Phill writes:

70's Manchester punk legends 'Ed Banger and the Nosebleeds' have reformed and are playing The Witchwood in Ashton-U-Lyne on Sunday 24th June. Ashton is 8 miles east of Manchester city centre.

Morrissey started his singing career by joining and performing (albeit for a very short lived moment) with a new look Nosebleeds before meeting Johnny Marr and forming The Smiths.

Incidently, Ed Banger (original singer with Slaughter and the Dogs) was one of several Manchester music legends to appear on a recent Granada TV documentary entitled 'I swear I was there'. The programme coincided with the 25th anniversary of The Sex Pistols first Manchester gig on 4th June 1976 and focused on the impact that gig had on those who were present. A total of 32 people were said to be in attendance, at The Lesser Free Trade Hall, amongst them Morrissey, Howard Devoto and Pete Shelly (who formed the Buzzcocks) Barny and Hooky (Joy Division, New Order) Mark E Smith (The Fall) Tony Wilson (Factory Records, Hacienda) Paul Morley (Journalist and ZTT Records) and John the Postman (dont ask!).

All of the above appeared on the programme - with one notable exception. Steven Patrick Morrissey. Coincidental or not, The Smiths last ever Manchester gig (and I swear I was there!!) was at the Free Trade Hall - the Lesser Hall being a small room upstairs.

Aubry writes:

Taken from BDB's site:

SECRET GIG

Monday 4th June saw Damon perform a secret gig at the Social in London. The audience was a combination of people from XL Recordings, Beggars, Twisted Nerve and other friends all invited by Damon as a 'thank you' and to celebrate his new publishing deal.

The acoustic set lasted over an hour with a selection of favourites from the last three years, a couple of cover versions (Let The Sun Shine, The Smiths' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want) and one new track.

He's about to start work on new tracks for the two TN compilations and his new album. Damon won't be doing any festivals this year, and is unlikely to be doing any tours for the rest of the year because of this.

• Related item: Badly Drawn Boy strikes again in Los Angeles - May 24, 2001

Erin writes:

Hi!

I work for a publishing company and we are thinking of doing a book on fan stories about Morrissey and encounters they may have had with the man.

If you have any stories and are interested in being a part of this possible project, please email me at [email protected].

Please email as soon as possible so we can decide whether this is a worthwhile project!

Thank you!

An anonymous person writes:

Over at the Hollywood Stock Exchange, Morrissey's stock has crashed 71% in just the past few days, currently around $H1.05 ($H = hsx money - June 7). Go get stock in Morrissey and jack his price up! And own a piece of the man!

OK, I know it's stupid....
---
Checking in today (June 13), "MORRY" has rebounded, up 264% to $H4.30.

• Related item: Morrissey traded on the Hollywood Stock Exchange - Feb. 13, 2000

Phill writes:

Usual venue full of the usual suspects.

Friday 22th June. 10pm - 2am
The Star and Garter, Fairfield Street, Manchester
(behind Piccadilly Station)

Now we are back in the charts and back in fashion, expect the place to be even more packed than normal!

UPDATE:: Grim O'Grady corrected the date (June 22, not July 29), there is no date in July but there is another date on Aug. 10. Link: Star & Garter.