tinystripedsocks writes:

David Gray on The Smiths being his first concert, that The Smiths music didn't age well (!) and how Morrissey fans are an "underground cult thing". Link to MTV Online interview:

David Gray: say hello
Excerpt:

MTV: What was the first concert you went to?
Gray: The Smiths in 1985, the Meat Is Murder tour. Morrissey was throwing plants around on the stage. I had a piece of weed that he had thrown into the audience, which I treasured for years — until I suddenly realized it was just a dried-out bit of weed.

MTV: Were you a big Smiths fan?
Gray: I was. I don't think they've aged very well. I was a big fan at the time. Everyone used to say, "God, it's so miserable, Morrissey's so miserable." And I would say, "No, it's brilliant." But I listen back and I think, "God, it's so miserable." Bands from that sort-of Manchester scene, like the Fall and New Order, aged so much better than the Smiths have. But I was a massive Smiths fan at the time, as most people were. It's almost like an underground cult thing now, the Morrissey fans. It's a bit like Cure fans — who are they? But there's loads of them.

The Smiths did a few brilliant tracks. "How Soon Is Now?" is an absolutely fantastic song, and a couple of the ballads that were far more stripped-down — "Back to the Old House" was a really good one. But when you hear something like "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want," you think, "Wait a minute, you were a pop star, with loads of money, playing big shows. What are you talking about?"

First to forward details of this annual event is alexXx1978:

The 2001 SMITHS/MORRISSEY CONVENTION WEEKEND
ALL SMITHS & MORRISSEY ALL WEEKEND LONG
SATURDAY, APRIL 28th 3:30pm - 9:30pm
SUNDAY, APRIL 29th 6pm - 12am
The Palace
1735 N. Vine St. Hollywood

(more)

Charles Byron writes: Finally, Leo García's new single "Morrissey" was released by indie label Frágil Discos. Even though I prefer the acoustic version I once heard in concert to the techno-pop one that they released (recorded only with an acoustic guitar and a synthesiser played and programmed by Leo), I think is a more meaningful thing to compose a whole song dedicated to HIM than recording another crappy version of "How Soon Is Now?" or "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want".
---
An anonymous person also writes: Leo Garcia, a promising new pop star in Argentina, and a music journalist called Pablo Schanton, have recently composed and released a song that in a few weeks has become a gay anthem in Buenos Aires. The song, called Morrissey, has these first lines (sorry for the translation): (speaking to a lady) "There's something you dont know, your boyfriend and me often gather together to listen Morrissey"
---
Scan of Leo Garcia "Morrissey" sleeve also sent by Charles.

• Related item: Leo García's new song "Morrissey" - an Argentinean homage - Jan. 13, 2001

Shawn writes:

I was surprised not only to find myself awake at 4 AM (est) but to be hearing the tender strains of The Smiths on ABC's World News Now, an overnight news program. They used "Stop Me..." in conjunction with footage of animals in their natural habitats while the nation's weather and temperatures scrolled along the bottom of the screen. Nothing huge, but a nice, tiny surprise nevertheless.