Re: Harvest Ends Contract with Morrissey - TTY
Moontastic with the name there, buddy. Seeya in 20 minutes.
Moontastic with the name there, buddy. Seeya in 20 minutes.
If we are going to go off topic about The Cure (which we might as well at this point) can I just chime in that I think Pornography was there best work.
OK, maybe I like Boys Don't Cry the very best as it does not sound as dated as Pornography.
What would Morrissey's stage introduction for Joyce even be?
"And on drums, a man I once wished dead. And still do…"
Your taste is in your a**
Rush are hideous shit btw that absolutely no one of sound mind should be proud of appreciating.
I mean ffs!!!
Very detailed breakdown of why it would never happen, and you could add another essay why it should never happen.A reunion of 'The Smiths' is never going to happen; never, never, never, never, never. Nevermind that Morrissey has spoken at length of his hatred for Mike Joyce and has been less than kind to both Andy Rourke and Johnny (most recently, publicly, in 'Autobiography') but there's probably a plethora of legal loopholes that would need to be overcome, all stemming from the court case. Who knows what the legal status of 'The Smiths' is? Can they legally be reformed? I doubt it. The contract negotiations would takes so long that any reunion concert would be broadcast from a care home.
However, I do believe that a reunion between Morrissey and Marr is possible and would be just as much of a payday for both as a full-blown Smiths reunion would be. However, there's simply too many factors working against it to make it seem even remotely achievable at this point.
1) Johnny's 'stock' has never been higher than it is now. He's touring well and releasing his own albums to critical acclaim (both relative of course but still high points for him so far); there's simply no reason for him to get back with Morrissey now.
2) Johnny's been careful with his words about Morrissey in recent years after going on record with some cutting remarks but that fact does little to illuminate how he feels towards him. He may not have read 'Autobiography' (I don't believe this btw) but you can be damn sure that someone's been through it and brought the relevant passages to his attention. I doubt he's eager to work with someone who all but branded him a coward, in his life story.
3) Morrissey was difficult to work with in 1985 and has only got worse as the decades marched on; I can't see Johnny being eager to revisit that working relationship anytime soon, even if he would like to rekindle a personal relationship. Google news for both men, separately and what do you see? Alleged contracts on fans, another label dropping, missive's from Switzerland on one side and favourable reviews and positive social media interaction with fans on the other. I just don't see Johnny's current "cool beans and philosophy" mindset working with Morrissey's "I am beset on all sides by foes" mindset. They've never been so psychologically opposed.
4) Love him or hate him for it but Morrissey is intensely loyal to Boz and the (current) boys. For good or bad, they are "The Band" and there simply isn't room for Johnny there. If, again, we imagine for a moment that Morrissey and Marr agree to work together on a new song, just like the old days; Johnny delivers the track, Morrissey delivers the lyrics and vocal - what happens to Boz and Co? Does Morrissey thank Johnny for the track and turn around and give it to Jesse to play? Does Johnny demand he play lead and Jesse becomes the new 'lawnmowers parts'? It can't work.
5) Unless the The Band jump ship. As many have pointed out (speculatively, of course, as we really have no idea what the financial arrangements are, so I'll caveat this as being guesswork only) the constant tour cancellations, the on/off with the labels, the negative press; it must be hitting them all in the wallet. If I was signed up for a tour, with a promise of X dates at X rates I'd be pissed if suddenly they were cut short for - let's face it - questionable reasons; how can you plan your life around arrangements that can be undone at a moments notice? To date, I don't think we've had anyone quit Morrissey's band for financial reasons (Deano left for another gig, didn't he? Alain and Gary were both ousted. Matt left to spend time with his family but returned and Anthony B was essentially a temp) but it surely must be on the cards, if the payment structure is as we believe it to be. Only then, if Morrissey felt "betrayed" (as he would) would I see him consider working with Johnny again. Until then, he'll stay loyal to The Boys, record deal or no record deal.
6) The Legacy. Although both are quick to talk up they're current projects and solo careers - and rightly so - they both must feel the weight of The Smiths, it's impact, it's legacy. Any new work by them would be viewed entirely through the spectrum of 'The Smiths' - even if they went out they're way to make it clear that it was not 'The Smiths.' Dare they risk it? Could they create something worthy of standing alongside 'How Soon Is Now'? Do they have another 'Well I Wonder' in them? The answer is probably not but who knows what alchemy would be unleashed by the two rekindling a relationship. Johnny's embraced his 'Smiths' sound again - both 'European Me' and 'New Town Velocity' from 'The Messenger' attest to that. Morrissey can still deliver melody and vocals to rival his younger self. Lyrically, no-one will deny that he's not as sharp as he was but he can still deliver, 'Mountjoy', lyrically could be a 'Smiths' song. 'Oboe Concerto' could be a 'Smiths' song. He can still do it; he just needs to work harder at it than he did.
Anyways, I'd love it if Morrissey and Marr reunited and worked together but I don't see it happening and 'The Smiths' are dead, fact.
My guess is we'll see the 'novel' before another album and, assuming it does well, a new album of the back of the public interest in the book. It worked before, didn't it?
This is a shame
But really what has being with a major label done for this release:
their promotion amounted to
Some posters (apparently Banksy designed these did he?)
Some spoken word videos (which weren't promoted) - I did enjoy these
Digital only singles - not promoted - basically pointless
What was missing
Physical release of singles
Proper video3s
TV adverts
A joined up advertising campaign - was the budget really that small?
What went wrong
The twitter account
The album cover
Morrissey's input
No Interviews
No TV appearances
Cancelled tour
The real shame is that its a really great album and a lost opportunity. I'm not sure their are any majors left. At least he can now show prospective labels a fantastic last album as proof.
I think he could have had better success with a smaller label. I wonder when/where all the problems started....I can't imagine the plan was always for digital only singles with no videos. I was always a bit puzzled by the deluxe and the standard album being released on the same day. It would appear the extra tracks were intended as b-sides.
Commercially A Smith reunion gets him a major deal but creatively it isn't a good move. His current band are producing better music than anything Marr could do.
4) Love him or hate him for it but Morrissey is intensely loyal to Boz and the (current) boys. For good or bad, they are "The Band" and there simply isn't room for Johnny there.
Jay Joannides, a crew member from the last tour posted the doctored photo of the modern day Smiths on Instagram with the caption: " How many people would like to see this album cover next year?"
Does he know something we don't?
He's also Morrissey's cousin. I wouldn't read too much into his post, though.Jay Joannides, a crew member from the last tour posted the doctored photo of the modern day Smiths on Instagram with the caption: " How many people would like to see this album cover next year?"
Does he know something we don't?
I, for one, refuse to embrace "downloads" as a format because if I am going to spend the money on music, I want a real, tangible, physical format with artwork and liner notes that I can proudly display on my shelf with the rest of my CD and DVD collection.
I am totally with you on this one : I do miss CD Singles...in those slim jewel cases and on the actual disc written Made in Great Britain or UK and not bloody EU...(I know I am going back many years now but....). Now we can only rely on 7" Vinyls or picture Discs....well Thank God for that !!!
Cheers Moz