Vulture article: Johnny Marr on the Best of the Smiths, His Solo Career, and Fever Dreams Pts 1–4 (February 2, 2022)

Johnny Marr on the Best of the Smiths and His Solo Career

“Sure, there was drama, but what you hear was a result of stone-cold love.”

www.vulture.com

Excerpt:

Something about making The Queen Is Dead you’ve never shared publicly

The Smiths have been pretty much done to death really by everyone who was involved, and plenty of people who weren’t. It’s a shame that so much was said without the benefit of maturity and hindsight and that there were so many agendas going around for so many years. But I guess it’s all part of the band’s kind of complicated story [annotation].

The truth was that there was loads of love in it. So maybe that’s the story that everybody is missing. Maybe that’s a surprise that everybody who is still interested needs to be reminded of: One of the reasons why they liked the sound of it and why it sounds the way it does is because there’s so much love in it. And there was love in the making of it. There was love in the writing of it. And sure, there was drama, but what you hear was a result of stone-cold love.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

The supposed reasons for that shirt cannot be real, i refuse to believe he's that petty, i've heard he didn't like this place but i thought it was something serious that upset him.

Was it serious or not serious to him?

And should we get to decide that for him?

 

[Redacted]

I don't know who has seen this and who has not, but there's an article here about it

Morrissey bans Morrissey-solo.com owner davidt from concerts for life

Arse of the world sends the links: Two separate sources: Morrissey bans superfan for life - WENN.com via Toronto Sun Morrissey Slaps Concert Ban On Website Owner - WENN via ContactMusic Morrissey has taken extraordinary action against the owner of a fan website by banning him for life...

www.morrissey-solo.com

 

[Vitreous Humor]

I don't know who has seen this and who has not, but there's an article here about it

Morrissey bans Morrissey-solo.com owner davidt from concerts for life

Arse of the world sends the links: Two separate sources: Morrissey bans superfan for life - WENN.com via Toronto Sun Morrissey Slaps Concert Ban On Website Owner - WENN via ContactMusic Morrissey has taken extraordinary action against the owner of a fan website by banning him for life...

www.morrissey-solo.com

Exactly like Morrissey banning Johnny from speaking about him.

 

[Vegan Cro Spirit 555]

LePepePew will NEVER stop talking about Moz hes totally obsessed.
didnt hesitate for one second: Moz Moz Moz. Next interview: Moz Moz Moz etc etc into infinity

 

[Redacted]

Exactly like Morrissey banning Johnny from speaking about him.

Morrissey did not 'ban' Johnny, he asked him to stop.

 

[Vitreous Humor]

Morrissey did not 'ban' Johnny, he asked him to stop.

Eh, semantics. Same thing.

 

[Redacted]

Eh, semantics. Same thing.

No, it's actually not the same thing and I think that is what some people are struggling with, they can't honestly say Morrissey made any demand or threat, because he didn't.

 

[Anonymous]

No, it's actually not the same thing and I think that is what some people are struggling with, they can't honestly say Morrissey made any demand or threat, because he didn't.

Then why bring it up at all instead of keeping it private? Oh yeah, he desperately needs attention.

 

[Redacted]

Then why bring it up at all instead of keeping it private? Oh yeah, he desperately needs attention.

This has been asked over and over, and answered over and over, its trolling at this point

 

[Vitreous Humor]

This has been asked over and over, and answered over and over, its trolling at this point

I'll say. Stop bringing it up. Let it go. Thanks.

 

[Morrissey's left nut]

Always has been, always will be.

Like Morrissey once said about Brett Anderson- "he'll never forgive God for not making him Angie Bowie."

Morrissey will never forgive God for not making him Angie Marr.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Like Morrissey once said about Brett Anderson- "he'll never forgive God for not making him Angie Bowie."

Morrissey will never forgive God for not making him Angie Marr.

And Angie Marr will never forgive God for not making her Morrissey.

 

[Redacted]

And Angie Marr will never forgive God for not making her Morrissey.

Ha! I was going to say that!! (I wish I thought of it days ago)

 

[Dingoatemybabby]

And Angie Marr will never forgive God for not making her Morrissey.

Doubtful. She got Johnny, erotic britches and all.

 

[Amy]

Doubtful. She got Johnny, erotic britches and all.

Well, she always had him but she had to share (his headspace) with M for a while... and judging by the current shitshow, still does. And we all know how Moz feels about sharing.

 

[gordyboy9]

Doubtful. She got Johnny, erotic britches and all.

erotic trousers,never heard of those before.soon all the kids will be wearing them.

 

[The.Truth.]

Until the current escalation, nothing about Marr's remarks had boiled up here to the point where people were completely enraged. I would like to say it again. To my mind, Marr's attempts at demarcation became clearer when Morrissey openly promoted For Britain. Not before to that extent and with that clarity.

Okay but to me the point is not whichever particular issue they disagree on. It's like someone you knew in high school following you around on Facebook trying to correct your opinions. Those opinions could be right, wrong, whatever but it's still Marr making himself way too involved in Morrissey's public statements.
And because they have this sort of connected identity in the public eye Marr is encouraged to make these comments, but you don't see Morrissey talking about Marr. Now maybe the reason is that Marr hasn't said anything interesting enough for Morrissey to care to comment on, but we can say for sure that he doesn't need to use Marr's name for publicity. On the other hand Marr really gets an awful lot of mileage out of talking about Morrissey. Every time Marr has a new project there he is showing how to play "This Charming Man" on his signature guitar, or talking about his new record while making a few digs at Morrissey.

Yes, Morrissey says things that do not help him or anyone else. But he doesn't need Marr to get publicity whereas I think it's clear that Marr needs to mention Morrissey.

And part of it for me is that I enjoy Morrissey's way with words and these are the sorts of statements I enjoy most, when he talks about other musicians. Aren't you kind of relieved that it's a break from the "subspecies, where were the parents, immigrants are rapists," typical drivel? I am. Please let's hear more like this. Maybe next month he can say something about Adele or something.

 

[BookishBoy]

I've maxed out on Vulture articles so can't read the whole of this any more, but is there a bit where Johnny says (I'm paraphrasing) that he basically never really related to Morrissey's lyrics, in The Smiths? Or am I remembering that wrong?

 

[Mr. Mustache aka Dider]

I've maxed out on Vulture articles so can't read the whole of this any more, but is there a bit where Johnny says (I'm paraphrasing) that he basically never really related to Morrissey's lyrics, in The Smiths? Or am I remembering that wrong?

If so, this sounds like revisionist history to divorce himself from the aesthetic of Morrissey, which dominated the band’s image. Gee, how did he decide to become a vegetarian? Was it exposure to Morrissey’s profundity on “Meat is Murder?” Or just totally random somehow? Hellllloooo

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Doubtful. She got Johnny, erotic britches and all.

some got my point.