Johnny Marr - Much more sensitive, intelligent and well read than you would think...

From Les Inrockuptibles 21/04/99 (better late than never):

WHAT BOOKS HAVE TOUCHED YOU THE MOST?
I've always loved biography; for example The Songs That My Mother Taught Me by Marlon Brando or My Experience Of Truth (this may not be the exact title) by Gandhi. I am very fond of this genre and don't limit myself in any way - nobody's life story is uninteresting to me. At the moment I am reading books on psychology, spirituality and religion. This isn't because I am looking deep into myself but because these authors tend to see the world from a different perspective.

I have almost finished reading Memories, Dreams and Thoughts by Jung and I find it equally fascinating. Noam Chomsky interests me enormously - as does Thomas Edison and Gore Vidal with their heart full of love for America whilst making savage criticisms of the state of American society.

I have immersed myself in books on the primitive culture of the Native American people - a universe I find extraordinarily rich. This type of literature influences me immensely: it takes me out of my skin and question myself. I have learnt a lot reading Swami Ramdas - a contemporary of Timothy Leary - who, parallel with his experiences with acid and other psychedelics, has made very serious reflections on meditation and Hinduism.

IS THERE A SONG WHICH CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
Absolutely - "Jeepster" by T-REX. I was 10 when I saw Marc Bolan sing this song on a tv show and discovered something completely new. The groove, the sound, the guitars and above all the personality came from another planet and took me to another world. I bought the record the next day and each time I listened to it I played the riff on my guitar. Music was always heard in our house and each week my mother would amuse herself by predicting who would be in the top 40. She especially liked the Everley Brothers.

The influence of T-REX is very profound on certain songs of The Smiths i.e. "Panic" and "Shoplifters". Morrissey was himself also mad about Bolan. When we wrote "Panic" he was obsessed with "Metal Guru" and wanted to sing in the same style. He didn't stop singing it in an attempt to modify the words of "Panic" to fit the exact rhythm of "Metal Guru". He also exhorted me to use the same guitar break so that the two songs are the same!!! When I was 13 my rapport with music changed; I studied songs so much that I didn't appreciate them. I listened until Ii knew how each song was structured.

*****

Part two on music and cinema to come but be patient as I'm a slow typist and I don't know when I'll have a spare couple of hours to type and translate.

In addition if I could be bold and have a free advert, I have an offer to make. My wife and myself would like to go to New York in 2000. If any of you live nearby and would give us a tour we would do the same for you in Paris, France. Anyone who lives on the west coast or other fascinating parts of the world get in touch for millennium holidays.

Perhaps this could be another feature of the site as we could meet up at more than just birthdays for the Moz.

The Smiths featured on Channel 4 (UK) show
"Jo Whiley" Wednesday 19th May 1999, 11.35pm

Segment opens with video clips of The Smiths on BBC's 'Top Of The Pops', performing 'Heaven Knows...', 'The Boy with the Thorn...' and 'Shoplifters...'

Jo's guests, Beverley Knight, Matthew Wright and BILLY BRAGG all gave their opinions of the Smiths from the time.

B Knight was clearly unimpressed, being 'a young girl from the Midlands' and listening to Paul Simon ("You Can Call Me Al"[!]).

M Wright, @university at the time had a friend who "bought into the Smiths big style... looked at his shoes constantly... Morrissey used to annoy me... self indulgent... complicated character... manipulated media..."

BILLY BRAGG, however was much more complimentary:

"[Morrissey] was that kid at school who you knew; who wasn't as tough as everybody else; but was smarter than everybody else, and he was above everybody else. He was getting his influences and he was getting his emotions from somewhere above that little bit of - TV - comic - playground stuff - that you were doing. Because I think you're wrong when you say he was miserable - he wasn't miserable - he was ARCH -you know, he was just - fabulously ARCH, and I miss - so much -the Smiths-Morrissey's lyrics that said - in such a great way, - you know I mean I can write political songs all my life - but to get NOW thing where you've been through school, you've sat all your 'O' levels, you've got your 'A' levels, you been to university perhaps - or maybe not - You get into work - and it STINKS - you know - 'I was looking for a job and then I found a job, and heaven knows I'm miserable now.' I mean that's very political, its very powerful. And because he took that ARCH way, people just took him at face value, but I think beneath that, there was a real, probably one of the best articulators of - and ANGST is not the proper word for it because he didn't just do angst, he did the whole gamut of emotions - I mean , you know, AND look at the bands we have today; I mean check out the lyrics on the new Suede single -'{flatly}- she's in fashion -ooh ooh ooh, she's on the cover of a magazine...' you know and put that next to 'GIRLFRIEND in a COMA'; who could ever write a song like 'Girlfriend In A Coma' and sing it with a straight face - he was - he was - someone who I think, whatever he would have done - he would have succeeded, whether he'd become a writer; as he originally was - or whatever he wanted to do, but his genius of expressing that archness - and when put together with -I would argue- the best guitar player of his generation, and someone - Johnny Marr - who had an ear for a tune - that was just incredible, to listen to the number of tunes those guys came up with - they had the best singles but they also had B-sides that would just walk over everybody else."

Good old Billy eh? When asked if he thought the world missed groups like the Smiths BRAGG said that their music was a product of the time, when Margaret Thatcher was at her most virulent. The conversation was then turned towards HIP-HOP, which BRAGG said was marginalised be the (British) Music Press.

The only "unhappy birthday" celebration in the 5 Nordic countries will take place in Stavanger, at the southwestern part of Norway. In the picturesque harbour the arrangement will be hold in a concrete building called "Cementen". Friday 21.May 9-11 PM.

Lots of Moz and the Smiths-music. Be there !!

From Gibby:

This is just a reminder for all you East Coasters:

The Moz-Bash is [tomorrow 5/22]! Hope you're all as excited as I am, and are going to have as much fun as I have had setting it up! There's going to be TONS of floral decoration, (Gladioli and daffodils strewn about the dancefloor and upon the tables)...

The contests should be HILARIOUS!! (Though certain lead singers of certain bands aren't allowed entry!:):) )... We have two judges! Our own lister Emily Donahue, and a non-lister, Jessika, shall be judging the moves, style, dress, and lip-synching capabilities of all entries! (Male and female competitors allowed of course!)

The Salford Lads will be performing two sets, each about a half hour long... (A Smiths set, and a Morrissey set), So get there early!! (Fashionably late people will miss a lot of fun!)

Your Moz-devoted host, me, (Gibby) will spin in between sets TONS of Moz and Smiths, and of course select Factory Records and Manchester ditties, and gloriously glittered glam hits by Marc and T Rex, NY Dolls, and more!

There IS an afterparty, which we're keeping somewhat quiet at this time, but those of you who arrive at the club party portion of the evening will more-than-likely catch wind of it... and if you don't, then come see me. (I'm the skinny boy in the DJ booth) The Salford Lads will be playing at this party as well.

"Action-Reaction" will have a merch-booth set up, with fancy smiths pins and more... I have already printed up some gorgeous T-shirts for event-folk only! Get yours quick cause I only made 30 of em!:) (They say "Morrissey" at the top, and at the bottom "Now, Today, Tomorrow, and Always May 22 1999") and have a charming photo of our man Kill-Uncle era. **If you have something Smiths/Moz related that you'd like to sell at this event, PLEASE come earlier (around 8:30-9ish) to set up and meet with me... I encourage all vendors to come and share their goods if they are indeed related to our man Steven... :)

This is going to be a HUGE event. If you are into the Smiths and Morrissey, and live on the East Coast, you have NO excuse not to be there.