Back in October (around the time of the in-stores) Morrissey said to me that he likes the idea of this site because it "eliminates the press." (Note: that doesn't mean he checks the site or even has access to it. I don't know). I'm reminded of what he said with today's news of "the world's oldest music weekly" Melody Maker closing down ("Melody Maker to merge with NME" - BBC News report, Dec. 14) and also the closing of Select magazine earlier this month ("Britpop bible closes " - BBC News report, Dec. 1).

Morrissey also mentioned that the NME asked permission to use a clip of "This Charming Man" in some campaign for their website. He refused.

UPDATE (Dec. 15): Additional links:

• NME: "Melody Maker to merge with NME" - Dec. 14
• Guardian: "Melody Maker axed" - Dec. 14

keith_talent writes:

Canadian music site Jam! has an interview up with Sylvain Sylvain, ex- New York Dolls member. At one point, the interviewer brings up Morrissey:

JAM!: I think I got into the Dolls as a kid because I was into The Smiths. Morrissey was a big fan.
Sylvain: (Reminiscing) Oh God. I met him in L.A. in about '94. He invited me down to a show. He sings "Trash" at performances. He may have stopped now. But I saw the set list with "Trash" on it, so I took it and got him to sign it. I asked him how he started liking the Dolls. He said he saw us on the BBC while he was sitting there with his mom. He used to walk to school holding the first album --just the cover, no record inside -- just to show people where he was at. As a matter of fact, when I played in L.A. last year he came to see me. The paper was funny: Morrissey this, Morrissey that, but not a word about Sylvain's show. They probably thought I was doing HIS song "Trash"! (laughs).

The entire interview: "Q&A with ex-NY Doll, Sylvain Sylvain" by Keiran Grant

• Related link: Morrissey at the Sylvain Sylvain show (May 16) - July 11, 1999

Thanks to Mel-adjusted for scans of the previously mentioned Record Collector article on Smiths/Morrissey sites.

• "Girlfriend in a .com" - page 1
• "Girlfriend in a .com" - page 2

Steve writes:

According to the NME.com article "Mancunian music legends team up to become TV presenters":

PETER HOOK, MANI and ANDY ROURKE are set to become television presenters as part of their new business venture.

The three legendary Manchester bass-players have set up a new company with local businessman Nova Rehman and have bought Bar Cuba nightclub in Macclesfield.

The company, named Collective, are now working on a pilot for a music television programme which will be recorded at the venue and presented by the threesome. The as-yet-untitled show should feature three live bands in each edition...

In other news, Rourke - formerly bass player with The Smiths - has joined Manchester band Jeep. The line up also includes Wags from Black Grape and Darren Partington from 808 State. They play Manchester Music Box on December 20...

Niklas writes:

There is a Swedish singer called Håkan Hellström who right now has huge success with his debut album that came out this summer. In an article in Sweden's biggest evening newspaper he talks about his apparent thefts of Morrissey´s lyrics. He´s singing in Swedish but you can´t help but notice the relation to Morrissey´s lyrics. The article gives a few examples but I can hear a few others in other songs too. This is an article I guess only Swedish fans (maybe Scandinavian) have an interest in, but maybe more Swedish kids will gain an interest in Moz since the reviews he (Hellström) has been getting has been great everywhere.

Jason writes:

"I know it's over" was played before a capacity Brixton Academy crowd before the Beautiful South took to the stage Wednesday 13th December. Was this perhaps a reference to Jacqui Abbot's departure from the band?

Russholme Ruffian writes: Watched Eastenders on BBC1 last night (Dec. 11), The Jukebox in the Queen Vic was playing "This Charming Man" in the background. Obviously this is a seminal moment in telivision history... If you are desperate to see this again (and believe me, to do this you will have to be desperate), then the omnibus edition of 'enders will be screened on Sunday.

Tigger3 writes: I was watching Granada plus tv channel, an old episode of Coronation Street & the exciting action was taking place in the cafe run by Gail Tilsley, her young assistant Martin Platt was chatting to one of the customers Jenny Bradley & the juke box was playing in the background & what was it playing... "ASK" by our beloved Smiths. Ok it's not much but it made the episode a treat for me.

Whatever happened to those characters, well I'll tell ya shall I (admits to being a sad Corrie fan) Martin Platt grew up to marry Gail Tilsley (at present they are going through a divorce) Jenny Bradley left the series after her dad got killed by a tram in Blackpool chasing Rita Fairclough. Eeee it all 'appens up north!