 listen here "performing" / "touring" (2:09) |
BLADE: But you’re at a
position in your life where you’re — I mean
financially comfortable (M: Yes), and
you don’t really have to work again. MORRISSEY: No, that’s true. B: But you want to, right? You like the music. M: Yes, I do. I want to keep singing and making records. And I like to play as well. I like to play live. That hasn’t waned for me at all. And I’m touring from September the 12th onwards. I’m really looking forward to it. So yes, certain aspects I really do like. There are certain aspects which are real chores. I’m not terribly interested in publicity, and I’m not interested in being more famous than I’ve ever been. But I really do like to sing. B: Now when you tour this time, a lot of people are going to be worried that there might be a cancellation. Is uh — M: There shouldn’t — unless I die there won’t be a cancellation. There really won’t. The last time was such a mess when when uh... the Olympic...(B: Auditorium) Auditorium. And there was also two dates at Carnegie Hall in New York. And they were just a complete mess. They were booked and announced without me knowing, and the tickets were on sale without me knowing. And yes, they sold very, very well. But I couldn’t really uh, I can’t live that way. The person who was managing me at the time slightly ran away with the situation, and it was wrong. And I must be honest: I had lots of letters from people here, once the cancellations were announced, saying they were pleased not to have to go to that venue, because they said it was a particularly rough place and dangerous part of town and so forth. So, it’s not really all bad. B: Well, I must say I’m really looking forward to seeing you because I’ve always enjoyed the shows you’ve put on. M: Thank you. B: Do you miss the performing? M: I do, yes, but all the better because you know I think it’s going to be better this time around. I think it’s good to have lulls, and it’s good to uh yearn again. Because if you do it constantly it’s bound to become monotonous. But I think there’s enough space in between the things I do to make it still interesting. [Interesting Drug]
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listen here "U2, Oasis" / "The Smiths" (4:39) |
B: A couple of weeks ago I was
thinking about you (M: <slight guffaw>)
because I went the U2 show, (M: Oh, yes)
and only one person jumped onstage for U2 (M:
Oh, yes) as opposed to one every minute during a
Morrissey show (M: <laughs> yes, yes).
Bono turned to the bouncers and said in the sound system,
"Be gentle" (M: <gasp> Ohhh).
And struck me as something you’ve always tried to
convey. M: Yeah, I think it’s something I’ve always said. But uh yeah, it’s great. It really is great when that happens. And I see so many groups, and so many groups who are supposedly enormous. And nobody goes near the stage or gets onto the stage. I saw a film recently of Oasis playing, and the audience were miles away — no intention of touching them or reaching, or being a part of it. And I thought that was extraordinary. B: It’s funny you should mention that because I saw Oasis at tbe Weenie Roast (M: Mmmm), and I noticed that we had uh, like a phalanx of security (M: Mmmm). But no one tried to rush the stage (M: No). And again I was thinking (M: Mmm). If that was Morrissey up there (M: Yes) or maybe Depeche, but particularly Morrissey (M: Mmm), it would be people just climbing over! It would be like the Battle of the Alamo. M: Yes, yes, yes... It’s fascinating to me, fascinating. B: Now there’s been a lot of interim things going on here in town because of the shortage of the real-life Morrissey (M: Mmm). There’s been things like a Smiths convention (M: Mmm). There’s been a Morrissey-fest (M: Yes). There’s a band that plays Smiths and Morrissey covers called Sweet and Tender Hooligans (M: Oh, yes). And people just flock to these things (M: Yes) in your absence. How do you feel about this? M: Ehm, well I’ve never personally been involved in the conventions, and I don’t really know that much about them. But reports do seep through. And I’m not really sure whether I always approve, to be honest. But I think that if people get together and listen to the music, it’s great, especially because the Smiths have been broken up for ten years. So, it’s extraordinary that people are interested and bother — can be bothered to do that kind of thing. But the ethics I’m not really always sure about. B: Yeah, they had like a three hour wait for the Smiths viewing room where they had a giant screen, a ten foot screen put in to show old Smiths videos and clips etc. People were just crazy just for anything they hadn’t seen or been able to touch before that had your picture on it or words from you. M: It’s extraordinary. It really is. It really is. B: When you were starting out did you think it could ever continue like this in the way it’s become? M: Mmm, not really. I think if the Smiths had stayed together they would have eventually became enormous. I think they would’ve become as big as almost as U2, perhaps, or REM. But I’m just very surprised now that so much time has elapsed, and so many younger groups seem to have been influenced by the Smiths. And people are still very interested, and people still always ask me about reunions. And it’s extraordinary to me because the Smiths existed for five years, and I’ve been solo for ten years. So, it’s fascinating. It really is, especially that when I consider during the Smiths lifetime in England nobody would play them or nobody would show the Smiths on the television and so forth. So, it’s very pleasing. B: So, a Smiths reunion is probably now out of the question, right? M: Well, it just doesn’t really seem to make sense, I don’t think. It doesn’t make sense. B: Because here, a Smiths convention would sell out the Rose — uh Smiths reunion (M: <slight gasp of laughter>) would sell out the Rose Bowl. M: But in any event, you know, there’s nobody intelligent enough within the music industry to even try to get the Smiths back together. Because nobody ever did try, and there’s always been temporary managers and people as acting managers for all of the Smiths. And they’ve never tried to get the individuals back. They’ve always just tried to keep everybody apart, which mystified me. I always thought that one day there would be some intelligent person who would say, This is ridiculous! You all like each other. You all want to play music. You all want to be together. Let’s GET you together, and let’s sort everything out. But there never has. People who represent all the individuals have always been quite spiteful, and that’s just so disruptive. B: I sense the same sadness in you as I hear from a lot of fans — a missed opportunity almost. M: I think the music is great, and it still is great. And so many groups now who are absolutely enormous, their music is nothing. And they don’t reach the audience, and so it is sad... [How Soon Is Now] |