> I was just in Vinyl Fetish on Melrose and an employee said that¿ Moz was in the day before and bought a bunch of punk cd's. Does¿ anyone know what kind of punk bands he listens to? Does anyone¿ else out their have the comp. "The World Still Won't¿ Listen." I have it and it's ok I guess, what do you all¿ think about it?
I think the Buzzcocks had a tremendous influence on him. Don't know much about the Stranglers, but I'm given to understand the Stranglers originated "Dagenham Dave" in the 70s. Morrissey has been spotted at various punk concerts in L.A. from Fear (1994) to Stiff Little Fingers (1997 -- that's when crap band Wank took the opportunity to have their photos taken with him as if he were endorsing the wankers). I think he might've been to a Germs show as well. I cannot quite remember. He liked early Ramones. He reviewed a Sex Pistol's gig once and didn't seem impressed with their act. Morrissey also commented that he liked the cover of "PAnic" that a British punk group called the Business performed. They sound like some oi band to me. He also liked the Clash and MC5 & Stooges as evidenced by his picks for a program of "Flashbacks" on KROQ. I'm also reminded that despite Siouxsie's dislike of Morrissey's business behavior, he was fond of her music and also chose one of her songs to play on the program with much praise of her. But I don't expect Morrissey to like any of the punk coming out recently. Anything pre-1978 is probably not for him. Too bad. I think he'd like the irrepressible tragicomic song "Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend (so why can't I?)" by the Mr. T Experience. And has anyone noticed the similarity between the cover for "The Queen Is Dead" (Alain Delon) and the cover for "The Decline of Western Civilization"?
I've always regarded the SMiths as punk though they didn't have the outward trappings of punkdom. The uncompromising way they made music on their own terms was so punk. Unlike the punk-lite of GreenDay, the SMiths really shook up the pop music establishment and achieved success without the typical video and corporate manipulation. A lot of hardcore punks (especially straight edge vegetarians) I know deeply admire Morrissey and the Smiths. I'm not surprised at all that Fugazi paid homage to Morrissey. Also, the pits at some punk shows I've attended (e.g., Circle Jerks, L7, Tribe 8, Fugazi, early Bad Religion) are infinitely more gentle than a typical Morrissey concert in California. No lie!
I have a tape of "The World Still WOn't Listen," and it's mostly atrocious. The majority of the bands seem to do the cover out of some malicious glee in trashing a beautiful song. Only a few of the bands seem to respect the music.
One of the best covers i'd ever heard comes from a compilation put out from a label in florida. Can't remember the title, but it features the most heavenly cover of "I Know It's Over" by Rosewater Elizabeth. The proceeds from the disc went to benefit some Save the Manatees campaign. I think MOrrissey would have to approve of the cause (Manatees are gentle vegetarian mammals of the water who are becoming extinct because of human selfishness) even if he might not like the covers performed.
A Morrissey night at the Blarney Stone in S.F.
