Jesse Tobias

[ladybitch]

Why do people seem to think Jesse Tobias is an asshole, is he reude to the fans or something.

[boy_afraid_Liverpool]

My impression of him is good, I have heard some of his stuff with his ex partner "splendid" they were called and the girl in question "angie hart" has a great voice.

I think people got there noses out of joint seeing him as stepping in to Sir Alain's shoes. Much as I like both guitarists I am not fussed who moz choses to work with as long as he produces good quality music.

[suzanne]

> Why do people seem to think Jesse Tobias is an asshole, is he reude to the
> fans or something.

he is a musician from Austin which means that i've been poking fun at his kind for quite some time now.

[Karenina]

Well, I don't hate him personally, but his music and his style just don't appeal to me at all. He doesn't really fit into the band, does he?
From what I've heard, he's also quite arrogant. But what do we know, really. As long as Moz is happy with him, so am I.

[Jones]

People call Morrissey arrogant too.

I fail to see how people think they know what Jesse's like by meeting him a few times after a gig. Some of them seem to think they know all about his marriage breakdown too.

They sound like bitter obsessives to me.

[broken!!!!]

no, it's just the usual bitching you get on this crappy site
MOst of these people have no life and they're jealous that jesse knows morrissey!
I get the same bitching directed at me - I've never saiud I know moz or anyone in any way connected to him and have said "I do not know anyone in his inner circle" scores of times. A few rumours circulated about me in 2004 and suddenly everyone is slagging me off and blaming me for the Iraq war. Amazing but that's life. This site is just a joke really. You can see it in the latest interview which may or may not be real.. I submit it twice, once forgetting to include the URL and used a registered name I enetered nothing rather than the permanently -1'd "broken" and this "proves" i wrote the preview. These people have low IQs, and too much time on their hands. Suzanne especially seems a paranoid mess. david is just pompous and has no sense of humour.

[sdavenport666]

this site has always been frequented by nasty, self-righteous scum, and and it still is. there's little point in wondering WHY such people say these things - they can't help it - that's how it is when you've got a personality disorder.

[Derrick]

How can you just say Karenina that Tobias'style doesn't appeal to you at all and also throw in that from what you heard that he is also pretty arrogant Then say "as long as Moz is happy, so am I"? That doesn't makes sense to me. It's almost as if you'd be happy being disappointed in the music as long as Moz likes it himself! You'd cease to be a fan if the music is continually poor. Don't punish yourself only to wish satisfaction for another. I Agree with you in your first sentence completely and I was right with you all the way until you wrote that last line!

[Jamie]

> I think people got there noses out of joint seeing him as stepping in to
> Sir Alain's shoes. Much as I like both guitarists I am not fussed who moz
> choses to work with as long as he produces good quality music.

I can only speak for myself, but I found it a little convenient that Jesse was around for just two or three months and a LOT of people around here started putting the boot in on Alain. At that point, he had only appeared as a concert guitarist and people were saying he was "better than Alain"--despite Alain's 14 years of service and at least two really objectively excellent albums. If you have become a Morrissey fan since 1992 because of these albums, it is in large part b/c of Alain's contributions whether you admit it or not.

If you hear the new album and decide he is better, then fair enough. Right now, from the first-hand encounters people tell me about, he seems to have a sense of entitlement about being with Morrissey even though he is low man on the totem pole in tenure. Being an ass to a fan who just wants to say hello or say "nice work" does not win fans. And the mediocre guitar work we've heard thus far does not help.

Cheers,

Jamie

[mbb321]

I will listen to the album and then make my opinions, but one thing is for sure, it will be sad not seeing Alain on the new tour. I hope he is brought in for some of the concerts at least, he's always been a credit to Morrissey.

> this site has always been frequented by nasty, self-righteous scum, and
> and it still is. there's little point in wondering WHY such people say
> these things - they can't help it - that's how it is when you've got a
> personality disorder.

[beekay]

> I can only speak for myself, but I found it a little convenient that Jesse
> was around for just two or three months and a LOT of people around here
> started putting the boot in on Alain. At that point, he had only appeared
> as a concert guitarist and people were saying he was "better than
> Alain"--despite Alain's 14 years of service and at least two really
> objectively excellent albums. If you have become a Morrissey fan since
> 1992 because of these albums, it is in large part b/c of Alain's
> contributions whether you admit it or not.

> If you hear the new album and decide he is better, then fair enough. Right
> now, from the first-hand encounters people tell me about, he seems to have
> a sense of entitlement about being with Morrissey even though he is low
> man on the totem pole in tenure. Being an ass to a fan who just wants to
> say hello or say "nice work" does not win fans. And the mediocre
> guitar work we've heard thus far does not help.

> Cheers,

> Jamie

Jamie,
I think your post is spot-on. Absoloutely correct. Morrissey has never auditioned a musician in his life. These guys are always "a friend of a freind" look how he assembled his original line-up (alain et al..)
That was dumb-luck...and I do mean luck. They all had the skills and the looks. I agree that Arsenal, and the rest were incredible thanks to that unit cohesion they had among the musicians.

To see tobias on gutiar and Alain drumming in the new vid is a fucking insult!!! Horrific!!
I cant believe my eyes. I briefly met tobias in DC. Fine, whatever, he was okay to me? But he was no Alain, who was the most humble guy on earth. Who would give you a ton of pics and a drink if he had the time. Not only that but he was and is loyal to moz. Or so it appears.
As for his gutiar work (tobias) I think it sucks. Thats it. Nothing more or less. Mikey brought him on and thats how he's hired.
Alain's work is very solid both live and studio.
I know sound is objective but I disagree with those who think Tobias is better or even equivalent in the least.

[WhyteGrrrl]

Then you will have to go see Red Lightning!

[Karenina]

Well, I trust Morrissey about the guys he choses to play in his band. They never really disappointed us, did they? All I know about Jesse is that the guitars on "You Have Killed Me" are rather appalling, but I think that's not enough evidence to decide whether he's an arrogant, untalented swat or not.
As long as I haven't heard more of him, I'll just trust Morrissey's instincts.
And if Jesse really IS as appalling as he seems, then I can still listen to Alain's lovely stuff, can't I? As trite as it may sound, I love Morrissey and I want the best for him. If he's happy with his guitarist, then so am I.

[Karenina]

does the word "swat" exist in english or did I just make it up?
LoL

[The Cat's Mother]

> Then you will have to go see Red Lightning!

Any more info about possible UK dates, WG?

[Derrick]

First off I do not admit to knowing Alain at all BUT I have had the pleasant experience of exchanging quite a few e-mails with him over a long course of time. I can say this honestly and accurately from that contact, Alain is an absolutely great guy. He could not be more polite and respectful and Friendly. I was amazed at what a nice guy he genuinely is. He could have blown me off very easily and ignored me completely but he took the time and effort to write to me in full, comprehensive e-mails. He is even looking forward to coming to New York (where I am) for a Red Lightning show and wants to meet me and say hello. You can't help but root for the guy. In a musical world where so many musicians come off as self-centered A-holes and Jerks, Alain Whyte is a terrific guy. It would be so great id Moz fans would go support him and Red Lightning. Alain deserves the success.

[Friday]

> Why do people seem to think Jesse Tobias is an asshole, is he reude to the
> fans or something.

It´s because this place is full of shit!!!

[boy_afraid_Liverpool]

I have never doubted Alain as a great writer / performer or had any beef with him as a man either. I only met him once and he seemed very humble to me. A nice fella.

I have seen him live with moz on many occaision and always been well impressed.

I have to say though that I was also impressed with Mr. Tobias on the last tour. As soon as he came in to replace "Little Barrie" who obviously had the ability to play a set number of songs and that was that, things changed. The set list became more varied, Jesse was playing about a bit more with things and seemed happier to throw a bit of himself in to the music too. I can honestly say that the gigs I saw him on impressed me no end and I was amazed to hear people having a go.

I would love to see Alain in the fold playing live again, but whytegirl' comments suggest that this is not going to happen. I do not think this will ruin the upcoming tour though and I do think that Jesse is a great guitarist and will do a fantastic job.

I cant help feeling that the jibes directed at Jesse are from those who are just "PRO-Alain" and are not necessarily based on his ability. Morrissey will continue to chose to work with musicians he feels happy with, and he obviously feels happy with Jesse on stage as well as with him as a writing partner along side Alain and Boz. I really do wish that this board would focus on people saying positive things, looking for the good and not just looking at ways to moan and groan. As I say, for me when I saw Jesse on the last tour he was great, handled the Moz back catalogue and The Smiths classics really really well. I am looking forward to seeing Moz again, but I would be if he was playing with an Orchestra and none of the recognised band, or come to that if he enlisted a new band all together. It is however Morrissey. Not "The something or others" it is Morrissey, he is a solo artist. He refer's to them as a band, but it is Morrissey the solo artist and associated session musicians who over time have become very well known and loved to us. It does not make them anything other than dispensable though.

Dont get me wrong the band have grown in to a very tight unit that I really like. From the humble beginings of Kill uncle to the amazing sound today, but it does not distract me from the fact that it is Morrissey that holds the reason for my fandom, not the people he surrounds himself with.

[Derrick]

My thoughts about Jesse are not coming from a pro-Alain point of view. I just feel from the three new songs I have heard (played numberous times) are just exceedingly disappointing "musically". Ergo, the finger gets pointed at Jesse (not speaking of him personally but rather as a "professsional" songwriter). He appears to be a weak link in Morrissey's new adventure. It's just an opinion, not an attack on the guy. I do feel great frustration from all of this though. I don't think Jesse is a good songwriter and I look forward to a disappointing ROTT. Best wishes to Jesse I just hope he moves along to somewhere else.

[The Cat's Mother]

Hi Derrick! Alain really does seem a nice chap, doesn't he?

And Red Lightning aren't too shabby either - even hubby likes them! *faints*

I'm betting they're even better live so if they have a gig up North here I'll do me damndest to get there.