Joe Moss, the original manager of The Smiths has died at 72

Joe Moss (RIP) - Tribute at Johnny-Marr.com

Sad news. :(

http://www.johnny-marr.com/from-johnny/joe-moss



"We regret to announce that, after a brave struggle with cancer, Joe Moss, manager of Johnny Marr and The Smiths, has died at the age of seventy-two.

Joe Moss was already a legend in Manchester by the start of the 1980s, which is when he and Johnny Marr first met: a patron of the famed Twisted Wheel, and an instigator of the pioneering store Eighth Day, Moss had turned his love of street fashion into Crazy Face, an influential clothing line with a store in the City’s Chapel Walks. Marr worked in the clothes shop next door, and at the age of seventeen, introduced himself to Moss as a 'frustrated musician'; the pair quickly became close friends, with Marr moving in to the Moss household and placed in charge of a new Crazy Face store underneath the label’s Portland Street headquarters. Moss mentored and encouraged Marr’s musical ambitions, and when The Smiths came together, he supplied the group with space at Portland Street to rehearse at, and a PA for them to play through; he bought them a van, guided the group through their first shows, secured record contracts for the UK and America, publishing and agency deals, and helped hire a dedicated crew. He left the group unexpectedly in late 1983, while 'This Charming Man' was riding high in the charts and with their debut LP completed, on the eve of The Smiths’ first trip to America.

'Joe was a one off, an amazing person and totally unique,' says Johnny Marr. 'He started looking after me when I was seventeen; it was Joe who put the idea in my head to go and knock on Morrissey’s door. He invested his time and money in us when no one else wanted to know, and his belief in us kept us going. Without him there wouldn’t have been any Smiths. He was an original beatnik and a true bohemian, respected by all. Everyone who met him loved him; he can never be replaced.'

After The Smiths, Moss helped reinvigorate the Manchester scene of the 1990s by promoting shows at the Night and Day Café on Oldham Street. He resumed managing with the group Marion, whose 1998 album ‘The Program’ was produced by Johnny Marr; he also managed Haven, again enlisting Marr as a producer. In 1999, Joe Moss resumed his role as Johnny Marr’s manager, a position he retained until the present.

He is survived by his wife Sarah and his children David, Rachel, Ivan, Stella and Edie."
 
I was thinking the same thing. Do you think moz is gonna make a statement on TTY tho?

Hmmmm. Thoughtful obituary of the man who literally put his face on the map or a post measuring his success by detailing the seconds his bank account filled up with money? Decisions, decisions...
 
What a bunch of idiots on this website. Joe Moss just died and you have nothing better to do then discussing a possible TTY statement? You constantly bash Moz for handling things wrongly but do it yourself? Talk about hypocrits. And of course no one around here ever talked bad about anyone. Congratulations, you all must be saints.
 
Johnny just lost not only a friend but, as I understood it, someone who was like a fatherfigure for him. This story is about HIM. Do we really have to bring Morrissey too much into it right now? I don't think so. Some people get on with each other, some don't. End of it. We don't to discuss it NOW.


right? Really ..Sounds a decent enough person. Don't know personally. The man who directly/indirectly happened to
be the catalyst in bringing two artists together to form the MOST important band in music history. BRAVO. THANK YOU JOE.

People, this person just passed away...And all you can reply with is 'M this ,and M that, bla,bla,bla', give it a rest.:straightface:
 
Do we really have to bring Morrissey too much into it right now?

You make an entirely valid point about Johnny, the thing is, whatever happened, whether they got along or not, this person also played a part in Morrissey's life, and he will probably have to face whatever feelings arise. He doesn't have to write about it on TTY but he might still have to deal with this on a personal level. I grant you it's easier when it's some country lady who sang about rose bushes.

I share Johnny's opinion that there are dangerous boomerangs made of all the things we'd rather ignore.

It's always possible to ignore things, ignore your feelings or in this case, other people's. True. Ultimately it's a personal choice.
Bringing his name up is not meant to start a discussion at all, or be disrespectful to anyone; it's only trying to include him in his own story.

Saying hi to the elephant in the funeral room iis only polite.
 
a tty post about cats is more likely than a remembrance of joe.
 
Hmmmm. Thoughtful obituary of the man who literally put his face on the map or a post measuring his success by detailing the seconds his bank account filled up with money? Decisions, decisions...

i thought he was your soulmate mate.
 
Do we really have to bring Morrissey too much into it right now?

Tyronepowebottom raised a point and asked a question, I answered, that's all there's to it. No offence/disrespect intended to either Joe (whom we cannot thank too much for getting The Smiths off the ground) or Johnny.
 
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You make an entirely valid point about Johnny, the thing is, whatever happened, whether they got along or not, this person also played a part in Morrissey's life, and he will probably have to face whatever feelings arise. He doesn't have to write about it on TTY but he might still have to deal with this on a personal level. I grant you it's easier when it's some country lady who sang about rose bushes.

I share Johnny's opinion that there are dangerous boomerangs made of all the things we'd rather ignore.

It's always possible to ignore things, ignore your feelings or in this case, other people's. True. Ultimately it's a personal choice.
Bringing his name up is not meant to start a discussion at all, or be disrespectful to anyone; it's only trying to include him in his own story.

Saying hi to the elephant in the funeral room iis only polite.

my thoughts exactly!
 
I met Joe here in the States while he was working with Marion. He was the kindest soul and answered every question about The Smiths with glee. Just the nicest man you would ever meet. Shocking to read this on the website. Sadness swallows me whole. I will be praying for Joe's family in these hard times. Joe you were the best!!
 
Re: Joe Moss (RIP) - Tribute at Johnny-Marr.com

Sad news indeed.
I met Joe at a Johnny Marr gig at the Deaf Institute in Manchester some 4 years ago, he was an absolute gentleman.
Tried to get me backstage to meet Johnny even though he only had just met me himslef.
I was ultimately refused access by a bouncer, so Joe then proceeded to run (yes, run!) down the stairs with my copy of TCM on CD, handed it to Johnny and asked him to sign it for me. He then ran back up the stairs and handed the CD back to me.
A lovely guy and fond memories, a night I will never forget.

R.I.P. Joe.

You really are a nuisance and a pest (as well as a boasting fecker) aren't you?!!
 

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