Lancaster writes:

The comment is small, but it's part of quite an interesting article I found in the Brit Awards site about why work within a band makes for better results.

"Coldplay - best of friends"

The bit: "...And emphasising the four heads are better than one theory, Martin adds; "People like Richard Ashcroft and Morrissey are brilliant but when there's a band there's a little bit of spark there; a bit of tension maybe that makes it work."

Evan Harrison Cass writes:

Alternative Press issue 151 (February 2001) includes Morrissey's "Oye Esteban" DVD in their "Stuff We Like" column. They write:

"Love him or hate him, Morrissey can legitimately be claimed as the last true British pop star. If there's any justice, this collection of videos (including several never-before-seen clips) will help remind folks of his greatness. The fact that Moz is currently without a record label is baffling."

Also in the issue, The Smiths came in at #4 in the "Comeback You'd Like to See" category in AP's Readers Poll Awards 2000 (right behind Tool, Soundgarden and Jane's Addiction).

Torr writes: TOP 100 ROCK MOMENTS OF ALL TIME
as voted by the top writers and staff at NME.COM
40. The Smiths' first tour

Vincent adds: NME compiled, as they say, "a list of the 100 most earth-shaking events which made popular music the sensational multi-faceted beast it is in 2001." We find The Smiths' first tour at 40, slightly less important than the outing of George Michael (39)!! Strangely, a certain NME debate is not included!!

An anonymous person writes:

The Smiths track to be featured on the forthcoming Rough Trade compilation (out March 5th) is the first single, "HAND IN GLOVE".

• Related item: Rough Trade label to celebrate its 25th Anniversary - Jan. 13, 2001

TrblLuvsMe sends:

The Mirror, January 16, 2001
KELLY'S I: KEEPING YOU UP TO SPEED ON THE NET
Matt Kelly

...SITE OF THE DAY:

http://members.home.net/veganmozfan/

THE first Diana conspiracy theory to link angst-ridden crooner Morrissey with the death of the Queen of Hearts. Apparently the fact he once sang about a car crash is enough to qualify him as a modern-day Nostradamus.
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David T. (Different) also sends the link to NTK - "Anti-news, berating the obvious: "MORRISSEY fans at last convinced by DIANA DEATH PREDICTION..." According to David, "NTK is a UK based cult/compulsory reading news-sheet, in case you haven't seen it before."
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The link was also a "Bonus link" on one of the biggest PC gaming sites, "Blue's News."

• Related item: "Diana-Morrissey Phenomenon" - new, illustrated website - Jan. 5, 2001

Steven S writes:

It's not a scoop. I searched for, and found, "Striptease With A Difference" on Napster today. I downloaded it, expecting it to be a hoax. Sadly, it was.

There's a guitar intro, with an authentic sound (but demo-ish) for that period of Morrissey's career, that lasts for about ten seconds. Which was promising. Then the track cuts to the famous stripper music played by a brass band (can't remember the name) overlaid with the sound of cows mooing (a la "Meat is murder"). It's a reasonable joke, I suppose.

To eliminate the fake (in case the real one ever shows up, which is unlikely) its file size is 2,279,424 and its length is 2:25.

Steve writes:

I just happened to be watching a commercial break and noticed that the advert for February's football line-up on Sky Sports (UK satellite channel for those of you abroad who don't know) uses "Bigmouth Strikes Again" in the background!! Instrumental only - sadly Mozzer's voice isn't gracing the airwaves, but still it makes a nice change! Apparently someone who works at Sky has taste (it's better than the dance music they usually have on the adverts!)

guv writes:

There is apparently some kind of Smiths Night at The Cube, Bristol, England. Here is all the relevant info...

The Cube
Kings Square
Kingsdown
Bristol
0117 907 4191

Smiths Night - Jan 19
£4
Featuring the film A Taste Of Honey. Floppy fringed DJ’s, Smithrabilia, apt short films and some daffodils.

Head of New York Dolls fan club and chief bane of the NME letters page, Morrissey was an obsessive music fan before setting up The Smiths. His hero(ines), imagery and inspiration came from a devoted idolisation of cultural figures and artefacts such as James Dean, Rita Tushingham and Oscar Wilde, The Smiths were as romantically, devoted as their fans and that alone means they are both worth celebrating. Tonite January spawns a monster.

FILM ON at 9.30.