Nick Kent talks Morrissey and The Smiths in DN interview - Fredrik Strage / Morrissey 61 Facebook group

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Excerpt:

Post by Fredrik Strage:

Jag intervjuade just rockjournalisten Nick Kent för DN. Han är aktuell med sin första roman "The Unstable Boys". Jag frågade också om hans relation till Morrissey och han gav mig väldigt utförliga svar. Eftersom jag bara fick med ett par korta citat i den färdiga texten tänkte jag bjussa er Moz-fans på resten. (Det här är inte korrat eller redigerat, bara utskriven intervju.)

Another big "what if" in rock history is what would have happened if you had agreed to publish the stuff that Morrissey sent you when you were a section editor at the NME? Maybe he would have become a rock journalist instead?
I never turned him down. I just didn't get back to him. He wasn't very good. But the main thing is that Morrissey was 14 years old. He was obsessed with the New York Dolls and I had spent enough time around the New York Dolls to know first hand that people who hang around the New York Dolls don't live very long. There's only one guy in the band still alive. Five are dead. Probably more than any other rock group of their era. So I just thought he'd better grow out of it. Also he was 14, what was I going to say? Leave school? Go to New York? I think he always resented me for that. Haha. We had a strange relationship. I remember interviewing him as a member of The Smiths, I couldn't remember him as Steven Morrissey, this kid that used to write to me. He wrote to a lot of people. But very quickly he wanted to know about the New York Dolls. And I knew about them. Johnny Thunders was the same age as me. We dressed the same and we had connections shall we say. So I knew the real story which he didn't. He just knew the story that he had read in the music papers. So I told him the real story of the New York Dolls and I remember him looking at me as if I was Saint Peter talking about Jesus Christ. This kind of worshipful look on his face. He wanted to touch the hem of my garment or something. I said to him "listen, man, the New York Dolls were a fine group, far be it from me to knock them but The Smiths are way better, you Morrissey are way more talented than anyone in the New York Dolls, that's just my opinion". And that impressed him. Haha.

I love The Smiths. I've been listening to them again. It's strange because their music came along at a really bad time in my life. Getting towards the end of my bad drug period. I was suffering from a really bad chemical depression. I was jaded and lacking stamina and everything was shit. Too many synthesizers. The whole music scene was all synthesizers at that point and I didn't like it. Then The Smiths came along and it was just wonderful. It was like hearing The Byrds again for the first time. I fell in love with music again. And meeting them was very nice. Johnny Marr gave me an amplifier, I was still a musician at that time, very nice of him. And a huge talent. I've played guitar with Keith Richards, I know how good a musician he is, like one-to-one, I know how good he is on stage but I also know how good he is when playing in a room and he's very good. He's much better in a room than he is on stage. And also Jimmy Page. Another guitar great. I've been in the same room and watched him play. He's great. But Johnny Marr was the best. When he was in The Smiths it was like... God, the beauty.... I'd purposedly go to soundchecks, before a gig, and Morrissey wouldn't sing it was just Joyce, Rourke and Marr getting the sound right. And they were rehearsing the songs for "The Queen Is Dead" which they were yet to record. They had just written them. And the music coming off that stage... everything that Marr played was just beautiful. It was like something out of a Greek myth. This golden music was coming out of his amplifier. Everything that he played was just... and they worked every day. The Smiths worked hard. The Smiths were the opposite of The Sex Pistols and The New York Dolls. They developed. They rehearsed. They wanted to be great. Every f***ing day, man. Morrissey and Marr would get together and say: "OK, today we're gonna write our version of '8 Miles High'. We're not gonna copy it but we're gonna do something as monumental as that." And they wrote "How Soon Is Now". Then Marr said: "OK, today we're gonna do our 'Gimme Shelter'." And they wrote "Bigmouth Strikes Again". They'd pick a song that was a classic. "OK, we're gonna do our 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling'." And they wrote "I Know It's Over". You understand? That's the level they were working on. Everyone else were thinking like: "OK, we want to sound a bit like Leonard Cohen, a bit like U2, and a bit like Depeche Mode, and the singer wants to sound a bit like Jeff Buckley. We'll put these ingredients together and we'll write our own songs." And that's pretty much what Coldplay does. And hundreds of thousands of people like that approach. That's a mainstream approach to rock music and has been for the last 30 years. But I don't like that because when I hear groups like that I just hear their influences. There's no personality. It's like the difference between Prince, who takes loads of influences but brought his own personality, versus Lenny Kravitz who takes Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, a little bit of John Lennon, and a lot of other influences but doesn't really add anything of his own to it.

The Smiths were like The Velvet Underground. They had their own sound. And those are the rare groups. Those are the important groups that are going to last.

Is it true that Morrissey wrote the song "Reader Meet Author" about you?
I haven't heard the song so I don't really want to comment. There was a time when things were nasty between us. Now we just ignore eachother. I prefer it that way. I don't like his politics. I don't know too much about him. I haven't even listened to his last album. But I listened to "California Son" and I really enjoyed that. I thought he made some really good choices. Joni Mitchell. Laura Nyro. But as for the stuff that he writes now... no. I don't want to say anything negative about the guy but I'm not gonna say anything positive either. Loved him in The Smiths.



The original DN article:


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Vegan Cro Spirit have you seen any photos of Mark Kermode? Mark Kermode used to be a Morrissey fan but he has recently turned against him. Mark Kermode works for the BBC as a film review guy. I believe it is possible to work for the BBC and be a Morrissey fan. I think Morrissey still has some support on BBC Radio 2 and maybe BBC 6 Music. How can Mark Kermode be a fan one minute and not the next? If you see a photo of Mark Kermode I hope you see what I mean about he looks a bit like John Robb mostly in the hairstyles. Mark Kermode sort of reminds me of John Robb I think they might of met each other or know each other.

I don't know how old Melvin is? I don't know if he was born in the late 1950s or 1960s. Maybe he is a younger person who got into punk rock later on not when punk rock first started in the late 1970s. Was 1977 the year when punk rock first started and got going?

Mark Kermode:

Been interesting hearing from outraged Morrissey fans. Good heavens, what a load of sanctimonious, humourless, preachy, self-pitying whingebags they are!

:rolleyes:

upon examination he hasnt heard from any Moz fans, in fact he hasnt heard from nobody as he is unknown.:crazy:

all these Moz haters are insane. they think they are superstars when in fact they are unheard of and unknown. they address imaginary non existing crowds of supporers as if they were in ancient Rome.:crazy:

same as the punk rock crowd. 2-4 peeps attend punk rock concerts since nobody in the punk rock group can sing or play the instrument.
yet they carry on as if they were Vic Damone in Vegas.:crazy:

Melvin is in BigGVelcro punk rock group so he must be over 40:blushing:
they were 'almost' punk rock superstars :lbf: but for
the imaginary russian record label not signing them an invisible record contract.:blushing:
 
Yeah.

And the press themselves either don't notice it, think it's funny or think he should deal with it because he's 'acidic'.

Or - & this infuriates me - agree in passing that it's bad, but somehow not worth dwelling on, & not as bad as him.

No concept his sexuality was illegal (he was 34 when it was legalised in Ireland. 34!) & taboo in his lifetime & that being subjected to relentless jokes, questions, demands to accept a label/expectations, slurs, & speculation about why he's like that, might be an awful thing to endure in his workplace.

They can remember half a sentence he said to Q in 1992 but not poofy bastard or uppity f***** said about/in relation to him.

In regards to sexuality and identity. It doesn’t help people’s agendas to be empathetic or take into consideration what people like Morrissey and from where he’s coming had to go through just to survive, and unfortunately still have to deal with. Things have gotten better, but it’s not enough.

‘because life is hard enough when you ‘belong’ here.’ I think Morrissey
still feels he doesn’t belong here, or maybe anywhere.

You're honestly trying to argue that the people who criticize Morrissey should also have to take into account some scattered homophobic remarks that random people have made towards him over the years? How is that relevant at all? Do you hear yourself?

Well? If you don’t think
the physical and mental abuse some people go through won’t shape their
actions, behavior and shape the way they see the world, then I don’t know what else to say to you. Mistreatment great and small, it all adds up and can chip away at one’s sanity and self-worth and depending on the individual can stay with you your whole life.

"Do as I do and scrap your fey ways"

Dial-A-Cliché

"Grow up, be a man, and close your mealy-mouth

Dial-A-Cliché”


Now, I’m not saying that just because someone has gotten the short end of the stick in society,
that they should be handled with kid gloves.

But I think to take a persons
mis/treatment by society into consideration is the humane thing to do. Also it helps to understand why people are angry at him, even if their remarks are not homophobic on the surface, it should be taken into consideration how family,media,society shapes everyone in order to get a better understanding of why we say and do the things that we do.

Yes, of course everyone’s entitled to be critical and give an opinion of another’s actions, but if they must,
then they should try using the heart as much as the mind when they judge and come to the conclusions that they do.
 
In regards to sexuality and identity. It doesn’t help people’s agendas to be empathetic or take into consideration what people like Morrissey and from where he’s coming had to go through just to survive, and unfortunately still have to deal with. Things have gotten better, but it’s not enough.

‘because life is hard enough when you ‘belong’ here.’ I think Morrissey
still feels he doesn’t belong here, or maybe anywhere.



Well? If you don’t think
the physical and mental abuse some people go through won’t shape their
actions, behavior and shape the way they see the world, then I don’t know what else to say to you. Mistreatment great and small, it all adds up and can chip away at one’s sanity and self-worth and depending on the individual can stay with you your whole life.

"Do as I do and scrap your fey ways"

Dial-A-Cliché

"Grow up, be a man, and close your mealy-mouth

Dial-A-Cliché”


Now, I’m not saying that just because someone has gotten the short end of the stick in society,
that they should be handled with kid gloves.

But I think to take a persons
mis/treatment by society into consideration is the humane thing to do. Also it helps to understand why people are angry at him, even if their remarks are not homophobic on the surface, it should be taken into consideration how family,media,society shapes everyone in order to get a better understanding of why we say and do the things that we do.

Yes, of course everyone’s entitled to be critical and give an opinion of another’s actions, but if they must,
then they should try using the heart as much as the mind when they judge strangers and come to the conclusions that they do.

I'm not saying this about anyone on here - but looking at his publicity & also witnessing first hand some of the reactions from friends & colleagues in the arts/media - the reason they police him so intensely, react so violently & only remember heavily editorialised pull-quotes, paraphrases or outright fabrications is because they find other things about him disturbing...

his social interaction issues (very shy, but frank to the point of rudeness, awkward body language...), his refusal to safely ring-fence his sexuality/gender in line with social norms, not sticking to the norms & 'sides' of political discourse so they'd actually have to think about what he says & cross-reference it with his previous statements...

& then there's the ones who think they're getting revenge on him for his 'holier-than-thou' working-class, socialist, vegetarian, so camp he must be gay, IRA supporting years when they wanted to destroy him for making them feel inadequately radical but had no ammunition... which is why they started with absolute sh*te like 'reggae is vile'.
 
Right on :thumb:

I'm not saying this about anyone on here - but looking at his publicity & also witnessing first hand some of the reactions from friends & colleagues in the arts/media - the reason they police him so intensely, react so violently & only remember heavily editorialised pull-quotes, paraphrases or outright fabrications is because they find other things about him disturbing...

his social interaction issues (very shy, but frank to the point of rudeness, awkward body language...), his refusal to safely ring-fence his sexuality/gender in line with social norms, not sticking to the norms & 'sides' of political discourse so they'd actually have to think about what he says & cross-reference it with his previous statements...

& then there's the ones who think they're getting revenge on him for his 'holier-than-thou' working-class, socialist, vegetarian, so camp he must be gay, IRA supporting years when they wanted to destroy him for making them feel inadequately radical but had no ammunition... which is why they started with absolute sh*te like 'reggae is vile'.
 
Thats a lot of rambling Ketamine but you have your view of Morrissey based on his musical output and what he says in the odd interview he gives, people like Nick Kent have their view based on actually interacting with Morrissey as did Tony Wilson.



If Tony Wilson’s allegations in this video are true, it’s appalling behaviour from Morrissey.
 
Mark Kermode:

Been interesting hearing from outraged Morrissey fans. Good heavens, what a load of sanctimonious, humourless, preachy, self-pitying whingebags they are!

:rolleyes:

upon examination he hasnt heard from any Moz fans, in fact he hasnt heard from nobody as he is unknown.:crazy:

all these Moz haters are insane. they think they are superstars when in fact they are unheard of and unknown. they address imaginary non existing crowds of supporers as if they were in ancient Rome.:crazy:

same as the punk rock crowd. 2-4 peeps attend punk rock concerts since nobody in the punk rock group can sing or play the instrument.
yet they carry on as if they were Vic Damone in Vegas.:crazy:

Melvin is in BigGVelcro punk rock group so he must be over 40:blushing:
they were 'almost' punk rock superstars :lbf: but for
the imaginary russian record label not signing them an invisible record contract.:blushing:

Did he say that? 😁

Because he virtue signals like mad on Twitter - to make up for being a white, middle-class, middle-aged, Christian, heterosexual, male, public school boy who gatekeeps the culture via his film reviews.
 
:straightface:
they are all nutters. they are always checking everything and everyone everywhere for whiteness:blushing: why dont go help out in Mozambique and quit their aggravating tosh here FFS. there is no backwards whiteness over there. go work for the Mozambique Guardian or Mozambique Observer.

they all have Skinny syndrome. they see themselves as expert superstars in their own insane membrane.:crazy: yet everybody
else is sanctimonious.:lbf:
you cant bring up hot soup without one of the nutters being an expert on it.

these non existing Moz fans that never contacted him are 'sanctimonious' but he is in the BGVelcro/Melvin punk rock mode
where its fun in the sun all the time.:lbf:

i think that the russian dude who 'putin-ed' them out of the record deal that would have brought them worlwide punk rock fame was 'white':crazy:
 
If Tony Wilson’s allegations in this video are true, it’s appalling behaviour from Morrissey.

:rolleyes:
oy it goes from bad to worse with these nutters.:crazy:
he noticed that moz willed himself to be a rock star?doh:
nobody saw this but he did since must have x ray vision
with those dumb glasses :confused:
the day he said THIS IS ENOUGH is when he saw Stuart carry towels backstage. his troll mind informed him they were for Moz and that was enough for him, BASTA NO MAS :drama:

then something about someone in a record label giving her life for Moz:crazy:

and of course the customary Le:frogface: nonsensical comments about LePew
having 'melody'/ well where is it?? under lock and key?:lbf:

its like a nutter parade out there FFSo_O
 
Of course they are true. It’s why people don’t like him. He would probably hate everyone on this forum.

Anon - Tony enabled some of the biggest junkies in the music business.

There are MANY stories.

And yet he's outraged by Moz getting a towel brought to him & by an alleged phone call asking for no more phone calls?

He's mardy about losing the Smiths to Rough Trade. And het male rock star bad behaviour was celebrated.


20210306_161055.jpg


I love Shaun Ryder btw - just pointing out there's been a lot of misbehaviour.
 
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:(
Anon, get smart FFS, Tony Wilson had the drug culture going in that dumb rundown club. Moz would not for this type of behavior.:straightface:
Peeps running around back and forth with all manner of drugs is OK but someone carrying towels its NO MAS BASTA:swear
 
Anon - Tony enabled some of the biggest junkies in the music business.

There are MANY stories.

And yet he's outraged by Moz getting a towel brought to him & by an alleged phone call asking for no more phone calls?

He's mardy about losing the Smiths to Rough Trade. And het male rock star bad behaviour was celebrated.


View attachment 69330

I love Shaun Ryder btw - just pointing out there's been a lot of misbehaviour.

The girl got him the deal with Mercury when nobody else was interested, he then refused to do the promotional work for the album, she then chased him to beg him to dot, Morrissey then rang the head of the company and told him to stop that bitch ringing him. I think that is pretty shitty behaviour personally As Tony says, Morrissey's art is great but as a human being he leaves a lot to be desired and there's a lot of other people around Manchester with similar view.
 
The girl got him the deal with Mercury when nobody else was interested, he then refused to do the promotional work for the album, she then chased him to beg him to dot, Morrissey then rang the head of the company and told him to stop that bitch ringing him. I think that is pretty shitty behaviour personally As Tony says, Morrissey's art is great but as a human being he leaves a lot to be desired and there's a lot of other people around Manchester with similar view.

Tony wasn't party to any of those telephone conversations - it's also always been known that Morrissey has problems with depression & anxiety that stop him working. And he'll have medical documentation about it for his insurance & contracts.

Tony saw a hell of a lot worse.
 
The girl got him the deal with Mercury when nobody else was interested, he then refused to do the promotional work for the album, she then chased him to beg him to dot, Morrissey then rang the head of the company and told him to stop that bitch ringing him. I think that is pretty shitty behaviour personally As Tony says, Morrissey's art is great but as a human being he leaves a lot to be desired and there's a lot of other people around Manchester with similar view.
Jesus f***ing christ who cares if he "leaves a lot to be desired" as a human being. The f***ing nerve of some people on here. The f***ing attitude. Y'all acting like you've never made a mistake in your entire life. Judgemental pricks.
f***ing pathetic.
 
Jesus f***ing christ who cares if he "leaves a lot to be desired" as a human being. The f***ing nerve of some people on here. The f***ing attitude. Y'all acting like you've never made a mistake in your entire life. Judgemental pricks.
f***ing pathetic.
There's 'making a mistake' and then there's chronic, systematic abuse of people. Morrissey certainly falls into the latter camp. The wayside of his career is littered with people he has used, abused, and discarded. If his life is indeed a succession of people saying goodbye then there's no doubt as to why that is.
 
There's 'making a mistake' and then there's chronic, systematic abuse of people. Morrissey certainly falls into the latter camp. The wayside of his career is littered with people he has used, abused, and discarded. If his life is indeed a succession of people saying goodbye then there's no doubt as to why that is.

But who the f*** cares?None of that has anything to do with you or any of the other f***ing psychos on here.Some people here would be well advised to shut the f*** up for a change and actually listen to the music. Maybe that would straighten out their head.
 
There's 'making a mistake' and then there's chronic, systematic abuse of people. Morrissey certainly falls into the latter camp. The wayside of his career is littered with people he has used, abused, and discarded. If his life is indeed a succession of people saying goodbye then there's no doubt as to why that is.

It's actually littered with his mental health problems.

People get hired & fired every day. Rejection is a normal part of the business.

Edit: He has survived on talent & timing (the 80s had more variety) - otherwise he'd have been written off as too dysfunctional to work with. As many are.
 
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This is absolutely hilarious. There is a man born in the uk in late 50s. There are various people who actually met this guy, often regularly, happenned to be in the same social circles and are giving first-hand impressions. And yet here we have some sycophants who never met the guy but know better. It's just the press, the shyness, the drugs, anything but.
I'm almost envious for this level of delusion.
 
But who the f*** cares?None of that has anything to do with you or any of the other f***ing psychos on here.Some people here would be well advised to shut the f*** up for a change and actually listen to the music. Maybe that would straighten out their head.
If you think that some people need to post less on here, why don't you set an example?
 
Jesus f***ing christ who cares if he "leaves a lot to be desired" as a human being. The f***ing nerve of some people on here. The f***ing attitude. Y'all acting like you've never made a mistake in your entire life. Judgemental pricks.
f***ing pathetic.

You speak the TRUTH !
 

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