Word on the street in England is that Spike Smith is out as drummer for the album currently being recorded and Dean Butterworth is in.
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An anonymous person sends the Jerry Finn / Blink-182 ad which mentions "Finn is currently in London producing Morrissey's forthcoming album (Sanctuary - Merck Mercuriadis)."

Ulf Ö writes:

Just finished watching the 30 minutes Smiths special on Swedish music program Musikbyrån. There were no shocking relevations to the hardcore devotees (But we will always complain about that, won't we? And besides TV specials and documentaries like this are not primarilary aimed at the fans who already know all there is to know), but it is always nice to see the Smiths on national television. And I think this one was much better than the BBC documentary "These Things Take Time".

It featured new and more or less exclusive interviews with all the four Smiths. The Morrissey interview was the one from Norwegian program Lydverket from last year, but tonight there were some parts from that interview which were not featured in the edited version on Lydverket. In my opinion there was maybe too much from the Joyce and Rourke interviews and too little Morrissey and, especially, Marr. Favourite quote: "I don't have an opinion on him [Morrissey]. I have an opinion on Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, on Boards Of Canada, on Donovan and Muddy Waters, but not on Morrissey." (Johnny Marr)

The subjects were more or less the usual: How it started, the flowers, the lyrics, the split, the court case. There was also a lot of video/Top of the Pops footage and the omnipresent "live" performance of "Nowhere Fast" by Morrissey and Marr in the studio in 1985. At the end of the show Josh Roush performed a nice acoustic cover of "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" live in the studio. All in all a very nice and entertaining Wednesday night.
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• Related item: Musikbyrån (Swedish TV) ex-Smiths interviews postponed to 5 November - Oct. 21, 2003

Cartoon version of The Smiths by Cesar Diaz [[email protected]]:

Click to enlarge: large (1346x1126), medium (800x669)

Jayson Wilde writes:

Last night in Davis, CA psychobilly band Tiger Army did a Morrissey cover. They covered "The Loop". The sound for the venue wasn't very good but you could tell what song it was after the first bar. They played it very well and it seemed like I was the only person going off. Nick 13 has a great voice and he definitely complimented Morrissey's style.
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• Related item: Nick 13 of Tiger Army mentions Morrissey in an interview with Skratch Magazine - Jan. 13, 2002

Stella the diver writes:

There's a interview with R.E.M in the December edition of Q magazine, and on Stipe's inspirations it says:

'If Stipe inspired so many, who inspired him?

  He was a great admirer of The Smiths and is said to have shared conspirational strolls in Hyde Park with Morrissey when R.E.M visted London in their formative years. One can only imagine the conversations....'

lutewhine writes:

On Friday Night With Jonathan Ross last Friday (Oct 31), the house band Four Puffs And A Piano introduced Dermot O'Leary with the chorus from Last Of The Famous International Playboys. Dermot responded by blowing them a kiss. A proud moment for all concerned.

warderblu writes:

Not a big deal but in New York in between sets at the Good Charlotte show they played "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now." I doubt most of the audience even knew it (mostly 14 year olds) - But I sang it out loud wearing my Smiths shirt!!!!!!

Lloyd H. Miller writes:

Black on the Outside, Brooklyn's own Smiths tribute, returns Wednesday, November 12, at the Infrared Lounge.

Our new set includes "Nowhere Fast," "This Night Has Opened My Eyes," and "Sheila Take a Bow."

Show starts at 10 p.m.

Infrared is located at 210 Rivington Street on the Lower East Side. Take the F/J/M/Z to Delancey/Essex. Walk a block north, take a right. Infrared is on Rivington between Pitt and Ridge.