News Archive : June 1997
-Linder's artwork on show
-Maladjusted press release details
-Vauxhall And I-era drum kit for sale


June 28 97

Linder's Artwork On Show

Thanks to Jason G. for this article from The Guardian (June 24) titled "Punk's Iron Maiden" by Philip Hoare. Linder's artwork is being shown for the first time at the Cleveland gallery in London through July 5.


"Alma Matters" On Radio 1

Report from Alistair McGown:

Alma and other urgent matters!

The UK release - at present - for the new Morrissey single Alma Matters is set at 21
st July.

It received its first play on Mark Radcliffe’s breakfast show on Radio One, yesterday 25
th June. Steve Lamacq also played the single later in the day, remarking "that’s actually quite a bright sounding single from Morrissey".


Fremantle, Not Freemantle

From The Greased Cougar from the Planet Big Bollocks:

If Morrissey wants to play in Freo then he should learn how to spell it first :)

It’s a rather isolated non-descript town and I can’t for the life of me imagine why he plucked it from obscurity. It’s a big sailing town and they have a decent football (Aussie Rules) team who joined the national league in 1996. They have a page at
http://www.dockers.com.au.


Maladjusted advanced CD's

Here are the details of the advanced cd's. Thanks, Mailily.

Morrissey returns with "Maladjusted."

"Maladjusted" is Morrissey’s ninth album release, his first for Mercury Records. Morrissey has had two previous #1 albums in the U.K. (Viva Hate in 1988 and Vauxhall and I in 1994). While in the U.S. his highest chart placings have been with Vauxhall and I (#19, 1994) and Your Arsenal (#21, 1992).

"Maladjusted" showcases the next dimension of Morrissey"s identifiable sound of melodically entrancing harmonies with the first single "Alma Matters" to the pleadings of "Roy’s Keen" to the lyrical brilliance of "Maladjusted." This is what the inside cover of the CD promo says (MEAD 111).

The front is just Morrissey "Maladjusted" Advanced CD.

The back sleeve is also black and white and contains the song titles and times.

The disc looks like an old 45 record with the center painted black. Correct me if I am wrong but" Vauxhall And I" charted at 18 and "Your Arsenal" at 22?


Moz in the background

Morrissey's music seems to pop up every now and again in random places. Here are a few of the latest.

Michael Orth wrote:

Has anyone seen the parody of the Morrissey video on Bill Nye the Science Guy on PBS? It is based on "The more you ignore me the closer I get" also one of the musicians who plays for the Bill Nye music video segments must be a moz fan, in the parody video of Nirvana’s "Smells like teen spirit" the drummer is wearing a moz t-shirt.
I have heard that Extra! seems to use a lot of Moz, this instance from Gary McIntyre:
I was watching EXTRA!, you know the tv program that brings humans senseless fare concerning stars, gossip,etc. Anyways, one of their stories dealt with people using bee stings to cure various maladies; m.s., arthritis, etc. The clip began with a few seconds of Morrissey’s ‘Hairdresser on Fire’, without vocals.
Perhaps related? One never knows. From Alberto Esquinca:
Apparently Helena Bonham Carter is starring in a movie called "Shakespeare’s Sister" with William Hurt. Read it in Reuter’s Entertainment News.
On The Daily Show (Comedy Central) again, from Filipe:
In the early beginnings they introduced a segment called God stuff in which they made fun of various televangelists from around the country(mostly white trash). But anyway as Craig Kilborn introduced it he ended it with "as Morrissey would say I thought everyday was like sunday". I was very surprised and I definitely convinced that somebody over there whether a writer or Kilborn himself is a Moz fan.


June 26 97

Maladjusted Press Release

Thanks to myself for getting a hold of this:


Morrissey
Maladjusted
street date: August 12


Maladjusted is Morrissey's ninth album release, his first for Mercury Records. In England, where Morrissey was born in 1959, he has had two number one albums (Viva Hate 1988, Vauxhall and I 1994), whilst in North America his highest chart placings have been with Your Arsenal (#21, 1992) and Vauxhall and I (#19, 1994).

Morrissey last toured the US in 1992, culminating with two sold out shows at the Hollywood Bowl which broke The Beatles fastest sell out record. He also sold out Madison Square Garden.

Morrissey's primary musical influences are the New York Dolls, The Angelic Upstarts, and Klaus Nomi. His favorite album is
Chelsea Girl by Nico, his favourite poet A.E. Housman, his favorite artists are Gilbert and George, and his favorite film is Geoffrey Wright's "Romper Stomper" (Australia, 1993).

Morrissey has no interest in world politics and prefers the company of animals to humans. His ambition is to play in Freemantle in Western Australia, otherwise he has no interest whatsoever in modern life.

He lives in Spain.

- Stoney Hando


see a scan of the original press release. By the way, Stoney Hando = Morrissey. For more info see the May news archive. With the mention of "Romper Stomper" we can be sure that 'Hando' is a direct reference to the film. Shame on those who doubted the previously mentioned conclusion.


Blurbs in July Q Magazine

Thank you to Andrew Shiue for the following info:

The July issue of Q had two really, really short blurbs about Morrissey. One was about being in an unhappy family. His father said he "never raised his voice at Steven" and that something just happened to him. Pete and Betty are on good terms. Also, the second mention was about one name groups. Something like how he should have stuck with the Smiths. I didn’t buy the magazine, so I can’t be too detailed.


Cemetry Gates has moved

Scott Krajewski let me know that he has moved Cemetry Gates to http://moz.pair.com. Check out the new design.


* added True To You and Morrissey, Drive Me Home info pages to the fanzines section of the links page.

*sorry for the intermittent server downtime for the past couple of days, the problem should be fixed.


June 22 97

A band named 'Bigmouth'

Thanks to
Jason G. for this tidbit:

Billboard, JUNE 21, 1997

ROCK TRACKS
BIGMOUTH Killing Me (4:05)
PRODUCER: Neil Dorfsman
WRITERS: C.L. Hicken, Bigmouth
PUBLISHER: Damp, BMI

Wild Pitch 97001 (CD promo)

The newly reactivated Wild Pitch Records is off to a good start with a U.K.-bred quartet that takes its name from the Smiths song "Bigmouth Strikes Again." The influence of that Morrissey-led band is strongly felt here, given this track's clanging guitars, quasi-poetic lyrics, and overall brooding nature. Ready-made for modern rock playlists, this single raises hopes for the album, due in August.


June 20 97

Property Remains Unsold

Thanks again to Robert Holmes for the news:

spotted this little bit in the Property section in the Irish Times under the Auction Results section today (June 19th)

"A rock singer failed to sell his house at auction yesterday. Wellfield, on Malahide Road, was withdrawn from auction by McNally Handy & Partners at £850,000. The five-bedroom period house stands on 12 acres."


June 19 97

Vauxhall And I-era Drum Kit For Sale

Just got an e-mail from Woodie Taylor, looking to sell the drum kit he used during the Vauxhall And I / Boxers sessions:


For sale-Drum kit used by Woodie Taylor on all recordings: Vauxhall & I L.P., Interlude, Boxers E.P. & Sunny/Black-Eyed Susan. Pearl MLX Maple drums in black finish bought new 1993, unmarked. BD (22x16), 3 x toms (16x16, 13x11 & 12x10) & Brass free-floating snare drum (14x6.5). Stands, all double-braced: 2 x straight (C800W), 2 x boom (B800W), hi-hat (H800W) snare (S800W) & foot pedal (P880). Le Blond cases.

With photos of the kit in situ at Hook End, Olympic and Miraval Studios.

Offers around Stg£2250 - please reply to
[email protected].


Any drummers (especially those influenced by Morrissey's music) out there looking for a kit should consider this offer seriously. It sounds like Woodie wants to see the drums in a good home, quoting Woodie's e-mail further, "...The kit I have decided to keep is a vintage Ludwig one I got from the Meteors drummer when I used to follow them. It was used by him on some of my favourite ever recordings and am hoping my Moz kit will be appreciated in a similar way."

And additionally, thanks to Woodie for letting me know that Jonny Bridgwood will also be playing at the previously mentioned
John's Children gig at the Borderline (London), July 20.


June 15 97

Boz in for Bolan
thanks to Jeff Pelletier for this news from the June 97 Record Collector:

there is a blurb on "John’s Children"

A new compilation is on its way to the record stores... and they are playing live for the first time in 5 years, at the Borderline, Central London... June 20th... Bolan’s place will again be taken by Bolan buff Boz.

Jeff also let me know about a Rare Smiths Recording Auction going on until July 31.


Pleased again

Saw on ChartAttack's D.A.M.N. a report (6/14) on the Canadian "North By Northeast" conference:

Upstairs at Holy Joe's, Winnipeg's Chains on 20 turned out to be lead singer Stephanie Westdal and her bass player...I thought she was a solo act now? Guess not! A compelling set (she has a great voice) was spiced up with an acoustic cover of The Smiths' "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want."


M2 and Morrissey

I've had M2 only for about 2 weeks now and on in those 2 weeks, on two different occasions I've seen blocks of at least 7 Morrissey videos played. So far, I like what I see...


June 10 97

Possibly More Adjustments, Tour Hopes
originally posted on AOL's message boards

Subj: Feeding the rumor mill....
Date: 09 Jun 1997 14:15:07 EDT
From: HesseFits

So, today I heard from an undisclosed source, some more rumors regarding the album. Please realize, this is loose talk and can't be held as gospel. It would seem Morrissey is unhappy with two of the tracks on the album, and is planning on going back to the studio for some "tweaking". This could push the album to September, after which a very limited tour could happen. As for what tracks he is unhappy with? I have no idea...
I knew I would have to adjust that countdown more than once!


Radio 1 Giveaway
thanks to George Henry Dickie for the news:

Radio 1 are giving away the whole moz discography including the Smiths, and including Maladjusted all this week 9/6/97 - 18 cd’s.


Morrissey mentioned on "The Daily Show"
submitted by Don Rice

On Friday, May 30th I witnessed a blurb featuring Morrissey on Comedy Central. It was on The Daily Show with Craig Kilborne. He was doing a bit on Britian’s Political race and announcing that the Labor Party leader Tony Blair was victorious over John Major. He made several witty remarks towards this subject before wrapping it up with a photo of Vauxhall and I era Moz pictured on-screen next to him and stating: "When British singer Morrissey was asked how he felt about this, he replied ‘I’m still depressed’."

It was a joke. Not necessarily original, clever, or even funny; just downright odd. However, this guy and this show are quite well informed and so maybe it’s just a sign of Morrissey's fame rising. (or maybe he’s just a fan and wanted to squeeze in Moz the only way he could.) Either way, it did not seem to have been done with malice, but strangly enough almost as an inside joke to the disciples of Moz.
I agree with Don... the joke is not original, clever, or even funny.


*added a new link, "England for the English"
*added a couple Moz questionnaires to the Content section


June 04 97

Adjusted Release Date, Tour News (... bad)

Thanks a lot to Torr Leonard for the following:

Well, Rolling Stone was wrong. Damn! Mercury tells me a 8/12 release date for "Maladjusted" has been set And yes, July 29th was the first release date. but it’s no longer. Competition cited for reason of push back. Radio can legally begin playing "Alma Matters" on 7/14. though expect to hear it a week or so before then in major markets. A video for Alma is a sure thing too. More bad news only 30% chance of a tour at all now. hope this helps.
This is a big shock to me as from what I last heard, most of the tour dates had been set. I thought details of the tour would begin appearing a month ago or so, but so far there's been nothing (until this). 30% is an odd figure to give, which leads me to believe Mercury is not very optimistic about a tour.


June 02 97

Smiths tribute fanzine coming soon

Fabio D'Antonio, editor of the Italian fanzine Speedway, let me know he is working on a special issue titled "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out," to be released in late 1997. The issue is in tribute to the Smiths, on the 10th anniversary of the breakup and will have exclusive / never-before-seen material.

Contributions in the form of articles, photos, memorabilia, and Smiths covers for an included CD are currently being taken. Find out more about this ambitious project at:
http://www.itol.it/menu/musica/thereis.htm.


*added a new link "Shoplifters Union" which is itself an excellent compilation of Morrissey-related links on the internet.


May 30 97

Maladjusted - Short Review + Sound Clip

From Rolling Stone Online (only on AOL),

"Where It's At" (May 27)

... Between bickering in court over back royalties with his former Smiths bandmates and switching record labels from Reprise to Mercury, Morrissey actually found time to record a perfectly wonderful new album. "Maladjusted" hits stores July 29, and it contains some of the best stuff he's recorded since 1987's "Viva Hate." It was produced by Steve Lillywhite and recorded at Hook Farm Studios in Britain. Those of a depressed nature need have no fear: "Maladjusted" is typical Morrissey fare lyric-wise, with the title track featuring his token self-pity ("You stalk the house in a low-cut blouse / Oh Christ, another stifled Friday night"). The stand-out track, "Alma Matters," expresses a very Smiths-like pessimism: "It's my life to wreck my own way ..." Only Morrissey, boys and girls, only Morrissey ...

Download a sample of "Alma Matters" from "Maladjusted."
(30 sec., 323K WAV format)

BLAIR R. FISCHER
and KEVIN RAUB

[Where It's At appears every Tuesday.]

Copyright 1997 by Rolling Stone Online


  Maintained by David Tseng. Please e-mail me with news/updates (no matter how insignificant it may seem) from the internet, music magazines, or any other source. To keep this page updated I'll need help from all you trainspotting Moz followers!

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