Inside information on Moz, Marr & management

[Lionsy]

I don't think Morrissey is that stupid.

Have you seen Morrissey Central before?

 

[The Alchemist]

Have you seen Morrissey Central before?

 

[Amy]

With regards to my credibility, I’ll just say that I spoke with David T yesterday for nearly 2 hours, and leave it at that. I have receipts. To get into if “Teresa, Teresa” was going to be on the fanclub site is to miss the point that since these deals are now gone, we have 3+ LP’s worth of songs that will never see the light of day.

I understand how how hard everything I wrote is hard to believe, but it’s true. A deal was got that 1) Got BOT and WMTWD released on a legendary “indie” label, but only indie in the same sense past labels Attack and Major/Minor, etc. were “Indies”. 2) Got his Quarry to Dog catalog out of BMG and 3) got Mozzer a well deserved fat payday. While this deal was being sorted (think of it like a complicated trade in baseball, involving three different teams, a lot of time, and each side doing their due diligence) the Farage/Marr crap began in the background, which got Marr into his head rent-free again. Then suddenly the fat payday wasn’t fat enough, the deal for the 2 LP’s wasn’t big enough, etc.

And here we are. Back to posting YouTube videos on Central.

What I can't understand is how this spat with Johnny has any bearing on this prospective deal. It's totally separate and trivial in the grand scheme, surely? Why would Moz burn down such a fantastic deal - a life-raft in the storm that he has waited years for - due to a misinformed palaver that was quickly set to rights?

Could he not have said, eg. "Oops, got my eggs mixed up, moving swiftly on..." and then proceeded with the deal, tour and everything else? I don't understand how the story goes from bickering with JM to then refusing to co-operate with his own manager and switching to "I want more money, the deal's not enough" It suggests to me that either, a) Moz gave backword on it all for ego reasons because he wanted a major label after all or b) He wanted to scape the 'management' for the outcome of the recent JM situation and withdraw all participation as some kind of passive-aggressive move. That would be shockingly childish and self-sabotaging though. It just doesn't add up - Johnny's existing plans and BMG deal certainly seem to be carrying on as normal?

 

[Amy]

Also - let's say that Moz did decide to burn it all down in a huff, and blame his managers as a way of trying to distance himself from the mess. Wouldn't it be possible for 'new' management to get those similar types of deals again for him - in terms of Bonfire and the back catalogue etc?

 

[sparacus]

It's a sad day as Galli is widely known in the music industry as a good guy and really tried to do the best for Moz.

He was responsible for the massive Smiths reunion offer that the Mozzer signed off on. It was the first time Moz ever signed off on a Smith's reunion tour. I heard Galli even met with Marr's manager in London to try and mend the relationship.

Galli was also able to get Moz multiple record deal offers from big indie labels for Bonfire of Teenagers and Without Music the World Dies, but Moz rejected them as he only wishes to put music out on a major label. I find this to be very odd as I've always thought he was an advocate who protested against the "man" and the "major labels," but then won't sign to an indie label? Doesn't Red Light have multiple huge artists on indie labels that are massively successful? Aren't major labels dead in the rock n' roll space? Especially for a 65 year old?

There was also another big deal Galli had on the table regarding getting all the rights back to many of Moz's albums from BMG.

Galli inherited the Marr trademark issue from past management. From my understanding of the situation Galli wanted Moz to sign the paperwork splitting the trademark with Marr 50/50, but Moz thinks he should own 100% of the Smiths trademark and won't sign it. This is most likely the issue that made them part ways. Good luck with getting 100% of the trademark Moz.

On the flip side, Marr's camp is extremely dodgy. Management reached out to a very well-known singer of a major band (you can guess who) to see if he'd tour as the lead singer of "The Smiths." He of course rejected it right away. Marr's management also floated the idea of Marr touring as the Smiths to UK promoters which was also rejected.

As someone on the inside, I also know and got to see the plan and roll out Galli put together for Bonfire and it was genius. I was on some of those zoom meetings. It would have been a huge comeback for Moz and put him back on top. It started with the social media campaign and then a huge launch of a fan club that contains a ton of unreleased tracks, behind the scenes video and never before seen concerts. The fan club was scheduled to be launched in a few weeks and was already built. That would have lead into the first single from Bonfire and a big release date announcement for Bonfire. It was all scheduled to kick off the week of the upcoming tour with the album coming in 25, but Moz wouldn’t sign to the indie label. I thought all the hype about Marr was a well planned and executed PR stunt to get attention before the first single and album launch, but it was just Moz being Moz.

I actually thought that Moz and Galli were a good combo. He has the temperament and credibility as a level headed, smart, genuine, well liked manager who's in it for the right reasons. Sad day in Moz land.

Good grief. If this insider information is true, and I’ve no reason to doubt it, then it presents both sides in a negative light and not just Morrissey. Certainly Morrissey will need to accept that a good indie label is better than no label at all. It sounds like a very good comeback strategy was worked out here. Also the reality is that he’s unlikely to get 100% rights to the Smiths back and a costly legal case may not work. He perhaps thinks that he should have it because he invented the name however reality is that Marr co-wrote all the songs. On the other hand however, if Marr’s management did plot for him to tour as ‘The Smiths’ and to approach Ian MacCulloch or someone else to sing then it makes the public statement that they put out incorrect in that issue and misleading. Did Marr know what his management were proposing for him?

NB: Ian MacCulloch fronting ‘The Smiths’ and singing only Smiths is rather like getting Mick Jagger & Keith Richards in to replace Lennon & Harrison on a new Beatles tour.

 

[Odbmke]

Also - let's say that Moz did decide to burn it all down in a huff, and blame his managers as a way of trying to distance himself from the mess. Wouldn't it be possible for 'new' management to get those similar types of deals again for him - in terms of Bonfire and the back catalogue etc?

I think of this scene from my favorite movie often when I think about this:

 

[Amy]

I think of this scene from my favorite movie often when I think about this:

'They can't all be idiots, Michael, you argue with everybody!'

Exactly! But... maddening as it is, that's why I don't think it makes sense to blame the spat. This is "Moz being Moz", this is standard operating procedure for him. Fans can & do spend years trying to work out why that is, rationalise his behaviour and understand all the potential 'contributing factors' etc etc, but managers aren't going to have time for that because he is one of many and when you see the pattern repeating again and again... the problem is clear.

 

[Dirk Blaggard]

What I can't understand is how this spat with Johnny has any bearing on this prospective deal. It's totally separate and trivial in the grand scheme, surely? Why would Moz burn down such a fantastic deal, and a fantastic musical future it sounds like, on the basis of a misinformed palaver that was quickly set to rights?

Could he not have said, for example, "Oops, got my eggs mixed up there, moving swiftly on..." and then proceeded with the deal, tour and everything else? I don't understand how the story goes from bickering with Johnny to then refusing to co-operate with his own manager and switching to "I want more money, the deal's not enough, etc." It suggests to me that either, a) Moz gave backword on it all for ego reasons because he wanted a major label after all or b) He was embarrassed about the Marr situation and wanted to pin the blame on 'management', and withdraw all participation as some kind of passive-aggressive move. Maybe both, but neither of these things really add up - Johnny's existing plans and BMG deal certainly seem to be carrying on as normal?

What I do not get is why the OP seems so eager to throw shade at Marr, in the OP and in other comments
Again, Marr wanted M to sign off, on the trade mark. Is that the actions of someone who has had a long-standing plan to tour as The Smiths?
We all know Marr is Sharpe and everyone who knows him (including Street) has said they don't think Marr is underhand in this way. Anyone who hasmet Marr knows he is protective over The Smiths' image. He knows the public would not settle for a fecking none M Smiths. The new fans are just as protective as the older ones, in their own way. I think OP has been misled and I can now see why M says the stuff he says, if he is having this BS poured into his ear. I feel much more positive about Ms mindset now, It's just as some of us thought, he is surrounded by Yes men who feed him BS.

It would be nice if OP could clarify if he meant if it was just Johnny's Mangers or Johnny himself and who told him. It seems OP is in the business and has some info but that is a fecking far cry from being an M insider and having first-hand news. So the title isn’t true either
could he admit this is Chinese fecking whispers ?


Lol to this idea that a fansite and clever marketing would put m "on top " is fecking fantasy world. In the UK, due to the BOT title track he could pick up some of the right-leaning lot that go to TR events and watch Rightwing podcasts but that won't make up for the chunks that the MSM would take from his ass . Im not sure he can find a way back in the UK or USA. Probably why Marr will not tour with M

LOL,I saw the post that mentioned me and my “ play through “ of BOT in NY
lol a guy who works for a record company had a copy and played it , while we were getting driunk that’s all . At this point it’s amazing the lp hasn’t leaked . I’m not trying to pretend I’m an insider . I think OP can probably confirm the lp is “ out there “ copies
I myself do not have a copy . Sadly

 

[Cornflakes]

What I can't understand is how this spat with Johnny has any bearing on this prospective deal. It's totally separate and trivial in the grand scheme, surely? Why would Moz burn down such a fantastic deal - a life-raft in the storm that he has waited years for - due to a misinformed palaver that was quickly set to rights?

Moz clearly must not think it's a fantastic deal. There might be understandable reasons for that, if we knew the whole picture. It's probably inevitable that any record deal now is going to have design features about controlling the behaviour of the artist.

But also, he has high expectations, perhaps unrealistically high. I think he sees the label's job as to make him as successful as he feels he deserves to be. And we know that he doesn't see online promotion as worthwhile. Remember when there was a "Morrissey" twitter account for about 12 hours?

 

[Odbmke]

Moz clearly must not think it's a fantastic deal. There might be understandable reasons for that, if we knew the whole picture. It's probably inevitable that any record deal now is going to have design features about controlling the behaviour of the artist.

But also, he has high expectations, perhaps unrealistically high. I think he sees the label's job as to make him as successful as he feels he deserves to be. And we know that he doesn't see online promotion as worthwhile. Remember when there was a "Morrissey" twitter account for about 12 hours?

When you have respected managers leaking emails (Miley situation), you know it's bad. When you have M letting people think Captiol is holding an album hostage and he's quiet when people harass the CEO and start flying planes over the Capitol Tower... its bad. When his old bandmates are all playing shows without him, it's bad.

 

[Phranc & Open]

If Master Tseng is on board, everything will make sense and I see it as credible.

Is he really recording another record with Chiccarelli (according to Carmen's interview) at the moment or does your statement about 3 (!!!) records simply include all the material from the last album sessions until 2023.

 

[Odbmke]

If Master Tseng is on board, everything will make sense and I see it as credible.

Is he really recording another record with Chiccarelli at the moment or does your statement about 3 (!!!) records simply include all the material from the last album sessions until 2023.

The third I meant was World Peace. Which I get has been released, but you know, for about 3 weeks, 10 years ago. So you have those 3 albums plus all the extras and b-sides.

 

[JoeSellMozza]

You say again that the albums will 'never see the light of day', when of course, they will.

Right, Odbmke nows nothing more than we all. Maybe some indie label has made a good effort. It‘s hasn‘t been good enough for Moz. It‘s that easy.
The result „the albums will never see the light of day“ is pure frustration and speculation, not more not less - my dear little insider

 

[mabuk]

Marr has stated he has no intention of touring as The Smiths, has not toured as The Smiths, is currently not touring as The Smiths, turned down an offer to tour as The Smiths, is offering to sign away the possibility of independently touring as The Smiths. The only conclusion I can draw from the best evidence we have is that he definitely wants to tour as The Smiths (and maybe also Manfred Mann?).

 

[manfields]

lol why some of you believe a random poster as if it was gospel truth? Sorry, but this "source" seems biased.

 

[manfields]

I'm taking all this with a pinch of salt. No disrespect.

I agree. A part of me thinks the op is making up these rumors to "justified" his anger at Marr, and since some of his fans are so hungry to make Moz like the victim, they are eating this up.

 

[Anonymous]

Marr has stated he has no intention of touring as The Smiths, has not toured as The Smiths, is currently not touring as The Smiths, turned down an offer to tour as The Smiths, is offering to sign away the possibility of independently touring as The Smiths. The only conclusion I can draw from the best evidence we have is that he definitely wants to tour as The Smiths (and maybe also Manfred Mann?).

Exactly this. People are trying so hard to deflect blame from Moz and his management for this latest disaster. Ridiculous to blame Johnny or anyone else.

 

[sparacus]

Remember when there was a "Morrissey" twitter account for about 12 hours?

Marr uses his twitter account and it gets a lot of interest. I don’t know why Morrissey doesn’t do so. It could be because Twitter/X can be a bear pit and if he fires off a tweet about politics that is a bit controversial then he’ll get pounced on. He’s maybe been warned off it.

 

[TheSmiths_1985]

Also - let's say that Moz did decide to burn it all down in a huff, and blame his managers as a way of trying to distance himself from the mess. Wouldn't it be possible for 'new' management to get those similar types of deals again for him - in terms of Bonfire and the back catalogue etc?

Go through all the expensive legal back-and-forth, all over again, just to have Morrissey f*** it all up at the last minute? Again?

 

[Odbmke]

Right, Odbmke nows nothing more than we all. Maybe some indie label has made a good effort. It‘s hasn‘t been good enough for Moz. It‘s that easy.
The result „the albums will never see the light of day“ is pure frustration and speculation, not more not less - my dear little insider

You are sleeping. You do not want to believe. You are sleeping.