful.His gorgeous looks will always remain so.Morrissey will always be beautiful like James Dean.But if all you care about are his looks and not what is inside his sensitive,beautiful,poetic soul then I truly feel sorry for you.It is because of his sensitive,lovely soul and because of his loneliness and isolation that he`s written the most beautiful songs on God`s green earth.If you still don`t get that I suggest you read Oscar Wilde`s "The Happy Prince" so you can see what outside beauty is compared to having a truly beautiful soul.I thought people who love and supposedly understand Morrissey/Smiths music would be better than that.I think people who truly understand this music do know that a beautiful heart and soul transcend good looks. After all one just has to listen to Morrisey`s music to know that he was insecure about his looks.Even though he is wonderfully gorgeous.And I still say that he has every right to be upset about this DVD being released without his permission.This guy was given permission by Morrissey to film him.Perhaps Morrissey feels betrayed by this breach of confidence we simply don`t know.Yet some people are quite willing to jump on the Morrissey bashing bandwagon without knowing all the facts.I won`t say an unkind word or anything cruel about him ever.Because as I have said before that would be a sad,sorry,twisted way to pay him back for all the immense pleasure and comfort and solace that his beautiful music has given me.It truly means the world to me.And maybe some of you out there should think about what this music has given to you before you join the Morrissey insult party just give it a thought.Stop being selfish and thinking only of yourself and what you can get from him.Morrissey certainly doesn`t deserve this shabby treatment.-Tibby How I Love All Of The Very Mozzer Things Of Life............

FAME.....MONEY............LAWSUITS

  "heaven knows i'm miserable now".

                                      Frank Vulgar

I find it astonishing how most of you are so eager to launch an attack on Morrissey and his character. This is nothing new for the site, as I witness every day whenever an updated news item is posted, there is always some cruel, tasteless and juvenile remark hurled at him. Normally, I skip over these when I read him the latest news (no, he is not on-line). It's not that I am Max to his Norma Desmond, only feeding him the praise and worship. But these remarks I see on here constantly are so hateful and revolting that I wouldn't choose to relate them to anyone, let alone a good friend. Especially such drivel by childish morons who know NOTHING about him, and would rather fire off scathing and uninformed comments from the safety of their computer screens. Cowards. This post is NOT for YOU. Nor is it for those who believe he is infallible and follow blindly.

This post is for those who don't automatically assume the worst from Morrissey. For those who don't jump to the very worst conclusion and charge him of things such as greed, arrogance, self-centeredness, unkindness, conceit and whatever other unfounded accusations. For those of you whose hearts have been touched by Morrissey, I want you to rest assured that your hero is in every way the man you've always imagined him to be. He is pure wit, unfailing kindness and consideration, a poet by nature, a shoulder to weep on, and a truly inspirational, kindred spirit. Don't let these bastards upset you with their cruel, insipid and untrue remarks. Know also that Morrissey possesses one characteristic that always seems to get passed over in favor of "pope of mope" brandishment: His ilimitable humor and charm. I know this because I am his friend, or "that Asian girl" as I've been referred to many times.

Wendy Wu
Los Angeles, CA