Moz has been shortlisted as one of the 100 most important musicians of the 20th century, according to the Spanish magazine "Factory". This is a poll which has been appearing at this magazine during the last 3 issues, and makes a list of the musicians in alphabetical order, without making any charts. The list has different kind of musicians, like Antonio Carlos Jobim, John Lennon, Thurston Moore, Madonna, Nusrat Fateh Ali Kan, Ruben Blades, Serge Gainsbourg, Jacques Brel, Chuck D, David Bowie...

The article about Morrissey is basically about the Smiths period, mentioning Your Arsenal as the only masterpiece of his solo career.

Q readers voted for the top 100 stars of the century, where Johnny Marr got to #95 and Morrissey reached #41... here's what it said :

95 - Johnny Marr - This charming man
Johnny Marr exudes an ineffable cool. He doesn't talk much, but then he doesn't have to: he can express more emotion in three minutes of music than most singers manage in an entire career. Though, there is a theory that he's wasted his talent, not being in full-time employment since the 1987 demise of The Smiths(Electronic hardly being the busiest of bands), when he does choose to flaunt it, he does so with a flourish others can only dream of. What Beckham is to the dead ball, Johnny Marr is to the guitar.

Recommended album: The Smiths Hatful Of Hollow (Rough Trade, 1984). Because of "How Soon Is Now?". Every time.

You said:"The boy looked at Johnny.. and Oasis were born." Claire Christian, Wolverhampton

41 Morrissey - He didn't think we deserved him
Morrissey popularised introversion, negativity and the strengths of '60s pop and he acheived it with brilliant Wildean wit and a bunch of gladioli protruding from his back pocket. His chest-painted messages ("Marry me") and his appendages(hearing aids, National Health specs) were a first, and his extravagantly sexual, shirt-free stage persona belied those romantically crabbed and coy lyrics. Yes, he went truculent and lost his levity, but at least Morrissey kept true to his art: he never said he would cheer up or move on.

Recommended album: The Smiths, The Smiths Rough Trade, 1983(sic). The original grey-grim, morbid, hysterical, kitchen-sink drama.

You said: "I just love him, but not in that way." Philip Crossman, Milton Keynes