Morrissey Central "MANAGEMENT" (September 19, 2024)

Morrissey has severed all connections with Red Light Management/Pete Galli Management.

MANAGEMENT - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - MANAGEMENT

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

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Related item:

• Morrissey-solo: Morrissey is now being managed by Pete Galli of Red Light Management (February 12, 2024)

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not saying he didn't put out good material after 2006 (or 'solid', as you describe it) - just that it wasn't as great.

Also, the material is only one of many parts under discussion.

As everyone knows, it's his comments, views and the analysis of his character (and all that entails) which has pretty much overtaken everything since that time. So it doesn't actually matter that his voice is still great, or that the material is 'solid'.

In that sense, the decline can't be denied - and most people would acknowledge it.

I pointed out though that the media backlash is all just sound and fury, signifying nothing - and all of it will count for nothing when the media decide to celebrate him again - or, to be more specific, when a new generation of twenty-something journalists/podcasters comes along who want to go against the grain of (allegedly) popular opinion, as will inevitably happen.

In any case, it seems that you are talking in terms of commercial decline, which is indisputable and not likely to be significantly reversed until Morrissey dies, whereas I'm talking in terms of artistic decline, which I don't really think has been the case, or rather it's hard to judge, since he hasn't released much in recent years.

 

[Odbmke]

After the initial shock about the split from Red Light & Galli, I'm a little more relaxed after two nights of sleep. When are you going to split up with your girlfriend or your employer? Exactly, when you have something new! I hope that Morrissey has just cleared the way for something new. Both management and label. His statements before Vegas and Jesse's before the autumn tour would not have been so optimistic otherwise. So who says that we won't hear some very good news soon?

By the way, I don't believe anything the insider says. For example, the stuff about Marr and The Smiths is completely made up and I can't believe the fan club story either. These are just two examples. I had been wondering for a while (and have often said here) what Red Light did for Morrissey? In any case, nothing was visible to the outside world, all this stuff on Insta and FB definitely came from Sam, at least it was in keeping with his style.

So Moz fans, don't lose faith. We won't have to wait as long as the fans of The Cure. It's not over yet. Morrissey will come back!

Sam does his insta? Ok. Then why has it been untouched since management was fired? And why was nothing but tour flyers posted before mid-July?

As far as my credibility, I spoke with Davit T for nearly two hours yesterday and have receipts.

 

[The Alchemist]

I pointed out though that the media backlash is all just sound and fury, signifying nothing - and all of it will count for nothing when the media decide to celebrate him again - or, to be more specific, when a new generation of twenty-something journalists/podcasters comes along who want to go against the grain of (allegedly) popular opinion, as will inevitably happen.

In any case, it seems that you are talking in terms of commercial decline, which is indisputable and not likely to be significantly reversed until Morrissey dies, whereas I'm talking in terms of artistic decline, which I don't really think has been the case, or rather it's hard to judge, since he hasn't released much in recent years.

Define the 'decline' how you will.

Wilde's decline wasn't an artistic decline, but it was a damaging and irreversible decline nonetheless....

 

[Anonymous]

Define the 'decline' how you will.

Wilde's decline wasn't artistic either, but it was a damaging and irreversible decline nonetheless....

Which is why defining 'decline' matters. Artistic decline, commercial decline, bodily decline, reputational decline are four different conversations.

 

[Cornflakes]

I’d say the true downfall happened with the (music) press turning against him after the For Britain episode, which really hurt him and his career and he has yet to recover from it.

It wasn't the music press. There isn't really a music press anymore. It happened on social media, and before the Guardian had time to even boot up its computer. With grim irony, Morrissey has never had as high a profile as in those few days.

 

[The Alchemist]

It wasn't the music press. There isn't really a music press anymore. It happened on social media, and before the Guardian had time to even boot up its computer. With grim irony, Morrissey has never had as high a profile as in those few days.

It does seem to be more of a media, industry and wider public relations/reputational issue really (along with his actions and reactions to such problems, which have fuelled the fire at almost every turn)

What I'm saying is that despite creating some genuinely good material since 2006, on balance it has not been as great as pre-2006 in my opinion. With all the other distractions and the resulting frustrations he has communicated since that time, I think it has affected his head-space significantly, contributing to an inevitable and irrecoverable slow-motion downturn (despite being in great voice, and several other positive elements)

So for me, it's a combination of him not managing to get back to a higher high since 2006, but crucially his handling of affairs along the way since then (a lot of which was most likely borne out of a perpetual frustration that he wasn't able to achieve a return to the levels of success that he would obviously desire)

It gets to a point where it doesn't matter how good the material might be that you put out there, because the damage is already done (forever) - in that situation, anything positive you strive for will always be overshadowed by the 'other stuff' which will simply not go away.

I was positing that the absence of Negative Capability should certainly not be underestimated in how all of this has unfolded (or indeed in how the body of work as a whole might be assessed)

 

[The Alchemist]

I pointed out though that the media backlash is all just sound and fury, signifying nothing - and all of it will count for nothing when the media decide to celebrate him again - or, to be more specific, when a new generation of twenty-something journalists/podcasters comes along who want to go against the grain of (allegedly) popular opinion, as will inevitably happen.

In any case, it seems that you are talking in terms of commercial decline, which is indisputable and not likely to be significantly reversed until Morrissey dies, whereas I'm talking in terms of artistic decline, which I don't really think has been the case, or rather it's hard to judge, since he hasn't released much in recent years.

Interesting to think again about what you posted, but in different terms.

I'm going to ponder the two different aspects of decline - active lifetime decline is not the same as total legacy destruction, after all. Wilde's legacy is not really tarnished in any way by what occurred at the time.

So that remains as a separate debate really, doesn't it? - Essentially, how much of the controversy throughout his career will impact Morrissey's overall legacy? At the current time, that's incredibly difficult for any of us to quantify. Though we can of course always try to speculate.

My immediate thought is that certain historical figures have never recovered from particular 'crimes'. So it depends on how the 'crimes' are viewed by future generations I suppose.

 

[Les Tameside]

What was the thing that made him fall out with them again, does anyone have a link to whatever it was?

‘This Alarming Man’ front cover in ‘92, the first time. And then an interview write-up which focused on his anti-immigration views, in 2006.

I don’t know what possessed him to re-engage. Insane.

 

[Rufusindigo]

Interesting to think again about what you posted, but in different terms.

I'm going to ponder the two different aspects of decline - active lifetime decline is not the same as total legacy destruction, after all. Wilde's legacy is not really tarnished in any way by what occurred at the time.

So that remains as a separate debate really, doesn't it? - Essentially, how much of the controversy throughout his career will impact Morrissey's overall legacy? At the current time, that's incredibly difficult for any of us to quantify. Though we can of course always try to speculate.

My immediate thought is that certain historical figures have never recovered from particular 'crimes'. So it depends on how the 'crimes' are viewed by future generations I suppose.

I honestly don't think M's controversies are going to make any difference whatsoever to his legacy. His Smiths artistic legacy is absolutely secure, which I belive is what drives his detractors mad, and when his solo artistic legacy is re examined in retrospect I don't think anyone could deny there are some real gems there. His behaviour may cause many on here to face palm and eye roll multiple times a day, but the music speaks for itself. At the end of the day, the controversies will pale into insignificance. I recently took my son to see the Michael Jackson musical which was packed. I remember when the MJ allegations came out my son and his best friend were about 10 and they just thought it was all a bit of a laugh and carried on listening to the music....(not saying that is right by the way!). Now he's 20 and he and his mates have been through the same process with M, seeing him initially as a bit of a joke, then delving into his music and now loving him.

 

[Cornflakes]

It does seem to be more of a media, industry and wider public relations/reputational issue really (along with his actions and reactions to such problems, which have fuelled the fire at almost every turn)

What I'm saying is that despite creating some genuinely good material since 2006, on balance it has not been as great as pre-2006 in my opinion. With all the other distractions and the resulting frustrations he has communicated since that time, I think it has affected his head-space significantly, contributing to an inevitable and irrecoverable slow-motion downturn (despite being in great voice, and several other positive elements)

So for me, it's a combination of him not managing to get back to a higher high since 2006, but crucially his handling of affairs along the way since then (a lot of which was most likely borne out of a perpetual frustration that he wasn't able to achieve a return to the levels of success that he would obviously desire)

It gets to a point where it doesn't matter how good the material might be that you put out there, because the damage is already done (forever) - in that situation, anything positive you strive for will always be overshadowed by the 'other stuff' which will simply not go away.

I was positing that the absence of Negative Capability should certainly not be underestimated in how all of this has unfolded (or indeed in how the body of work as a whole might be assessed)

I agree with much of this, but the thing about the For Britain episode was that the reaction came immediately from his public/fanbase. There's wasn't, and didn't need to be, any spin or reaction from the media. People on social media started going "Morrissey supports a far-right party, what a c***" and before you could blink there were a million of them. He does have a problem with negative media coverage, but it isn't *the* problem.

 

[The Alchemist]

I agree with much of this, but the thing about the For Britain episode was that the reaction came immediately from his public/fanbase. There's wasn't, and didn't need to be, any spin or reaction from the media. People on social media started going "Morrissey supports a far-right party, what a c***" and before you could blink there were a million of them. He does have a problem with negative media coverage, but it isn't *the* problem.

I'd be inclined to agree.

The problem is the actions or words in the first place, then the follow-up that tends to come from the reaction they garner. Whether that be further similar controversial behaviour, as if to double down - or defensive moves to seemingly justify what originally occurred. In some cases he's opted for silence, which of course has the potential to be equally damaging.

The thing that makes the apparent absence of Negative Capability doubly interesting for me, is that Oscar Wilde is Morrissey's biggest influence, and Keats is also an influence.

That they both fully grasped the gravity of this significant concept and Morrissey has not, is quite fascinating to me.

 

[The Alchemist]

I honestly don't think M's controversies are going to make any difference whatsoever to his legacy. His Smiths artistic legacy is absolutely secure, which I belive is what drives his detractors mad, and when his solo artistic legacy is re examined in retrospect I don't think anyone could deny there are some real gems there. His behaviour may cause many on here to face palm and eye roll multiple times a day, but the music speaks for itself. At the end of the day, the controversies will pale into insignificance. I recently took my son to see the Michael Jackson musical which was packed. I remember when the MJ allegations came out my son and his best friend were about 10 and they just thought it was all a bit of a laugh and carried on listening to the music....(not saying that is right by the way!). Now he's 20 and he and his mates have been through the same process with M, seeing him initially as a bit of a joke, then delving into his music and now loving him.

You make some good and very valid points.

I agree with a lot of it, and it means that we're probably just having to deal with the disappointments of active lifetime decline. That is to say, we will arrive at a point when none of it matters.

Regardless, it's still interesting to think about how we got to the point in history we are currently in.

 

[The Alchemist]

As I mentioned though, what I understand now about Negative Capability has prompted me to reassess all of Morrissey's creative work and public persona (or indeed his true character; after all it's difficult to distinguish the two at times.... or is it?) - and to view things in a different light.

No longer am I blinded by fandom in that sense. From a critical perspective, I am finding it very revealing to approach it all again with fresh eyes and a new-found curiosity.

To be clear, I'm talking about the question of him being a true 'poet' and the level of true 'artistry' in his work.

It's quite apparent to me now that all of the smoke and mirrors over the years have served very well as a convenient distraction and diversion from those issues, even working to enhance a level of 'mystique' and 'myth' which can be easily confused for actual artistic merit or substance.

Obviously I'm not saying that he has none - I'm just reassessing in my own mind how much. And more importantly, questioning myself as to how much I previously believed he possessed.

It may not be the spectacular dizzy heights I once thought, that's all. And I suppose that's where it does potentially begin to impact things from a legacy perspective.

 

[Odbmke]

The recent decline is both artistic and professional.

Blaming Kristeen for canceling dates in 2014?
Releasing the WPINOYB singles without unique covers?
Shitting on Capitol 2 weeks after WPINOYB release in 2014?
The very low quality KMAL video in 2015?
The Supreme photo shoot nonsense in 2016?

Pepper in there 48 announcements, or announcements of announcements that never happened, and we end up where we are today.

 

[Odbmke]

Guys, we went from Peepholism to this:

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Kick them when they fall down …

 

[Les Tameside]

Kick them when they fall down …

No chance: Morrissey himself beats everyone to it.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

No chance: Morrissey himself beats everyone to it.

Yes and no, you see it here every day, so why do folks insist on contributing?

strange kicks, indeed.

 

[The Alchemist]

Kick them when they fall down …

He or a lot of fans would probably always find a way to say he is down because of 'something that's happened to him', or 'something that's been done to him'.

Which begs the question - by his own definition, when is he not down?

I.e. when is there ever a good time to offer up any form of criticism whatsoever, without being accused of kicking someone when they are down (when the person being scrutinised would always find a way to define themselves as already down, or under attack)

On that basis, as 'get out' clauses go, it's a pretty good one.

 

[DaveJCarr]

Maybe the idea of, again, working hard to come up with new songs only for Morrissey to say "Oh no. No, I don't like those..." doesn't appeal to Johnny anymore.

Or indeed vice versa: "Who Will Protect Us From the Police" and "Sure Enough the Telephone Rings" are not exactly hallmarks of lyrical virtuosity -Not that Marr is producing memorable or incisive lyrics either. They're not worse than current day Moz and (more alarmingly for Moz) his aren't markedly better