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‘Pop Quiz’ with Phil Lynott versus Morrissey, 1984
01.09.2012
05:42 am
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Here’s a little curio from the BBC’s back catalog, an episode of the early 80s pop music quiz show “Pop Quiz’, featuring Morrissey and Phil Lynnot on opposing teams, presided over by uber-cheesey radio DJ Mike Reid (I’m loving his shirt). Phillo seems quite relaxed and in good spirits on this program, while unfortunately the same cannot be said for Steven Patrick “Life Of The Party” Morrissey. From the Slicing Up Eyeballs blog:

In an interview with The Face published in July 1984, Moz said, “‘Pop Quiz’ was unbearable. I realized it was a terrible mistake the moment the cameras began to roll. … I just squirmed through the program. I went back to my dressing room afterwards and virtually felt like breaking down, it had been so pointless. I felt I’d been gagged.”

Oh dear. Life is just so fucking hard for poor old squirming Moz. 
 
Pop Quiz, featuring Phil Lynnot, Morrissey & Kim Wilde pt 1:
 

 
After the jump Pop Quiz, featuring Phil Lynnot, Morrissey & Kim Wilde, pt 2…

READ ON
Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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01.09.2012
05:42 am
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Morrissey sells out: Smiths’ track covered for Christmas advert
11.11.2011
05:14 pm
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Morrissey has allowed high-street department store, John Lewis to use a cover version of “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” on the chain’s £6 million Christmas advertising campaign. The track has been covered by Slow Moving Millie (aka Amelia Warner, ex-wife of Colin Farrell, apparently), which follows on from last year’s take of Elton John’s “Your Song” recorded by Ellie Goulding.

According to the Daily Telegraph Morrissey is “delighted” that the chain was using the track. Craig Inglis, John Lewis’s marketing director, is quoted as saying:

“We know our audience holds The Smiths and bands from that era in high esteem.”

“It’s a magical feeling when you find that perfect present for someone; there’s a great sense of anticipation from the moment you buy it to the moment you give the gift on the big day.

“That feeling is exactly what we’ve tried to capture with this year’s Christmas campaign.”

Ruth Paterson, head of marketing at Rough Trade, the record label which released most of The Smiths’ work, said she was entertained by the collaboration.

“I do like the idea of a really good song by a really good band being played in Middle England’s living rooms,” she told The Times.

“I’m sure that wasn’t the song’s intended purpose, but I think that’s a good thing.”

As Morrissey edges towards a pensionable age, the “substantial pecuniary boost” this ad will bring will no doubt be greatly appreciated - though perhaps not by his fans, as if that will matter.

After Morrissey and Christmas, who’s next? And what other advert involving high street business and alleged hip musician would make for the most unlikely pairing? Suggestions, please.
 

 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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11.11.2011
05:14 pm
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DIY Nick Cave and Morrissey Halloween masks
10.18.2011
04:34 pm
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If you find yourself in a fix, looking for a last-minute Halloween costume, AUX TV offers celebrity masks that just need to be printed out. No one will even be able to tell the difference. If they do, they won’t care.

Click here for your Nick Cave mask or click here for your Morrissey mask.



 

Posted by Tara McGinley
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10.18.2011
04:34 pm
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Ken Russell: Shelagh Delaney’s Salford, from 1960
10.17.2011
12:03 pm
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The playwright Shelagh Delaney returned to her home town for this early film by Ken Russell, made in 1960 for the BBC’s Monitor strand. Delaney is now best known for her play A Taste of Honey of Honey (1958) (made into the film by Tony Richardson, starring Rita Tushingham and Murray Melvin), and of course, as the major influence on the lyrics of one, Steven Patrick Morrissey.

Russell’s film mainly focuses on an interview with Delaney, and has some well considered images of people, places, and Delaney wandering through Salford’s streets and market. After A Taste of Honey, Delaney wrote screenplays for The White Bus (1967) directed by Lindsay Anderson, Chalie Bubbles (1967) directed by and starring Albert Finney, and Dance With a Stranger, about the killer Ruth Ellis for director Mike Newell in 1985.
 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds

Hit the North: Lindsay Anderson’s ‘The White Bus’


Ken Russell: ‘A House in Bayswater’


 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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10.17.2011
12:03 pm
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‘The Importance of Being Morrissey’
09.16.2011
06:15 pm
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From 2003, The Importance of Being Morrissey is the most revealing and quotable documentary made on Steven Patrick Morrissey. 

In it he compares meat eating to child abuse; attacks the Royal Family and Tony Blair; responds to the accusations of racism; and we hear about his depression. There’s also some great concert footage, and a mixed selection of celebrity fans who explain their fervor for the Mozz: J K Rowling identifies with Morrissey in a darkened room, though still won’t give up bacon; former neighbor, playwright Alan Bennett couldn’t say his name, but thinks he has an interesting face with a story to tell; Will Self likes his muscular intellect; Noel Gallagher thinks he is the greatest ever lyricist; Chrissie Hynde thinks people who don’t get him can go fuck themselves; Bono thinks he’s funny; and Nancy Sinatra says he’s a great hugger.
 

 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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09.16.2011
06:15 pm
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‘Lost’ Press Video for The Smiths, 1992
08.17.2011
03:58 pm
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Those darlings at Rhino UK have uncovered this little gem of a “lost” press video for The Smiths, commissioned in 1992 to coincide with the release of their Best… albums.
 

 
With thanks to Nerdcore
 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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08.17.2011
03:58 pm
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‘Half A Person’ $185 Morrissey candle
08.15.2011
06:21 pm
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There is a light that will go out eventually. You can pre-order this delightful, limited edition Morrissey candle from The Occulter. And if you think you can do better pun than that let us know in the comments.

Thanks to Stuart Lorimer.

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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08.15.2011
06:21 pm
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Grilled Friend in a Korma: Morrissey Eats Meat?
07.29.2011
01:39 pm
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Now wouldn’t this be ironic, especially after his recent comments?

Back in March 1996 under the headline “Meat Is Magic!Select magazine ran a story that claimed celebrated vegetarian, “Mozzer eats meat!”

Morrissey eats meat?

Yes, Mozzer eats meat!

But how did they know?

How do we know? Because he does so at George & Niki’s in Camden. It’s also caff-by-appointment for Björk, Meanswear, Goldie and Blur…

George & Niki’s? What’s that then?

Forget The Good Mixer, George and Niki’s Golden Grill caff in the heart of cosmopolitan Camden has become the palatable place to be for London’s pop glitterati.

“There’s this place in America where the five states meet,” says George. “This is its London equivalent. we get regulars, nutters, kids and then we get the pop stars.”

The Golden Grill has stood on the same sight for 50 years - three generations of the Georgio family - serving roasts, fry-ups and quality vegetarian alternatives. Select, in an attempt to unveil the covert culinary habits of pop celebrity, spent an afternoon in the company of Niki, George and their rocker-coiffed assistant of 13 years, Vange (“Just call me Vange. That or Elvis.”) The results…

Vange: “Yeah, this bloke called Morris…Morris? The rocker bloke. Lovely man.”

Morrissey.

“That’s him! Comes in about once a month. A roast he has, yeah a roast dinner!”

Er…not the vegetarian option?

Vange: “Nah! Roast dinner. Lots of gravy.”

“Roast dinner”? “Lost of gravy”? Incredible. One can only imagine what the tabloids would do for a picture of Mozzer with his mouth chockfull with meat.

But surely Vange was obviously confusing Mozzer with er, Morris….Morris… Hm. Not many pop stars with Morris as a first name.

Click on the above image to see larger version of the article.
 
Previously on Dangerous Minds

Back to the nineties: Fabulous scans of ‘Select’ music magazine


Morrissey compares Norway massacre to KFC


 
With thanks to Tommy Udo and Tara McGinley
 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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07.29.2011
01:39 pm
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Morrissey compares Norway massacre to KFC
07.28.2011
08:35 am
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This headline reads like a spoof from the Onion, but it’s not. Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear. From the Metro:

The Daily Mirror reports he told the crowd before singing Meat Is Murder: ‘We all live in a murderous world, as the events in Norway have shown, with 97 dead.
‘Though that is nothing compared to what happens in McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried S*** every day.’

Has Moz been listening to too much Glenn Beck? FFS, lighten UP Morrissey!
 
Sparks - “Lighten Up Morrissey”
 

 
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Morrissey brands Royal Family ‘benefit scroungers’
Morrissey fans are lazy

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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07.28.2011
08:35 am
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Hear Three New Songs by Morrissey
06.15.2011
10:59 am
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Morrissey premiered 3 new songs on Janice Long‘s BBC 2 radio show today. The tracks “Action Is My Middle Name”, “The Kid’s a Looker” and “People Are the Same Everywhere” were recorded last week at the Maida Vale studios, and will be included on Morrissey’s forthcoming tenth album release.
 

‘Action is My Middle Name’ (BBC Sessions) - Morrissey
 

‘The Kid’s a Looker’ (BBC Sessions) - Morrissey
 

‘People Are The Same Everywhere’ (BBC Sessions) - Morrissey
 
With thanks to NJUnderground
 

Posted by Paul Gallagher
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06.15.2011
10:59 am
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Morrissey brands Royal Family ‘benefit scroungers’
04.28.2011
01:17 pm
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Y’know, sometimes he does speak the truth. From the NME:

In an interview broadcast on BBC 5live this morning (April 27), the singer said he won’t be watching the wedding, which is set to be seen by a global audience of two billion people.

“Why would I watch the wedding? Why would I watch it?” Morrissey said. “I couldn’t take any of that seriously. I don’t think the so-called royal family speak for England now and I don’t think England needs them. I do seriously believe that they are benefit scroungers and nothing else. I don’t believe they serve any purpose whatsoever.”

Posted by Niall O'Conghaile
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04.28.2011
01:17 pm
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Rare interview with Morrissey on The Smiths, politics, song-writing and his autobiography
04.21.2011
04:58 pm
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Morrissey gave a very rare interview to John Wilson on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row yesterday, to promote the release of The Very Best Of Morrissey, on April 25th in the UK and May 3rd the US.

In the interview, Morrissey discussed the forthcoming album, the legacy of The Smiths, his work as a song-writer, his thoughts on British Prime Minster, David Cameron‘s disclosure that he was a “major Smiths fan”, and also had time to mention his, as yet, unpublished autobiography, which he has just finished writing and would like to see published as a Penguin Classic.
 

 

 
Previously on DM

The night The Smiths stole the show and changed music


British Prime Minister confronted in House of Commons over liking for The Smiths 


 
Bonus previously unreleased tracks from Morrissey after the jump…
 

READ ON
Posted by Paul Gallagher
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04.21.2011
04:58 pm
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The night The Smiths stole the show at The Hacienda and changed music
02.04.2011
05:21 pm
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On February 4th 1983, The Smiths were booked to play the Hacienda in Manchester, England, as support to 52nd Street, a funk band signed to Factory Records. The audience was there to see the headliners, but it was the best band that Tony Wilson never signed who stole the night.

The show was a milestone in The Smiths career, a night when they went from interesting local band, to next-big-thing, and beyond.

As the band took the stage Morrissey greeted the audience by saying “Hello… We are the Smiths. We are not ‘Smiths’, we are the Smiths. ‘These Things Take Time’....” Following the latter set opener he simply said “Oh thank you” then the band launched into “What Difference Does It Make?”. Within a year the song would be released as a single and make it onto the band’s debut album. At this point it was played slower and featured slightly different lyrics. For example instead of “I’m so sick and tired” (album) or “I’m so very tired” (Peel session), Morrissey simply sang “I’m so tired”. Also, Morrissey sang “Oh my sacred Mother in falsetto at the end, instead of the more familiar “Oh my sacred one”.

Next up was “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” and it was introduced by Morrissey with a simple drop of its title. This song also featured different lyrics to the version which would be released on the band’s debut album. The outro of “as long as there’s love / I did my best for her” was absent and a line was then sung as “your mother she need never know”. Right before “Handsome Devil” Morrissey said: “I repeat: the only thing to be in 1983 is handsome… ‘Handsome Devil’.” The next track was probably seeing its live debut and was simply introduced as “Jeane!”. Strangely it would not be performed for long, it was soon to be dropped from the setlist until the Smiths reinstated it when touring the debut album more than a year later.

The performance of “What Do You See In Him?” was a very passionate one. The song would not remain in the Smiths’ set for long. After being dropped for a few months it would re-emerge in June as “Wonderful Woman”, with the same music, but different lyrics. The song that would become the Smiths debut single was then introduced with a slowly articulated “Hand. In. Glove.” It was also performed very passionately, and seems to have woken the audience into paying attention to the yet unknown opening band. The song was well received and this prompted Morrissey to shyly say “Oh you’re very kind… thank you…”

The evening’s final number was then announced twice as “Miserable Lie”. The song’s early lyrics didn’t yet include the line “I know the wind-swept mystical air” while the line “I recognise that mystical air” was sung twice. Instead of “I’m just a country-mile behind the world” Morrissey sang “I’d run a hundred miles away from you”. After the song Morrissey simply said “Bye bye…” twice and the band left the stage while a few new converts cheered and whistled.

A review written by Jim Shelley and published in the NME a month and a half later had only good words for the Smiths, comparing them to Magazine, Josef K and The Fire Engines.

 

 
More from The Smiths at the Hacienda, after the jump…
 

READ ON
Posted by Paul Gallagher
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02.04.2011
05:21 pm
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British Prime Minister confronted in House Of Commons over liking The Smiths
12.08.2010
03:21 pm
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British Prime Minister David Cameron is a Smith’s fanboy, much to the chagrin of Morrissey and Johnny Marr who can’t stand the PM. Morrissey, a vocal animal rights activist, is particularly disturbed by the fact that Cameron wants to “repeal the Hunting Act, which would mean the brutal killing of foxes, hares, deer, badgers, otters – just about anything that moves.”

Today Labour MP challenged Cameron over Morrissey and Johnny Marr’s comments.

Ahead of tomorrow’s controversial vote on raising tuition fees, Cameron was challenged by Labour MP Kerry McCarthy, who mentioned The Smiths in her argument.

“As someone who claims to be an avid fan of The Smiths, the Prime Minister will no doubt be rather upset this week to hear that both Morrissey and Johnny Marr have banned him from liking them,” McCarthy said.

She added: “The Smiths are, of course, the archetypal student band. If he wins tomorrow night’s vote, what songs does he think students will be listening to? ‘Miserable Lie’, ‘I Don’t Owe You Anything’ or ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’?”

Cameron’s response included several Smiths song titles, too.

He said: “I expect that if I turned up I probably wouldn’t get ‘This Charming Man’ and if I went with the Foreign Secretary [William Hague] it would probably be ‘William It Was Really Nothing’.”

 
Via EOMS

Posted by Marc Campbell
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12.08.2010
03:21 pm
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Handmade Morrissey Ouija Board
01.27.2010
01:20 am
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Peculiar handmade Ouija board by Etsy seller Maasproduction:

Comes with a heart shaped planchette which is also hand painted. Signed/dated on the back. Also makes a great objet d’art, Valentine’s Day or Birthday gift!

 
The price is $50.00.
 
(via Super Punch)

Posted by Tara McGinley
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01.27.2010
01:20 am
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