"Rococo Wordsmith Hamish Hawk Gets His Claws Into Morrissey" - Mojo (January 2024 issue)

Another tedious 'I loved Morrissey but now he's a bad guy' article in this month's Mojo from Hamish Hawk.
'I got into The Smith's at the end of university' says Hawk.
I adore their music, the power of Morrissey's voice and the yearning guitar.
Morrissey' poetry changed my life and his solo work has done a lot for me.......(now the obligatory Moz bashing)
but I feel he speaks out on things that maybe he doesn't know that much about.
I don't identify with him socially, culturally or politically'

To be fair to HH I honestly don't think he would have had the article printed in Mojo without the disclaimer.

Edit:

Article to view here (scan posted by Famous when dead):

Post in thread 'Hamish Hawk article - Mojo January 2024 issue.' https://www.morrissey-solo.com/thre...ojo-january-2024-issue.151693/post-1987558644

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Related item:

• Hamish Hawk releases cover of "Please, Please, Please..." - May 24, 2022

 

[Juan Dulces]

I took my sons to a minor league ice hockey game recently, and they played Rock and Roll Part 2. The artist behind that track is a heinous criminal but it's still a good sports anthem.

I wonder how many people in that arena knew about all of Gary Glitter's troubles or even thought about him at all when they heard that song. So much of a big deal is made about what we 'know' about somebody, but think about all the things we don't know.....

Does it even matter in music anyway?

 

[ACTON]

I don't know him. It's so boring hearing about these nobodies name dropping Moz and then falling over themselves trying to appeal to cancel culture vulgar vultures. What's the point apart from getting a headline. Didn't someone sometime sing that the world is full of crashing bores? Shameless Shitehawk must have skipped that song.

 

[goinghome]

fair enough but why title a magazine 3 months into the future,if its a quarterly then it should be december 2023,the world could be over by january 2024 the way thongs are going.

 

[marred]

anybody who gives their child the name hamish should be hung drawn and quartered,its one of these scottish names that goes out of fashion then comes back into fashion again,its quite popular just now,its on a par with angus.

Agreed. All the Hamishes I've ever met I couldn't stand, but then I can't stand most people.

 

[johnny marr is sh*t]

Another crashing bore

 

[gordyboy9]

I took my sons to a minor league ice hockey game recently, and they played Rock and Roll Part 2. The artist behind that track is a heinous criminal but it's still a good sports anthem.

I wonder how many people in that arena knew about all of Gary Glitter's troubles or even thought about him at all when they heard that song. So much of a big deal is made about what we 'know' about somebody, but think about all the things we don't know.....

Does it even matter in music anyway?

its played in american colleges every weekend,its called the hey song rather than its original title.i love gary glitter,rock n roll part 1 is one of the best songs ever.

 

[DagenhamDan]

I took my sons to a minor league ice hockey game recently, and they played Rock and Roll Part 2. The artist behind that track is a heinous criminal but it's still a good sports anthem.

I wonder how many people in that arena knew about all of Gary Glitter's troubles or even thought about him at all when they heard that song. So much of a big deal is made about what we 'know' about somebody, but think about all the things we don't know.....

Does it even matter in music anyway?

No Juan, it absolutely cannot matter.
If you destroyed all art, literature, film, music etc made by anyone who is offensive, and lets be honest, in these times everybody is offending someone or other, there would be next to nothing to bloody read, watch, listen to etc.

 

[Jenriot]

I can ignore Morrissey's politics and conspiracy theories, but what I can't ignore is his repetitive mendacity. It's hard to idolize someone who is always fibbing to his own fans. It's in-your-face disrespectful to all of us, but true believers give him a pass every time. Where's your self-respect?

 

[marred]

I can ignore Morrissey's politics and conspiracy theories, but what I can't ignore is his repetitive mendacity. It's hard to idolize someone who is always fibbing to his own fans. It's in-your-face disrespectful to all of us, but true believers give him a pass every time. Where's your self-respect?

Then what're you idolising him for? He's an imperfect human being ripe for criticism just like the rest of us.

 

[SuedeMoz]

I can ignore Morrissey's politics and conspiracy theories, but what I can't ignore is his repetitive mendacity. It's hard to idolize someone who is always fibbing to his own fans. It's in-your-face disrespectful to all of us, but true believers give him a pass every time. Where's your self-respect?

I'll admit it gets harder to tolerate that especially without the release of new brilliant and inspiring music to counterbalance the narrative. Yet here we still are...

 

[Johnnie Ray]

When the left become the authoritarian fascists - it's time to stand up and be counted against the left.
It has cost Moz dear. It has cost many people dear.
But history will judge Morrissey kindly - of that I have no doubt.

You are a gay right winger. Your world is upside down.

 

[gordyboy9]

No Juan, it absolutely cannot matter.
If you destroyed all art, literature, film, music etc made by anyone who is offensive, and lets be honest, in these times everybody is offending someone or other, there would be next to nothing to bloody read, watch, listen to etc.

totally right dan,art galleries and libraries would be empty.

 

[gashonthenail]

totally right dan,art galleries and libraries would be empty.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/peel-school-board-library-book-weeding-1.6964332

 

[BooyaMiley]

His Smiths cover was aired in these parts recently

This cover is so horrible and pretentious that it gets both boring and ridiculous. Exactly this is another example of bad "cultural appropriation" of Morrissey's work... A more sincere and by far much better cover was made recently by young people in Sligo

 

[marred]

No Juan, it absolutely cannot matter.
If you destroyed all art, literature, film, music etc made by anyone who is offensive, and lets be honest, in these times everybody is offending someone or other, there would be next to nothing to bloody read, watch, listen to etc.

We'd be left with Art-Hounds.

 

[International Playgirl]

Another tedious 'I loved Morrissey but now he's a bad guy' article in this month's Mojo from Hamish Hawk.
'I got into The Smith's at the end of university' says Hawk.
I adore their music, the power of Morrissey's voice and the yearning guitar.
Morrissey' poetry changed my life and his solo work has done a lot for me.......(now the obligatory Moz bashing)
but I feel he speaks out on things that maybe he doesn't know that much about.
I don't identify with him socially, culturally or politically'

To be fair to HH I honestly don't think he would have had the article printed in Mojo without the disclaimer.

Edit:

Article to view here (scan posted by Famous when dead):

Post in thread 'Hamish Hawk article - Mojo January 2024 issue.' https://www.morrissey-solo.com/thre...ojo-january-2024-issue.151693/post-1987558644

---

Related item:

• Hamish Hawk releases cover of "Please, Please, Please..." - May 24, 2022

Thanks for sharing @Johnny , its a lovely cover.

Many people (I included) will discover Mr Hawk's music through this article in which he dissociates from the songwriter, yet taps into his active fan base to showcase his talent.

Not very gracious that - 'I don't identify...' insert in his article, after citing Morrissey as a major influence.

He may have said something along the lines of -
separating art from artist (debatable, i know), Morrissey's identity, talent, journey and position in the music industry, drives his unique perspective la di dah or better - stick to the facts of the song covered and resist the wider conversation, as it is totally irrelevant imo.

These lyrics and yearning are borne of Morrissey's influences, the same he denounces, making his position come across as self-serving in this article.
Or have his words been taken out of context by the anti-Morrissey campaign office?

He feels Morrissey speaks out on 'things' he maybe doesn't know much about?

How can he know how he feels?

 

[Anonymous]

Morrissey is not mean, hes just tired, hes just sick and tired and hes feeling very sick and ill today. This guy should know better to try and make enemies with Moz he might end up in a song

 

[No 27]

totally right dan,art galleries and libraries would be empty.

Whatever will you do with your free-time?

 

[gashonthenail]

P

Whatever will you do with your free-time?

Post comments on websites about artists he doesn't like?

 

[Tampa Moz Fan]

Who?