Morrissey Central "HOLD ON, I’M CARMEN" (January 1, 2025)

Carmen Vandenberg working very hard at rehearsals for the New Year's Eve show at the Hollywood Palladium.
Photographs by Rudolpho.

HOLD ON, I'M CARMEN - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - HOLD ON, I'M CARMEN

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

 

[Simplysmiths]

Is it my imagination or does she bear a passing resemblance to a young J Marr?

No she kin doesn’t ffs

 

[Jamie]

But grateful for any details/links from you or anyone else about him. Has he written other songs beside the four with Morrissey? (That is: Lost; Now I am a Was; Wide to Receive and the slow version of Hard to Walk Tall, as, of course you, FWD, know far better than I do.)

According to the Mozipedia, Spencer was also responsible for the music for the unreleased Maladjusted-era tracks "Hanratty" and "Nightmare."

Will he release this newly recorded version with a new title, then in ten years’ time release an “expanded edition” with the original 12 track version featuring Alain being released as disc two?

I love the optimism. But, to be fair, in ten years' time the world (such as it is) may very well still be waiting for Bonfire of the Teenagers to be released by 75-year-old Morrissey.

 

[MozIsGod]

I wonder how the “original” version of WMTWD will surface - the version that originally intended to have 12 songs?

Will he release this newly recorded version with a new title, then in ten years’ time release an “expanded edition” with the original 12 track version featuring Alain being released as disc two?

There is so much unreleased and alternate versions of songs in the vaults now it should be at its tipping point.

And I hate to be pessimistic, but CDs may not even be manufactured 10 years from now. I am beginning to see a lot more 'Made in Mexico' discs. As demand for optical discs declines, the equipment used to manufacture discs is getting older and not being replaced.

 

[trans]

Oh that would be so cool. Would love it if he tried something new like that. His vocals are so strong and good, just no auto tune please (Rebels track sounds horrible because of it).

Morrissey is such a great singer - a good jazz album would go down pretty good with me too - Sinatra Style - jazz is such a beloved genre with audiophiles too.
Mozz in tux doing jazz - Chet Baker style trumpet - old school jazz - yes please

i never thought of it but i could do with a morrissey jazz album. id like it a bit hotter and a touch wilder maybe than sinatra, not that i dislike him. the style could even lean towards his admiration for beat style poetry or scatting and he could be inspired that way. pull out a few bits of aladin sane. he could make it his black and blue period. i know this goes against the premise of carmen and her blues guitar being the inspiration for a jazzy album but i think a morrissey piano centered jazz album might be an even better idea imo. as for auto tune i dont mind it on rebels as i appreciate the gesture towards trying something that young fans might feel better connected to but i didnt quite like the way it was executed. its really only that couple of seconds. maybe he just had the balls to rebel against the sentiment and try something daring even if ironically he doesn't and probably knew he wouldnt receive any applause from the fan base that most likely has little love for it. thats an amusing thought honestly. i love hyper pop stuff and they do the voice manipulation really well and as a musician i love anything that adds another dimension to manipulate or more fully express / realize the feeling music gives me. i remember phonewifey talking about trying to find ways to pitch his voice up as high or higher than his collaborator nosgov whos known for an enthrall high pitched voice and it made me laugh at the different ways people could approach it. stuff like that could appeal to morrissey in the way he said rap did in that its all about the voice really.

 

[Lionsy]

I saw it as one of those things that Moz suggests for a laugh, and you go along with it because why not, it's only a photo? He laughs, and you laugh, and he laughs... and then the next day you get fired with no idea why. Or made to wear a loincloth, or mocked or made sport of in some other way.

In other words - the new musicians walk on eggshells, and we should all know that by now. That's why I don't think it's really fair to judge the band harshly, practiced or no. These people are still pretty new, they are doing what has been asked of them (in what must be a fairly ramshackle situation) - and ultimately they have their own bands and side projects to return to if things get too rough. There has never been one truly 'standout' solo musician and that is entirely intentional - if 'Johnny Mk 2' drifted down from heaven and joined the band tomorrow, he would be sacked after one gig for taking away the limelight.

Having stewed on this post for a day, I am now all but convinced Carmen is getting the sack within the next 48 hours

 

[Amy]

Having stewed on this post for a day, I am now all but convinced Carmen is getting the sack within the next 48 hours

Oh God, let's hope not. Truthfully though, nothing would surprise me. Most folks seemed to enjoy the NYE show so I was expecting some kind of triumphant Central round-up from Moz. Instead we got... this.

 

[stewart]

BOZ please come back

and Alain

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Having stewed on this post for a day, I am now all but convinced Carmen is getting the sack within the next 48 hours

Oh God, let's hope not. Truthfully though, nothing would surprise me. Most folks seemed to enjoy the NYE show so I was expecting some kind of triumphant Central round-up from Moz. Instead we got... this.

Nah, he’s just shining a little spotlight on someone that deserves it.

IMHO, Morrissey is at a bit of a low point (temporarily!) and these new members really have been one of the few bright spots in world Moz. I mean, just imagine everything as it is atm if he still had the f*cking Lads still hanging around his kneck =

 

[Jett Rink]

I can't really recall, but I think that's a possibility, also there was or is a manager or someone, my memory is terrible on some of these things

D. Neuer was understandably evasive when taking about why Alain left.

He said Alain had problems with management. I had asked him if it was possibly band management (Jesse) (aside from tour management) and Darrin didn't exactly say no to that. He felt it better to keep things to himself.

I kinda read things between the lines and think Jesse may have something to do with Alain's departure. I can't say for sure. Just a hunch.

Jesse doesn't seem particularly pleasant to be around.

PS: Redacted, I think you are the best poster around here.

 

[hand in glove]

D. Neuer was understandably evasive when taking about why Alain left.

He said Alain had problems with management. I had asked him if it was possibly band management (Jesse) (aside from tour management) and Darrin didn't exactly say no to that. He felt it better to keep things to himself.

I kinda read things between the lines and think Jesse may have something to do with Alain's departure. I can't say for sure. Just a hunch.

Jesse doesn't seem particularly pleasant to be around.

PS: Redacted, I think you are the best poster around here.

I think FWD posted a text from Alain stating it was tour management. It is very kind of D.Neuer to contribute what he knows, but that often leads to falsifications and misjudgments because we don't really know everything that's going on behind the scenes and it is one-sided.

 

[DagenhamDan]

and Alain

And Gary, and Spencer

 

[Seymour Glass]

Jazz sucks.

Oh that would be so cool. Would love it if he tried something new like that. His vocals are so strong and good, just no auto tune please (Rebels track sounds horrible because of it).

Morrissey is such a great singer - a good jazz album would go down pretty good with me too - Sinatra Style - jazz is such a beloved genre with audiophiles too.
Mozz in tux doing jazz - Chet Baker style trumpet - old school jazz - yes please

 

[Amy]

Nah, he’s just shining a little spotlight on someone that deserves it.

IMHO, Morrissey is at a bit of a low point (temporarily!) and these new members really have been one of the few bright spots in world Moz. I mean, just imagine everything as it is atm if he still had the f*cking Lads still hanging around his kneck =

Alain aside, I've always been pretty indifferent about the backing band - then and now. They are passengers, they just need to be good enough.

 

[Mike Rourke]

And Gary, and Spencer

plus Dale Hibbert on tambourine?

 

[DagenhamDan]

plus Dale Hibbert on tambourine?

No, that would have to be James Maker, or was he on maracas?

 

[Light Housework]

Just stumbled on this while scouring YouTube for NYE 2024 footage.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

D. Neuer was understandably evasive when taking about why Alain left.

He said Alain had problems with management. I had asked him if it was possibly band management (Jesse) (aside from tour management) and Darrin didn't exactly say no to that. He felt it better to keep things to himself.

I kinda read things between the lines and think Jesse may have something to do with Alain's departure. I can't say for sure. Just a hunch.

Hunch? Lol. Maybe it’s the fact that you don’t care for Jesse that brought you to your …‘hunch’.

Jesse doesn't seem particularly pleasant to be around.

Another hunch?

He was pleasant enough the times I’ve met him.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Alain aside, I've always been pretty indifferent about the backing band - then and now. They are passengers, they just need to be good enough.

To an extent I agree. I prefer artists to keep it interesting. But ultimately what matters, is if M thinks they’re good enough.

Btw, welcome back!

 

[MozIsGod]

Hunch? Lol. Maybe it’s the fact that you don’t care for Jesse that brought you to your …‘hunch’.

Another hunch?

He was pleasant enough the times I’ve met him.

Yeah, Alain was quite direct as to the reason why he left in that Facebook reply post. I don't think there is really any point in people adding additional opinions or gossip into his reasoning.

 

[April Snow]

Yeah, Alain was quite direct as to the reason why he left in that Facebook reply post. I don't think there is really any point in people adding additional opinions or gossip into his reasoning.

Agreed - hunches are not factual ..............and also what is factual to one person is not to another.