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| Len Brown response to Q magazine stories; "Meetings With Morrissey" updates |
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posted by davidt
on Thursday September 11 2008, @09:00AM
From Len Brown, author of Meetings With Morrissey:
The September 9 story about the Q magazine review certainly didn't come from me. I'm trying to forget it. Very disappointed, as I do have friends who still write for Q (the maligned Quantick among them, from my NME days). I suppose I'm less pissed off with Dorian Lynskey, who penned the review and didn't like my narrative style, and more angry about the headline. I'm a journalist and telly producer rather than a "friend of Mozzer". Really annoyed about the line "thorny subjects ignored" because the book actually features a whole chapter on Morrissey's political views and history in which I make my position clear in relation to certain controversial views.
As I told Ireland's AU magazine - if you consider Morrissey's views on vegetarianism, animal rights, feminism and his celebration of those who Wilde called "outcast men", then you'd have to say that he is, by and large, radical and to the "Left". The only "Right-wing" views that get him into trouble concern his outspokenness on the subject of immigration. Although I don't agree with him - I'm still old-fashioned Northern Labour - surely he's entitled to hold these opinions within a liberal democracy?
Just my opinion but I believe he's talking about nationalism and patriotism, and suggest that he's being protective of the British or English identity (whatever this is) and against certain negative outside influences. It's definitely not about race but external influences in general - from McDonalds to to the EU to sex traffic to Eastern European drug dealers. Also, as I point out in the book, Morrissey seems to have consistently held anti-Maastricht views since 1988, when he wrote of the "slaughter of the British passport and the advance chill of 1992" in his fine NME obituary of Charles Hawtrey.
Trying to forget Q, apart from the Manchester Evening News review, there's also a good article by someone called Robert Cochrane. I'd like to buy that poet a beer.
If anyone gives a monkey's...I've finally managed to set up a website for the book. www.meetingswithmorrissey.com
Thanks for reading/listening to all this. If it's self-promotion rather than self-defence then I apologise. Also thanks for some of the positive and constructive comments on Morrissey Solo. Best wishes, Len
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| Pete Doherty and Johnny Marr jam, play "Jeane" |
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posted by davidt
on Thursday September 11 2008, @09:00AM
Robby sends the link:
Pete Doherty and The Smiths' Johnny Marr duet - NME.com
Pete Doherty and Johnny Marr have teamed up to play a song by The Smiths - Marr's former band.
The Babyshambles man has posted a video of Marr - now a full-time member of The Cribs - and himself playing the song online. Click below to watch it.
In the video the pair play 'Jeane', a song The Smiths recorded with ' Troy Tate in 1983.
The song didn't appear on a Smiths album as the recording session was aborted, but later appeared as a b-side and has been much bootlegged by fans since.
Pete Doherty teamed up with The La's' Lee Mavers last month, jamming the song 'Over' with him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VEaH43Cm9w
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| 'Panic On The Streets' 2009 Calendar |
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posted by davidt
on Thursday September 11 2008, @09:00AM
Phill Gatenby writes:I have produced a 2009 calendar using pictures taken from my book 'Panic On The Streets'.
Proceeds from the sales will go to The Salford Lads Club.
I will only be printing a limited number of 500 copies.
The size is large, A3 (297mm × 420mm) and with a ring binded holder, is ideal for hanging on a wall.
There are six Manchester pictures, five London and Newport Pagnell!
The pictures / months are as follows:
January - Strangeways Prison
February - Morrissey Mosaic
March - Piccadilly Circus
April - Holy Name Church
May - 32 Chester Square ( The 'Suedehead' house)
June - The Iron Bridge
July - Euston Station
August - Sloane Square
September - Southern Cemetery
October - Reardon Street (leaning post in Wapping)
November - Newport Pagnell Service Station
December - The Salford Lads Club
The cost per calendar is £8 + P&P (as follows)
UK - £3
Europe - £5
Worldwide - £7.40
Apologies about the high postage overseas, the calendar is large and will be sent in a jiffy bag.
Payment via:
Paypal - telegramsam1963@aol.com
or cheque (payable to P Gatenby)
Send to:
Empire Publications
(2009 Calendar)
1 Newton Street
Manchester
M1 1HW
All calendars will be printed and sent out by mid November, well in time for Christmas.
Phill Gatenby
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| "Hang The DJ" advert in Mojo magazine |
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posted by davidt
on Tuesday September 09 2008, @09:00AM
Faloola Chong writes:The back cover of the October Mojo has an advert for "Hang The DJ" - with possible artwork?
Amazon.co.uk has it listed as a November 3rd release as an import and one on that date called "Sound of the Smiths: Deluxe Edition".
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| Out's "100 Greatest, Gayest Albums of All Time" includes 4 Smiths albums |
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posted by davidt
on Tuesday September 09 2008, @09:00AM
mozandeffect writes:posting this not for as social commentary but just some food for thought. I heard about this on the Rad/Mac show on Radio2 tonight and looked it up on Out.com:
100 Greatest, Gayest Albums (of All Time) - Out.com: 33 The Smiths - Hatful Of Hollow
32 The Smiths - Meat Is Murder10 Antony And The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now 09 Cyndi Lauper - She's So Unusual 08 Madonna - The Immaculate Collection 07 Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 06 The Smiths - The Queen is Dead05 Judy Garland - Judy at Carnegie Hall 04 Indigo Girls - Indigo Girls 03 Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman 02 The Smiths - The Smiths01 David Bowie - The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars Mark Radcliffe commented that he never thought of Smiths as "a gay band." agree? disagree? discuss. |
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| "Meetings With Morrissey" criticised In Q Magazine |
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posted by davidt
on Tuesday September 09 2008, @09:00AM
An anonymous person writes:Len Brown's biography has come under fire in the September issue of Q magazine. Dorian Lynskey, who interviewed Morrissey for The Guardian back in 2004,argues the book is "fundamentally flawed" because of Brown's "20-year relationship" with the artist. He accuses the ex-NME journalist of "having no flair for narrative" and also complains that Brown "fudges the issue of the singer's contentious statements about national identity". The review awards the book three stars but is headlined "Friend Of Mozzer Pens Biography - Thorny Subjects Ignored".
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| Magazine reform for two concerts in Feb. 2009 |
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posted by davidt
on Tuesday September 09 2008, @09:00AM
An anonymous person writes:
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Monday. 8th of September 2008
Magazine : 2009
Magazine, one of Britain’s most influential bands, are to reform for just two concerts
in February 2009.
Original members Howard Devoto, Dave Formula, Barry Adamson and John Doyle
are to be joined by an as yet unnamed guest guitarist, to walk in the not inconsiderable
footsteps of the departed, and sadly missed, John McGeoch.
It is the first time Magazine have played live together since 1980.
They are to play The Forum, London on February 13th & The Academy, Manchester
on February 14th. Tickets are released next Monday, the 15th of September,
from the box offices and usual suspects.
> The Forum / 0844 847 2405 / www.kentishtownforum.com
> The Academy / 0161 832 1111 / www.ticketline.co.uk
Enduringly credible, Magazine have always been the connoisseur’s choice and have been
frequently name checked by some of the most gifted musicians of recent years including
Radiohead, Morrissey, Jarvis Cocker, U2 and Maximo Park. This year, NME.com included
Magazine in a poll as one of the most influential bands of all time.
Magazine’s front man, Howard Devoto co-formed Buzzcocks with Pete Shelley after the pair
had seen the Sex Pistols in early 1976 and promoted the now legendary Manchester Lesser
Free Trade Hall gigs. Devoto left in 1977, after the seminal ‘Spiral Scratch’ EP had been
released, and created Magazine. Their first record was the post-punk anthem
‘Shot By Both Sides’.
Four ground breaking albums later and the band had parted company, leaving behind
an influential body of work which was re-released by Virgin EMI last year to critical acclaim.
The concerts are being staged in association with The Gig Cartel and Wire–Sound
and will be recorded for possible release later in 2009.
www.myspace.com/magazineofficial
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