Re: NME case - July 16th to 19th - Turn up at court and support Morrissey
Greece and Turkey.
When is the Olympics?
Greece and Turkey.
When is the Olympics?
Very good reason to be there, if I could I will but I'm very far
Maybe because it's not a f***ing circus. It's not a rock concert; it's a f***ing court case.
Maybe that's a fair comment and perhaps I shouldn't call him bloated. Fair play, but it's not 'because I haven't had a lot of love in my life'; no matter how I look at it there IS no excuse for what Morrissey said about the Chinese being/behaving/resembling a sub-species. I've always liked Morrissey's music very much (perhaps not so much the recent material) but I can't forgive that comment.
My remarks were made in exasperation really, not bitterness. Support Morrissey in clearing his name against an NME accusation of racism? Nah, we're facing REAL problems here in Britain right now.
Actually my girlfriend at the time was a lawyer, nothing to do with that case, but she knew I was a fan of the band and mentioned that the case was about to start. I was so naive I didn't he even know you could go and watch such things.
I thought they only had public galleries at things like murder trials!
The first couple of days were very low key and then the newspapers covered Morrissey's testimony and I thought for sure a few more fans would show up, but no. I was there for a lot of it but some days I had to work etc. I really wish in retrospect I had taken notes even at the end of the day because there was some fascinating detail in there.
It really was a far more intimate portrait of The Smiths than any book I've ever read.
One funny moment was when Joyce's counsel were cross-examining one of Morrissy's old lawyers or accountants I think at the end of the 3rd day (again the exact details escape me) who then admitted that they too were in the process of suing Morrissey as well for non-payment. That bought a chuckle through the courtroom, LOL.
Because of the low turn-out I also think that either Joyce's supporters in the gallery or Angie Marr knew quite what to make of me. I used to waft in and waft out without saying a word to anyone.
Y'know my feeling? Rourke and Joyce would've accepted 10% from the outset and part of me thinks that they did. Interestingly in the court case earnings were actually mentioned and I think in 1986 they both were paid somewhere in the region of 50,000 pounds each which wasn't bad money back in those days, considering The Smiths were big but were also no Wham!
Interesting to hear you say that as someone who sat through most of the case, because that's always been my feeling from a much less complete overview of it. I don't believe they weren't aware they were getting less, I fully believe they would have been sacked and / or the band would have split with Moz and Marr going on if they had insisted during the life of the band. ALL the stuff about them supposedly bringing it up with Moz or Marr during the life of the band is just one word against another. I believe they were aware they were getting less (that is also just one word against another as well as far as I can see, but I also have difficulty believing they couldnt have been aware of it over the 4+ years). I can understand on one level why the law presumes an equal partnership and I'm sure that leads to the correct outcome in many (most?) cases but I do think here is a case where it didn't.
Now about this current trial, I don't believe Morrissey is a racist though he has said some offensive and stupid things over the years. But in this case, it does seem NME really stitched him up just for controversy / sales / a good story. That editor
Conor McNicholas is a total fool and I hope he and NME get what's coming to them.
See this is where I will politely decline to agree. I wish i had noted down stuff whilst i was there but frankly i didn't want to look like Johnny Rodent and it was a long time ago.
But to give you one boring example Joyce testified that he was at Marr's house watching one of their TOTP performances, (I forget which but one of the earlier ones maybe around the William/Heaven times) and he said that the subject was dead set broached to johnny there and then and was given assurances that the split was all even and everything was being taken care of.
Morrissey was not there at the time.
Johnny testified that this conversation never took place, although yes they were at his house watching TOTP's. Somebodies telling porkies.
Rourke and Joyce must also accept their share of the blame, they never showed any interest in the financials until the whole thing was virtually over and Mike Joyce went to get a mortgage and buy a house, that is when he started looking into the financial aspects of The Smiths.
Y'know my feeling? Rourke and Joyce would've accepted 10% from the outset and part of me thinks that they did. Interestingly in the court case earnings were actually mentioned and I think in 1986 they both were paid somewhere in the region of 50,000 pounds each which wasn't bad money back in those days, considering The Smiths were big but were also no Wham!
The real problem was what many (including 3 members in the band) saw as the premature break-up of the band. I think if the The Smiths had gone on another 5 years and Rouke and Joyce had continued to earn good money this may not have even risen it's ugly head.
for their part Rourke and Joyce were guilty of not being smart enough to demand a proper contract.
Or maybe smart enough not to demand a proper contract. I'm not for a minute suggesting either were devious enough to think 'let's keep our heads down now and later on we can get the full 25% because we haven't had a proper contract', I just mean on the level of they might have realised they could have been sacked or they might have broken up the band (leaving Moz and Marr to carry on) had they pushed it. I find it hard to believe that had they put their feet down in 85 or 86 in any kind of meaningful or definitive sense, that Moz and Marr really would have signed a contract giving them the full 25%. I'm not saying that Moz or (especially) Marr didn't value their contribution to The Smiths, but it's not really believable that they saw them essential to The Smiths or the Morrissey / Marr partnership.
For goodness sake, there are slightly more important things going on; the Hollie Greig case for instance. If you want to see a man that's gone it alone in the courts fighting for justice, see Robert Green ... or Dr David Halpin. These are people of outstanding courage ... not a bloated a pop star with more money than you could imagine. Morrissey will do just fine without our so-called 'support'.
Nevermind if his comments were misconstrued in the NME, if someone were to really take him to task it would be for his erroneous output on the Chinese which he was still thrashing at the Hawick gig last year. Very sad. I don't know what's happened. Morrissey was very interesting in 1994 but ... not now.
"...the settlement did not involve payment of any damages or legal costs..."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18410933
Seems he got an apology online and in the magazine - good on him
The apology was a bit weak but its all over the media and is being presented as a clear victory for Morrissey.
Am glad it behind him - only good things are just around the corner now
- Why has this thread been moved/merged? This thread is about a link to an article on TTY which invited fans to attend the Court Case (which has been removed a long time ago.)
The story has moved on alot now. NME have aplogised and the case has been dropped don't you think that deserves its own thread????
Turns out, after all his bluster, he capitulated. Beautiful.
The NME haven't conceded that the article either portrayed him as a racist, or misrepresented him in any other way and yet Steven has just rolled over and accepted it. So much for wanting to have his day in court to clear his name. "If a fight broke out here, tonight..." etc.
To add insult to injury, he'll have to pay out a shitload of cash to lawyers. This has made my day.
Turns out, after all his bluster, he capitulated. Beautiful.
The NME haven't conceded that the article either portrayed him as a racist, or misrepresented him in any other way and yet Steven has just rolled over and accepted it. So much for wanting to have his day in court to clear his name. "If a fight broke out here, tonight..." etc.
To add insult to injury, he'll have to pay out a shitload of cash to lawyers. This has made my day.
actually it turns out that he got exactly what he wanted and what he publically asked for, an apology and his name cleared. This is a victory and nothing less
actually it turns out that he got exactly what he wanted and what he publically asked for, an apology and his name cleared. This is a victory and nothing less
His songs didn't save my life; they ruined it. I hope the NME stand their ground and eat him alive.
Why don't you f*** off you daft c***
Oh, I forgot to tell you. Mum moved your pills, love. Second shelf, medicine cabinet in the downstairs loo. Said she didn't have enough room for her Preparation H.
Oh, and umm...pip pip, cheerio, or something.