hadn't morrissey already cut his teeth with the nosebleeds?

Could not have put it better myself.Bravo.

"I have always found it eternally fascinating that someone so shy and retiring could become one of the greatest stage performers of their generation"

--> maybe there's still some hope for me ;)

--> congratualations Steven & Johnny

but that reads like something you would haver written in celebration of his birthday.
you seemed to have forgotten Marr and his amazing guitar playing and songwriting with The Smiths.

there will never be anything quite like Morrissey/Marr. and there never will be.

Even though The Smiths have been around for only 5 of those years, you can still feel the shockwaves to this day of they're presence, of when they first came out with they're first single hand in glove. All I have to say is long live The Smiths. 20 years of glory and greatness and brilliance.

Let me tell you there's a Page with some Letters Steven wrote to a Scottish friend. Deeply reveiling!!!!

www.torr.org/moz/letters.html

One and a half year later it marked my life
forever.

I really wished those 4 stubborn men say
sorry to eachother, and at least do a real
goodbye tour/gig

Celibate thanks;

Steven Partick Morrissey
Johnny Marr [Maher]
Andy Rourke
Mike Joyce

[and Graig Gannon as additional guitarist on the Rank album ;)]

and makes a bow.

Thank You Johnny and Morrissey, for giving the world your gift of music and letting us sing and dance along to your beat.
There are no other bands past or present that have expressed such a profound outlook on life,
Morrissey/Johnny gave their audience more credit then just being the average listener.
They delivered some of the worlds most brilliant lyrics and unforgettable guitar work in the history of music.

For that, I (We) as fans are eternally grateful.

Morrissey and Johnny Marr should have teamed up with the legendary Miss Stevie Nicks.

It would have been a band made in heaven.

Rock on, Gold Dust Woman!

All I have to say is, it was worth it. God bless you Moz and Marr thank you for the best pop music ever made.

Well said, Lazy Sunbather, there does appear to be something between your ears.
Well, what can I say about Moz/Marr that hasn't already been said countless times without sinking away in a quagmire of clichés? Nothing. So I won't even try to.
Without Moz/Marr's music you might as well lie in the middle of the street and die. So therefore I say that, Morrissey, nothing's changed, I still love you, only slightly more than used to.

Love always.

P.S. Sorry about the awful pun (if you can call it that) in the subject-bar, it was the best I could do.

fascinating how things come together.

i don't believe in fate or chance but it's interesting how Morrissey & Marr hooked up.

perhaps the will of the individual (Morrissey's desperation & drive to become famous) brought it forth.

or the lack of music with substance & meaning made The Smiths a necessity which *had* to be manifested one way or the other.

or the sheer talent of those involved...

The Smiths are very special.

and Morrissey's words mean everything to me.

I just started listening to The Smiths VERY often again after not listening to them much at all for the past year. I tend to turn to their music when facing tough times or to remind me of the days when things were less complicated and I was just discovering great music. 20 years of great tunes, from the best band that ever has and ever will exist.

Dear Jim,

I am always interested in how young couples first met.

Sincerely,

Chuck Woolery

Twenty years ago...wow...

Thanks for being one of the best singer/songwriters in history. The Smiths touched (and for some, saved)our lives in so many ways. Those songs will stay by my side for the rest of my life, as well as Morrissey's solo music.

I actually was 16 clumsy and shy some 18 years ago. And then The Smiths. I tell people, but they still don't understand how dramatic the Smiths were (are). It was a sigh of relief when, finally, I had something to listen to. I don't joke when I say that my record collection went in the trash the day I stumbled upon the Smiths. For those of you that "get it" and "get" the Smiths and Moz, I think you'll agree that the May 82 meeting was something that happens once in a lifetime. Oh, and let's be fair and say that although Moz had the vision, it would never have gone this far without Marr, Rourke, and Joyce....Never....

After twenty years, doesn't it make our beloved Smiths legible to be added to the rock hall of fame?
        But being misunderstood for so long and by so many I would really doubt they would be put in for a while.

You are so right, I had never tried to imagine what my life would be with out the smiths or morrissey. I know it wouldn't be all that different, but I wouldn't have the beautifull lyrics to cry to, I would feel oh so very alone, and I wouldn't be wearing this shirt.

How did we go from new record deal/tour/festival excitement to this pile of crap??
Who gives a fuck what you were doing when you first got into The Smiths/Morrissey? You arrogant fuckwits, you think anyone cares?? Frankly, I'm ashamed to be a Morrissey fan when I look at the sad people who sometimes post on here. "I was sixteen, clumsy and shy when I first heard Morrissey's beautiful voice filling the room...etc...etc...obvious lyrical reference...etc...no-one else makes good music...etc...etc...at last i could empathise with someone...etc...why won't anyone sleep with me?" FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't imagine a day without Maladjusted, let alone Strangeways, but there's room in my heart for Raise the Pressure too! Good luck to the pair of them, and i hope that the Healer's album finds a home eventually.

I stumbled on the Smiths about 2 or 3 years ago, when I was about 18. The first song I ever heard was "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" performed on TOTP2 and it literally changed my life. Seeing that performance was a really profound experience for me. Finally somebody who felt exactly the same as I did at the time, and still do sometimes.
I immediately bought "Best of...I" the next day, and then I heard "This Charming" and I was just blown away by it. The lyrics, the music, the words, everything.
So yes, May '82 is a sacred date. And just thank God that doesn't exist every day on my bare knees for the Smiths. I am a born again athiest.
Now I have all the Smiths and Moz records but I still miss a couple of B-sides. Would anyone know where I might get those? Thanks.