Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner just did a chat on the Top of the Pops website (Apr. 21). I missed most of the chat and what I did see was mostly uninteresting but one of the final questions was:

Question: What are your personal feelings about the court case with Mike Joyce.

Marr: Um, I feel that it was ugly and unnecessary. A real shame that over the last few years I've been asked more about that case than the songs I've produced. Midway through the case I really did feel that I wanted to stop the case and get everyone to agree that we did have a good time in the Smiths after all. I don't hold any animosity to anyone, but it was such a shame. On a personal level I wish them luck, but they've got personal agendas that I can't relate to.

Read the full chat log on the TOTP site.

Also, from Sweetness:

J.Marr and B.Summer were in Cologne on 20th April, and gave an interview for radio Einslive. They talked most of the time about the new Electronic album. Morrissey was only mentioned once: J.Marr was looking at old Smiths pictures and said that he was young during this era and it was no wonder that his mother was worried about him hanging out with Morrissey!

From Les Inrockuptibles (France) date of issue 14 - 20 March 1999:

(The Smiths) I like them much more now they are dead than when they were alive (loose translation). I adore most of all 'Reel Around the Fountain'. There was a competition between them and us when they started and I could never understand why journalists preferred Morrissey's songs to mine. Maybe because like Joy Division there was something about the singers that people with no personality could identify with. (owch) Personally in my lyrics I only give part of myself and I already think it's too much. What always amazes me is the number of people who want to be the next Morrissey. Frankly who would want to be like someone who is so uncomfortable with himself? People want to be like him and he only wants one thing -- to be like someone else!! (laughs...)

I don't think Morrissey is a great singer. (hello mr pot I'm mr kettle). I met him when the Smiths first started out. A magazine suggested he interview another singer, and I don't know why, he chose me. I accepted on two conditions. One it be held in Liverpool and two it be held where I could have a drink. We met in a pub at lunchtime. I took great delight in ordering beef and holding it under his nose as he had told me he was a vegetarian (laughs)...

I thought he was very nice but I quickly learnt it was a (French word I can't translate "tocard"). At one point to display his literary skill he talked of a chassam (chasm). You only need to open a dictionary to know you don't pronounce it like that. Contrary to him I never read books, but I've known how to pronounce that word since I was six years old.

A bit mean spirited in parts but how much does the truth hurt? I always liked Echo and the Bunnymen and still do but like and love are two different things.

A message to all solo.com visitors: if you haven't got a copy of Galaxie 500's On Fire cd then rectify matters this weekend. I've listened to it for the thousandth time as I've typed this and it is stupendous.

I was walking through the newsagents today when I noticed the latest issue of MOJO on sale. I picked it up and saw that they had the results of a "100 greatest singers of all time" poll, so naturally I picked it up to have a look. Starting from the back I noticed no sign of Moz (not even in the "those who didn't quite make the list" bit) and assumed that he wouldn't be in it. You can imagine my surprise when I saw Morrissey at number 32. (surprise only because I didn't realise people still had taste) There was a small picture along with a piece on how it's the flaws in his singing style that make him so good at conveying emotions. The highlight they chose was at the end of "Well I Wonder" where he's singing the "please keep me in mind" bit.

Sorry if this is a bit vague but I had to rush off to catch the train, and couldn't spend more time reading it, I also didn't get any further along the list so I've no idea who is number one.

Just a little thing -

I was just watching the Man U game on the TV, tonight (Apr. 21). Roy Keane was playing, and got booked, and the commentator asked his co-commentator what he thought about him:

"He's chancing his arm..." said the second commentator. Well, it made me smile.

From Paul Piazza:

I was watching English football on TV when I noticed a headline from one of the newspapers in London read, "He's got the Schole world in his hands" in huge letters. Schole refers to Paul Scholes of Manchester United. I believe it to be Thursday's edition (Mar. 18). I found it funny quite to see that.

Morrissey/The Smiths tribute act Sweet and Tender Hooligans will appear on the TV courtroom of Judge Joe Brown Monday, April 26th (or Tuesday the 27th depending on what part of the country.) Lead singer Jose Maldonado hopes that given Morrissey's recent court failures, he won't do as good an impersonation of Moz in court as he does on stage.

Judge Joe Brown airs locally on KCOP Channel 13 in Los Angeles at 10:00AM.