If his various forewords are anything to go by then, at least his writing, won't be that exciting. But the content could be, of course.
Truth is he lies.
I know most people are a bit annoyed and frustrated with Moz' autobiography but for me there are so many little things in it which are priceless, especially his descriptions. And I constantly discover things I hadn't recognized before. If Johnny's memoirs have any of that it would be great.
Examples:
"...expertly folding me away like a winter bedspread."
" I choke, finally ready for the taxidermist."
"A heavy bandage is worn with pride for months to come teaching me all I shall ever need to know about attention and style."
"...so smarty-face says, having lived since the time of Socrates."
" Even Mr Tappley, who lives alone under his flat cap, creeps out to watch, determined to be unimpressed."
" If only those hawks at Stretford Road Clinic knew, but surely they are all toast by now?"
" The next day there are apparently dead bodies across the island, but the toads remain."
"... and pondering on how even Billie Holiday had sex."
"... and the ice wind blows both of our spectacles off."
"I cannot think of anything to say on the subject of bluebottle protectionism, so I watch Mick splat, splat, splat."
Morrissey writes interesting prose, but - sadly - he is also a narcissistic, misogynistic, self-serving, grudge-bearing, egotistical c*** of the highest order. He barely went into any detail regarding his solo material, let alone the Smiths. If Johnny can give some insight into how those songs were actually written and recorded, and what it was like to be in the band at the time - then even if the prose is bland - I'll be interested to read his side of the story.
I also have a feeling that Marr, always desperate not to be seen as a "journeyman", will dedicate substantial portions of the book to his various sessioning stints.
I don't know which book you read, certainly not the same as I, obviously. Also for a allegedly "narcissstic, misogynistic, self-serving, grudge-bearing, egotistical c***" as you put it, he seems to get on quite well with a lot of people. I think, when it comes to Moz, many people are more overdramatic than the man himself. Furthermore Moz was never, in his entire career, someone who talked about the recording process, let alone the writing process. He was never someone who dissected his songs for the public or revealed all of his inspirational sources. So it would have been foolish for anyone to expect him doing that in his autobiography. And, quite honestly, it has been done over and over and over again in so much detail over the years in books, articles, interviews, almost to the point of exhaustion. What is there to add? You only have to read all the interviews of Morrissey while the Smiths existed and it is pretty clear how he felt about the band and how important it was to him. I don't need another 4 pages in a book to understand that fact. But it is how you feel about it, so it's okay. Everyone has another take on things. We will see ...
Well, the Smiths was an important part of Johnny's life - but it was also a relatively small chunk that happened 30 years ago, so I would be surprised if that period accounted for more than a quarter of the page count. Of course, almost none of the posters here will be interested in Johnny's other work, but such is life...
This is going to read awfully contrarian, but I'd love to read either a Boz or Alain autobiog about their respective times in the world of Moz. I find stories about Morrissey in the studio, as well as the songwriting process, fascinating.
This is going to read awfully contrarian, but I'd love to read either a Boz or Alain autobiog about their respective times in the world of Moz. I find stories about Morrissey in the studio, as well as the songwriting process, fascinating.
Admittedly, there'd be about three people in the world who would buy it, but the rest be damned.
i thought that the other way round with marr tracking moz down and visiting his house
boz is the only one id trust. alain is a great writer but hes to invested in his credits i think to be to honest. this is not a slight against alian, i just think hes to close to it which is natural and probably part of what made him a great writer, but boz i think could say something id trust.
Next time I am being sarcastic and deliberately reversing the truth I will add balloons and smiley faces so you know I am joking. Sheesh.
A two sided book would be the best: first half by Boz, with center of book taken up by rare/unseen photos of them and Moz, and second half of book has to be turned upside down to read Alain's half. That would be ace. We have seen it done before with mystery books from Jonathan Kellerman etc when he writes with other people. The front cover would say 'Morrissey - in someone else's words, by Boz'. The back cover would read 'Morrissey - even more words, by Alain'. There could be an appendix at the end listing the pages where the two halves completely contradict each other.
Well, the Smiths was an important part of Johnny's life - but it was also a relatively small chunk that happened 30 years ago, so I would be surprised if that period accounted for more than a quarter of the page count. Of course, almost none of the posters here will be interested in Johnny's other work, but such is life...