From Radioactive, a picture taken in Manchester, Dec. 1998 (click to enlarge). Johnny produced Marion's latest album The Program.

Another small snippet! In the latest NME there is a short "On The Couch" interview with Cardigans singer Nina Persson and on the "What song describes you best?" question she says "Morrissey's 'Wide To Receive'. It has a line, 'I don't get along with myself/And I'm not too keen on anyone else'." An obscure choice, although it is a highlight of Maladjusted. I think the Cardigans new single "Erase/Rewind" is rather swoonsome too despite having had reservations about their current album, and now I have a bit more insight on them.

I read a few weeks ago in a Dutch magazine that Frank Rijkaard (the world famous football player, who played for Ajax en AC Milan and who is now the coach for the Dutch national football team) is a big Morrissey fan!

His favourite song is "Our Frank"!!!

The latest issue of the comic book, "The Invisible" Number 12 (April 1999), published by Vertigo/DC Comics, features a small Morrissey reference, on page 10. The character Mr.Six described himself as "the last of the famous international playboys." (click to enlarge)

You might also remember that Grant Morrison, the writer, has used Morrissey/Smiths lyrics into his stories. Most notably from his old comic, "Doom Patrol". One of his first published stories, "St. Swithin's Day" is a story about a young man, who takes the train to London (stopping in Euston too!) to assassinate Margaret Thatcher. The whole diary dialogue is very Morrissey-esque.

He's currently the writer of the successful popular superhero comic, "JLA", published by DC Comics.

...I work for the House of Representatives and I read these news bits from "Hotline", a service from National Journal. I thought these might be of interest to some of the other politicos out there. The titles over the past few weeks have been linked to the Smiths songs so you can listen to them over the web.

SMITH: Cemetry Gates
Under the header "Smith muddies the GOP's field," Boston Globe's Shribman writes, that because Bob Smith "has almost no chance" of winning WH 2000, for GOPers, he "will be the most dangerous man alive."...

SMITH: Bigmouth Strikes Again?
Bob Smith, speaking in Des Moines 2/19, "predicted twin victories" in IA and NH: "We're going to win here in Iowa and we're going to win in New Hampshire. I've never got in any race or endeavor to do anything that I didn't  think I could win" (Cousineau, Manchester Union Leader, 2/20)...

SMITH: Please, Let Me Get What I Want
Bob Smith officially announced his candidacy for the GOP WH 2000 nomination 2/18. WMUR-TV's  (Manchester) North reports, "Two teens asked Bob Smith to come  home to make this announcement. Flanked by some of his most public supporters, including his family,  teachers, and fellow veterans, Senator Bob Smith took his first step on the primary 2000 campaign trail. ...

TV People Say, What Difference Does It Make?
Manchester Union Leader Editor-in-Chief Joe McQuaid: "I don't know if he'll make it out of Iowa to come back home to New Hampshire ...

Want To Know His Views? Ask
In an interview with CNN's Shaw, Smith said why he wants to be president: "A lot of reasons. I'm concerned with my country, I certainly have the background. ...

Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before
A homeowner in Clifton, NJ, "probably hadn't heard of Bob Smith -- until the phone started ringing off the hook. Her toll-free phone line, which rings in a private residence, is similar to the phone number Smith's presidential campaign is using." ...

Calling all fanclubs!

As president of Unloveable Boxers, the Swedish Smiths/Morrissey fanclub, I got an idea the other day. The idea is that all fanclubs around the world dedicated to our favourite band/person should come together and form an international fanclub, with the possibility of becoming the official fanclub for Moz. Each fanclub can stay independent and keep individual member directories, but in some way(s) we will co-operate. How does that sound? If you are running a fanclub (or know of someone who does) dedicated to Moz or The Smiths, I would be delighted if you could contact me, and we can discuss it further. The address is [email protected], and our homepage is at http://come.to/boxers.

I'm planning in April to have a celebration for Morrissey/Smiths and other great 80's musicians.

It's going to be held at my band's practice were we have local hardcore/punk shows. I'm hoping to provide food, and music and hoping some local bands (including mine) will play and cover Morrissey/Smiths songs. I'll update you with more info and I'm looking for some local help.