From Len Brown, author of Meetings With Morrissey:

The September 9 story about the Q magazine review certainly didn't come from me. I'm trying to forget it. Very disappointed, as I do have friends who still write for Q (the maligned Quantick among them, from my NME days). I suppose I'm less pissed off with Dorian Lynskey, who penned the review and didn't like my narrative style, and more angry about the headline. I'm a journalist and telly producer rather than a "friend of Mozzer". Really annoyed about the line "thorny subjects ignored" because the book actually features a whole chapter on Morrissey's political views and history in which I make my position clear in relation to certain controversial views.

As I told Ireland's AU magazine - if you consider Morrissey's views on vegetarianism, animal rights, feminism and his celebration of those who Wilde called "outcast men", then you'd have to say that he is, by and large, radical and to the "Left". The only "Right-wing" views that get him into trouble concern his outspokenness on the subject of immigration. Although I don't agree with him - I'm still old-fashioned Northern Labour - surely he's entitled to hold these opinions within a liberal democracy?

Just my opinion but I believe he's talking about nationalism and patriotism, and suggest that he's being protective of the British or English identity (whatever this is) and against certain negative outside influences. It's definitely not about race but external influences in general - from McDonalds to to the EU to sex traffic to Eastern European drug dealers. Also, as I point out in the book, Morrissey seems to have consistently held anti-Maastricht views since 1988, when he wrote of the "slaughter of the British passport and the advance chill of 1992" in his fine NME obituary of Charles Hawtrey.

Trying to forget Q, apart from the Manchester Evening News review, there's also a good article by someone called Robert Cochrane. I'd like to buy that poet a beer.

If anyone gives a monkey's...I've finally managed to set up a website for the book. www.meetingswithmorrissey.com

Thanks for reading/listening to all this. If it's self-promotion rather than self-defence then I apologise. Also thanks for some of the positive and constructive comments on Morrissey Solo. Best wishes, Len
---

• Related item: "Meetings With Morrissey" criticised In Q Magazine - Sep. 9, 2008

Robby sends the link:

Pete Doherty and The Smiths' Johnny Marr duet - NME.com

Pete Doherty and Johnny Marr have teamed up to play a song by The Smiths - Marr's former band.

The Babyshambles man has posted a video of Marr - now a full-time member of The Cribs - and himself playing the song online. Click below to watch it.

In the video the pair play 'Jeane', a song The Smiths recorded with ' Troy Tate in 1983.

The song didn't appear on a Smiths album as the recording session was aborted, but later appeared as a b-side and has been much bootlegged by fans since.

Pete Doherty teamed up with The La's' Lee Mavers last month, jamming the song 'Over' with him.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VEaH43Cm9w

Phill Gatenby writes: