Tickets for São Paulo's Morrissey show will go on sale from March 1st on. Tickets will be on sale exclusively at Olympia.

From Jose:

The Buenos Aires show is confirmed on March 30. The tickets are now on sale the prices: US $65, US $55, US $45 and US $20.

I had a brief exchange with Peter Noone of the now defunct Herman's Hermits... As you know Moz did a cover of "East West" so I asked him about it and he said:

"Hello Shawn,

Thanks for the email. I heard Morisey was a big HH fan, so I was happy he did one of our songs. I think he just missed.I think my version captured the sadness of life on the road better than he was able to do, although I will admit he has cornered the sadness market much better than me. See you in the whirled.

Peter Noone

'The artist formerly known as Herman'"

Select (Feb 00)

The Pro-Joyce Campaign

The Smiths' Mike Joyce gears up to write a book of his experiences, but as he categorically states, it won't be called Morrissey And Marr: The Twats

Morrissey once sang, "I bear more grudges than lonely high court judges". You couldn't say the same for ex-Smiths drummer Mike Joyce. He won ƒ1 million in back royalties from Morrissey and Johnny Marr in a court case in 1997, and is now set to write the account of his life as a Smith. Anyone expecting a hatchet job, however, will be disappointed."

I don't hate Morrissey," says Mike down the phone from his Manchester home. "A lot of people think it's going to be called Morrissey And Marr: The Twats, but it won't be a vitriolic rant. I had a great time in The Smiths. You get a very different perspective from behind the drums than being the singer."

While stressing that Johnny Rogan's The Severed Alliance was "95 percent accurate", Mike considers most of the programmes and books about The Smiths to be wrong. Promising much ephemera to interest the fans (he has kept all the Smiths set lists), he adds that he'll also address the deification of Morrissey. "All these lads on stage, hugging him," says Mike dismissively of a post- Smiths show in Wolverhampton in '88, "like he was the Messiah."

So if Morrissey rang up today and asked for a Smiths reunion, how would he react?

"Well, first I'd check it wasn't Jeremy Beadle," laughs the man described by Julian Cope as 'a huge vibe'. "Then I'd agree to do it. Just do one gig in the Bricklayer's Arms. just for a bit of fun." He adds, however, that he didn't go and see Moz playing old Smiths songs on his recent British dates. "I was in The Smiths," says Mike. "I don't rate Morrissey on his own."

Now, with the spirit of contentment that only ƒ1 million can bring, Joyce is involved in a new project. He's got a new band with Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and ex-Roses guitarist Aziz Ibrahim. Called Aziz, the group is recording an LP with a rolling cast of musicians including Paul Weller and Noel Redding, the bassist from The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

"I know people might be put off," ponders Joyce. "It is a bit like a super group. But the music's passionate. It's difficult, but we want to start with a clean slate."

JOHN MULLEN

Additionally, from Torr:

Fans of Mike and Andy or Aziz can watch a webcast of their show (at nme.com) from a couple weeks back.

COVER BOYS

THESE CHARMING MEN BRING MANCHESTER'S FAVORITE SON TO A NEW GENERATION OF FANS

Don't accuse the Salford Lads, New York's Smiths cover band, of being a nostalgia act. "I didn't even know who the Smiths were until two years ago," says singer Jesse Immler, "and then I just felt so mad that I only had the Backstreet Boys." Named for a Manchester landmark featured inside the cover of The Queen Is Dead, the five-piece band were brought together by a shared love for the world's most ambiguous vegetarian. The Lads, all of whom are in their early 20s, play regular gigs to crowds that include both moody teenagers and fans who remember the Smiths' glory years. Wearing gold lamé and sporting flowers in his back pocket, Immler apes Morrissey's stage manner, from pompadour to prance. Bassist Ezra Martin explains the enduring fascination: "It's Morrissey's ambiguity. When you see him live, the first six rows will be heterosexual males with their shirts off, running up to touch him. People forget things like sexuality and lose themselves in the music." While all of the Lads are straight, Immler says he thinks the truth about Morrissey is obvious. "Look at him dance, look at those hips! You don't see a straight man with coordination like that." -- Harry Thomas

Only in April's Rhythm magazine, read an exclusive interview with Morrissey's great new drummer, the one and only Spike T. Smith! After years on the road with hardcore punk bands, Spike joined punk legends The Damned in 1999, and was promptly poached by the Moz man. Get the whole story in Rhythm, the world's greatest drum magazine.

Rhythm is available from good newsagents priced £3.25. The April 2000 issue is available from Tuesday March 7th, and you can order it on 01458 271139 (check international dialing code if outside UK). Smiths fans take note - the November 1999 issue featured a great interview with the mighty Mike Joyce! Both interviews have wonderful exclusive pics...

Coming soon! Exclusive in-depth UK interviews with Alain, Boz and Gary...

Email Pat Reid for further details, and try not to have an accident with a three bar fire...

Hey - I'm the nightlife editor at washingtonpost.com, and we're running a feature on our site that lets anyone who's going to the Morrissey shows in Washington write their own review and have it posted on our website.

I'm going to the Sunday night show, and I'll post my review Monday morning. But any time after the show, Morrissey fans can go to this link and submit a review of 200 words or less. We'll post them as we get them.

Thanks.