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Comments / Notes
I think my good friend Johnny is trying to play mind games like his old pal Morrissey. I think he should leave that job to Morrissey, he's much better at it.
Dave Strohm <[email protected]>
Paris Ontario Canada - Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 09:52:11 (PDT)
SO CRY ABOUT IT. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT MORRISSEY FORCED POOR LITTLE JOHNNY INTO DRINKING. JOHNNY MUST COME TO TERMS WITH HIMSELF BEFORE PLACING THE BLAME ON SOMEONE ELSE, AND PLEASE JOHNNY...MOVE ON...NEXT TIME AN INTERVIEWER ASKS YOU ANYTHING OF THE SMITHS, ADMIT THAT IT'S OVER BECAUSE YOU'VE GAINED NOTHING OVER DRAGGING ON ABOUT IT.
JEREMY <[email protected]>
- Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 14:28:29 (PDT)
if you sad buggers could achieve 1/100th of what Marr did before he was 24 (ie when he left The Smiths then the world would be a lot better place. Get over the Morrissey myopia ad tryto appreciate just how much Johnny put into The Smiths.
steve <[email protected]>
- Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 15:13:13 (PDT)
Dear Steve,
If you could be more polite with you answer, and respect other people opinions, the world would surely be a lot more enjoyable.
And talking about Johnny Marr, if he could achieve 1/100th of what Morrissey did after Smiths’s split, we’d love him for what he IS and not for what he WAS.
Wake Up to reality!!! Moz still can do loveable records, but after Electronic’s latest release, I’m not sure if I can say the same about Johnny.
Charles Byron <[email protected]>
Buenos Aires - Argentina - Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 17:59:39 (PDT)
awwww poor johnny..The smiths made him famous and I wonder where he would be if not for them.
Girl least likely too
- Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 18:12:21 (PDT)
I find most of these comments ridiculously hilarious, not that you aren't making a point, because most of you are. A lot of you seem to believe that The Smiths were just MOZ and MARR. Obviously this is not true. Even though Rourke and Joyce have been the object recent scrutiny (not that they don't deserve it), the magic of The Smiths was vested in those 4 indivuals. Marr was a shmuck for leaving, but what difference does it make who's fault it is...The Smiths are DEAD...at least for now. We all lose. Marr made a bad choice, we see it in his music today, MOZ has gone on to Newer and Better things. In a way I am glad The Smiths broke up, otherwise, We wouldn't have songs like "Jack the Ripper," "Last of the Famous..,""Tomorrow," "Seasick..," "Every Day is like Sunday,"...South Paw grammar..etc., I think you get it. So, maybe it was better that MARR made the mistake. But now that he's come to his senses, I'd like to make a suggestion. I would like to see MOZ and MARR try another project, re-unite the band for a reunion tour, or MOZ and MARR do a SMITHS TOUR with new musicians. That way, MARR can go back to playing wonderful music, MOZ can get the satisfaction knowing he was right all along, and they could make tons of money and re-juveinate their decaying musical carreers, and we would be able to partake in the splendor of this union. Everybody would be happy...Joyce and Rourke seem like they already got what they wanted, so, oh well for them. Sorrow will come in the end? Probably...I can picture Mozzer smiling now...
Javier Obregon <HeDrewAMozzerOnMyNeck>
Montclair, CA, USA - Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 18:59:12 (PDT)
I didn't react the same way towards this marr comment that some others have. I don't see him saying that Morrissey made him become a drunk. I kind of thought that he was taking the blame for the break up and removing the blame from morrissey as far as who didn't want to play. There have been so many comments(did any of you read last summers UNCUT issue with Morrissey on the cover) about Morrissey not wanting to play. This is very intersting to me that marr says that he is the one that didn't want to be out there and MORRISSEY was the one that motivated them all. I am glad to hear that about SPM. Aren't you?
e <[email protected]>
- Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 19:52:54 (PDT)
Nobody really knows anything. What we, the listeners, think we know is only a pathetically insignifacant portion of the truth. Don't believe the words of secondary sources(books)...believe those who were actually there.
Johnny Marr is a victim of life's ills as well...susceptible to liquor and depression. Why is this so difficult to understand? Atleast, he doesn't whine about it in every damn song like others I've heard.
Oh...one more thing, without Johnny Marr and his genious music, Morrissey would not be where he is now, but rather cleaning Manchester gutters for a living. Realize this!
Don't hold your hands to your eyes so closely.
Levi~Crush <[email protected]>
- Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 20:03:34 (PDT)
not true!
i doubt he'd subject himself to that kind of work.
I think he'd be languishing in his mother's house, on
mental disability money, disturbing truckers on a CB
radio.
tony
- Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 22:38:24 (PDT)
I do not believe Johnny is asking for any of your patronizing sympathy with his explanation. I believe the vast majority of Smiths fans are the one's to blame for not letting the whole thing just die, instead of trying to affix blame 10 plus years after...it will not solve anything to unmercifully crucify Johnny for the rest of eternity, as i'm sure Moz is just as much to blame.
Martin
- Wed, Jun 09, 1999 at 22:57:56 (PDT)
Martin, I believe is on the ball. That is exactly the truth. It took all of The Smiths to ruin The Smiths. What now, do we point fingers? Point at one indiviual and say, "AHA...you suck. It was your fault all along." BURN THE WITCH! BURN THE WITCH! Why? It's over. It's been over. GET OVER IT!
Javier Obregon <HeDrewAMozzerOnMyNeck>
Montclair, CA, USA - Thu, Jun 10, 1999 at 04:35:33 (PDT)
Without dispute Mozz lyrically has written some of the best songs in the last twenty years, however without the music of Marr his songs are no where near The Smiths. The Smiths are done, don't blame just accept it and enjoy the sound the left behind. Lets be thankful that for the time The Smiths were together not one bad album was produced, I wish I could say the same for Marr and Mozz solo careers.
Billy Bud
- Thu, Jun 10, 1999 at 10:46:38 (PDT)
I think the comment 'it took all of The Smiths to ruin The Smiths' just about hits the nail on the head. It sounds terribly romantic but something that wonderful wasn't going to last more than a few years. Unlike bands like the Stones who go on for years and years, The Smiths were about true youth and talent, not just energy and noise. As they got older and put so much of themselves into the band it was ineveitable that someone somewhere would snap. Andy had had problems for ages as we know, but hell, he was only the bassist so no big deal there (I'm being sarcastic)... but if anything serious had happened to Moz or Johnny it would have been a case for national mourning so it's probably just as well Johnny got out while he did. I don't want to know about the ins and outs of the situation. From what I've heard it was ever so ugly.
Alison <[email protected]>
Weston-Super-Mare - Thu, Jun 10, 1999 at 12:02:55 (PDT)
Excuse me but Morrissey could have made it with out Marr. He has released a lot of successful solo albums and while they aren't quite as good as the smiths, they're still really good! We all know Moz has amazing lyrics and that would have gotten him far, even without Johnny. By The way, If Moz for some reason hadn't become a singer, he would probably be a journalist, he said so himself.
Jae <[email protected]>
- Thu, Jun 10, 1999 at 12:45:13 (PDT)
why argue? we dont know what went on i think that marr might have been trying to take the blame, not place it
the smiths had to break sometime because all good things end
maybe they will reunite
maybe they wont
maybe i will spend my entire existence waiting for them to reunite only for them not to
Mozzer522
- Thu, Jun 10, 1999 at 15:23:04 (PDT)
You are assuming the greatest thing anyone could ever achieve is to be famous. There is so much @#!!!e involved with it. You might enjoy reading tatty tell-alls with in-sider scoops, but if it were written about you, you might find it extremely embarassing that the entire world knows your quirks. I think he just wanted to play a guitar. I don't think he really had any idea what was really about to happen. Just because you want to be in a band doesn't mean you necessarily want the crap that tags along with it.
Jambo
here - Thu, Jun 10, 1999 at 16:03:28 (PDT)
I think he just mention how that time was and noting else, I just wonder why people take a second thought about everything. But I understand Mo was dedicating everything for The smith in some way anyone beyond understand. Past
was past. We have to move. They have a future.
Miharu
- Fri, Jun 11, 1999 at 04:20:08 (PDT)
To add a bit of humor to the discussion, I tend to think that Marr must have given up boozing once the Smiths split. Prior to that, he wrote really amazing music and obviously, as he states, he was under the influence of alcohol on a regular basis. Once he left the Smiths and, presumably, cut down on his drinking, his music deteriorated. Maybe alcohol helped after all! He does remain an extraordinary talent nonetheless. Noone can argue that because he's already proved it with the Smiths!
"Maladjusted"
- Fri, Jun 11, 1999 at 05:29:04 (PDT)
Good to be an early bird. You can hear the song and tell who make it. So his tune is something nostalgic and cut every period I can hear Ma is Ma. It was not made by alcohol,when he's happy what sound like? Still Ma I think. It didn't come by incident. Hard time for him,but it was over,maybe they were young, Both were not prepared yet, but they learn a lesson from that and Now they are. If I am Mr.Smith, I would say that. And again I wonder why we always looking back? We're getting old if we do that. I just don't need to go back that youth!!!!!!!
Miharu
- Sat, Jun 12, 1999 at 05:32:54 (PDT)
If it wasn't for Johnny Marr, Morrissey wouldn't have a nice song to put his lyrics into.
If it wasn't for Morrissey, Johnny Marr wouldn't
have good lyrics in his songs.
They both helped each other get where they are now, both of them are still very gifted, but one works with people less talented.
They did not need a talented bass player, I am pretty sure Johnny could have put together a good bass line if it was needed, Andy is lucky he went along for the ride, and so is mike, no one cares about drummers except drummers and liars.
Smiths is Dead.
RockinKid
- Sat, Jun 12, 1999 at 14:01:37 (PDT)
WELL, I THINK THE SMITHS TRAGIC END HAS BEEN TOTALY OVER DONE. I THINK THAT BOTH MOZ AND JOHNNY HAVE MADE ALOT OF GOOD RECORDS, "YOUR ARSENAL" WAS SOMETHING THAT I DON'TTHINK THE SMITHS COULD HAVE DONE."THE THE" AND "ELECTRONIC" SEEM TO BE ALITTLE BIT MORE TO JOHNNY'S LIKEING. NOT THAT I WOULDN'T EXPLODE WITH BLISS IF THE SMITHS GOT BACK TOGETHER, BUT (SORRY TO DISSAPOINT YOU) IT AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN! I ACTUALY WROTE TO MOZ, AND MARR, SAYING "COULD YOU GUYS PLEASE DO ONE MORE TOUR BEFOR ONE OF YOU DIES?" BUT TO BELIEVE THAT ROURKE AND JOYCE WOULD AGREE, OR THAT MOZ WOULD SO MACH AS ACKNOWLADGE THEIR EXISTENCE IS BEING DELUSIONAL. ROURKE AND JOYCE WILL BOUNCE FROM BAND TO BAND FOR A WHILE AND SLOWLY DIE. J MARR IS STILL FINDING A NITCH, MABY HE WILL AND MABY HE WON'T, AND IF MOZ CAN SURVIVE AND ALBUM LIKE "KILL UNCLE" (NOT THAT I DON'T OWN IT ANYWAY) HE CAN SURVIVE ANYTHING. LET'S FOCUS ON WHAT WE HAVE PEOPLE. THE SMITHS DIED IN 87 AND THEIR NOT COMEING BACK I'M SORRY TO SAY.
kREESIS
Kreesis <[email protected]>
- Sun, Jun 13, 1999 at 03:05:18 (PDT)
When a person findsthe one thing that truly drives them (perhaps what they feel is the only way to avoid a totally pointless existence), they do tend to push and hurry toward what they want to acheive... but to blame someone else's ambition on your own drinking problems is really quite sad. We can't all be happy living our lives in decay, and should be thankful for those who pull us out of our little worlds and make us move.
Duncan The Shammy <[email protected]>
- Mon, Jun 14, 1999 at 20:30:41 (PDT)
Interesting how you all can take a little harmless quote and turn it into a moz vs. marr battleground..i don't think either of them really give a damn about what was said here..
-lEElo*_*
[email protected]
- Wed, Jun 16, 1999 at 11:12:09 (PDT)
Why the hell are everybody so f****n' sarcastic.
"oh, poor johnny...ha, ha, ha."
Some time ago, someone on the forum actually claimed that people who had sex couldn't really like Morrissey fans...if they can feel sorry for themself, and escape into self pity, why shouldn't Marr be allowed to speak his mind?
Oh yeah, btw I can't find a point where Marr blames Morrissey for drinking beyond control?
I'm not sure you're ready for all the pressure that comes with being the songwriter for one of UK's biggest band, by the time....Moz have done a few fantastic solo albums, and a few mediocre ones...Kill Uncle would be the bottomline, I guess. Marr hasn't been very productive, but I guess Electronic are good.
PS. BTW, saw a posting where someone said no one cared about drummers ("except drummers and liars"). Wrong. Check out Tom Verlaine's 'Words From The Front'. A boring drummer actually spoils a few of the songs. Then go for Television's 'Marquee Moon'. Billy Ficca's drumming is just soooo sublime, and gorgeous.
People who think the drumming is uninteresting and doesn't matter, would do good to listen to their records a better. I can't really claim that Mike Joyce is such a fantastic drummer, though...
Rare Flower <[email protected]>
- Wed, Jun 16, 1999 at 14:04:52 (PDT)
Wow. My reaction to the article was much different than most people's.
I though it was incredibly gutsy for Johnny to blaim himself for the breakup, and admit that he was so scared to perform live that he had to get banged up just to get on stage.
I have to admit that I really do not like Morrissey's band. I admit that I love the Your Arsenal album, and he has at least 1 or 2 songs on every album that I really like, but the whole rockabilly thing is kind of... I don't know. I miss Johnny Marr and his chemistry with Morrissey.
Hagfish
- Tue, Jun 22, 1999 at 05:34:08 (PDT)
I think Mozzer's band isn't bad at all...in fact I think
the Smiths would've been viewed in the same light
as Morrissey's solo career now, if they had lasted.
Besides, "Viva Hate" and most of his stuff was rather good
until about '95, i think. Maladjusted was a boring album, save
for "Trouble Loves Me". There's a certain quality about his solo
work...a professional, more traditional sound...not to say that
the Smiths weren't traditional in any way, in fact they were perhaps
the most "pure" group of the '80s. Save for "Strangeways", the quality
of their art hasn't been matched. Morrissey's a far dfferent animal these days.
I doubt we'll ever see him sing ever again. I don't care, really.
and just because Morrissey's group played in a rockabilly style for a short
time didn't mean they did it forever! That was nearly a decade ago. 'course,
we ended up getting covers of "MoonRiver" and "Interlude" a few years later.
Those tunes were actually quite nice...though Moz coule never do the former song
live without losing his voice.
ellipsis
- Wed, Jun 23, 1999 at 15:47:16 (PDT)
Alright...hold on a minute here...
First of all, I think poor poor Johnny Marr is just asking for sympathy. OK, so he joined The Smiths when he was rather young. But still...if he really wasn't prepared for all the work that's involved in being in a band, don't you think it would have happened no matter what band he was in and who he was involved with? I realise Morrissey is no saint, but I highly doubt he drove Marr to drink. I think it would have happened anyway. I think we should just take any comments made by him, and - yes - even Morrissey about The Smiths breakup with a grain of salt. It's quite clear that they're still at each other's throats about the whole thing. So, let's leave it to them to solve their little squabbles and let it lie. Just enjoy The Smiths for who they were and not worry about the breakup. That's their problem. Let them deal with it. The Smiths may be dead as an actual band, but their music is timeless.
Regarding Marr and Morrissey as a team: Yes they worked great together. But consider, if you will, Morrissey having never met Johnny Marr. There are plenty of musicians that are just as good. Moz could have teamed with someone else and still made great music. Personally, I think it's Morrissey's lyrics that people really listen to. And to me, lyrics are far more important than musical accompaniment. Yes, it gives life to the words, and I agree that without the musical accompaniment, Moz's lyrics would only be mere poems (and quite fine poems, I might add). But Moz could have put his words to anyone's music. Isn't that pretty much what he's doing now? I'll agree that his music as of late hasn't had the same flair as it did in The Smiths, but he has every right to experiment with different musical styles, whether it fails or succeeds.
And FINALLY...regarding what Moz would be doing had he not become a singer: He wouldn't have become a journalist, no. He tried, apparently, and
failed. Personally I think he'd be dead. It seems to me that Morrissey had this great desire to express himself in his writing and he wanted the world to listen. Now...had he not found some sort of creative outlet to express himself, he'd have nothing. I suppose he could have become a poet and published books of his poems. But I think he would have been happier (OK...let's just say more content with) singing. If he hadn't made the career choice he made, the world would have missed
out on something wonderful. Morrissey is an extremely gifted songwriter, and I'm very happy he
felt the need to express his feelings to the world and touch so many people's lives. Oh, if he'd only realise the impact he's made...
Tara <[email protected]>
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada - Sat, Jun 26, 1999 at 01:48:45 (PDT)
Wow! Quite a response. I don't think that Johnny Marr is blaming Moz for his drinking problem. Marr was a kid when he was with the Smiths and, much like other rock stars, was quite a shy lad. He compensated for this shyness by drinking. He liked making music with the Smiths, but touring and other appearances became difficult for him. He realized that he had a problem, and he quit the band. How about a congrats to Marr for being one of the few rock stars in history to avoid the source of his drinking. Suppose he stayed, we'd probably be talking about how Johhny Marr wrote and played this great band, and he was a guitar player that died too young.
In addition, there has been no different explaination for the band's breakup from Marr's mouth. If you can get a copy see his interview in the November or December 1989 issue of Guitar Player. He says the same thing in that interview, that he said in this Belgian paper. His alcoholism was a prime motivator for him to leave. He also noted that he and Morrissey, who had previously been in agreement about the direction of the band, were having contrary ideas about the direction of the music. This situation did not help matters.
In short, the band is done. I would love to see them back together making music. However, a reunification will probably not happen. Let's treasure the music that they did make, and realize that that music is even more special because the Smiths had a shorter life than we, the fans, wanted. They walked away on top. Congratulate them for having standards! This band was not about money or fame. This band was about music. Why must we take sides like petty children? Morrissey or Marr?
Dave H. <[email protected]>
- Sun, Jun 27, 1999 at 01:14:14 (PDT)
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