Morrissey Central "OPEN LETTER TO JOHNNY MARR." (January 25, 2022)

This is not a rant or an hysterical bombast. It is a polite and calmly measured request: Would you please stop mentioning my name in your interviews?

Would you please, instead, discuss your own career, your own unstoppable solo achievements and your own music?

If you can, would you please just leave me out of it?

The fact is: you don’t know me. You know nothing of my life, my intentions, my thoughts, my feelings. Yet you talk as if you were my personal psychiatrist with consistent and uninterrupted access to my instincts. We haven’t known each other for 35 years - which is many lifetimes ago. When we met you and I were not successful. We both helped each other become whatever it is we are today. Can you not just leave it at that? Must you persistently, year after year, decade after decade, blame me for everything … from the 2007 Solomon Islands tsunami to the dribble on your grandma’s chin ?

You found me inspirational enough to make music with me for 6 years. If I was, as you claim, such an eyesore monster, where exactly did this leave you? Kidnapped? Mute? Chained? Abducted by cross-eyed extraterrestrials? It was YOU who played guitar on ‘Golden Lights’ - not me.

Yes, we all know that the British press will print anything you say about me as long as it’s cruel and savage. But you’ve done all that. Move on. It’s as if you can’t uncross your own legs without mentioning me. Our period together was many lifetimes ago, and a lot of blood has streamed under the bridge since then. There comes a time when you must take responsibility for your own actions and your own career, with which I wish you good health to enjoy. Just stop using my name as click-bait. I have not ever attacked your solo work or your solo life, and I have openly applauded your genius during the days of ‘Louder than bombs’ and ‘Strangeways, here we come’, yet you have positioned yourself ever-ready as rent-a-quote whenever the press require an ugly slant on something I half-said during the last glacial period as the Colorado River began to carve out the Grand Canyon. Please stop. It is 2022, not 1982.

Morrissey. January 2022.

OPEN LETTER TO JOHNNY MARR. - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - OPEN LETTER TO JOHNNY MARR.

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY

www.morrisseycentral.com

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Marr, January 26th:


Some related posts moved to this thread: Johnny Marr responds to Morrissey's open letter via Twitter (January 26, 2022)

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Related item:

• Express: "The Smiths split ‘bruised me emotionally, it turned to s*** with Morrissey’ – Johnny Marr" via Uncut Magazine - January 13, 2022

Media items:

• BBC: Morrissey calls on Johnny Marr to 'stop using my name as clickbait' - January 26, 2022
• Daily Mail: There is a fight that never goes out: Morrissey accuses Johnny Marr of 'using my name as click bait' and insists The Smiths bandmate 'knows nothing of my life' in scathing letter - January 26, 2022
• Far Out: Morrissey pens scathing open letter to Johnny Marr: "You don't know me" - January 25, 2022
• Fiona Dodwell: "From Morrissey to Marr: Why THAT Open Letter Was a Long Time Coming" (January 26, 2022)
• Guardian: ‘You don’t know me’: Morrissey accuses Johnny Marr of using him for clickbait - January 26, 2022
• Independent: ‘Move on’: Morrissey tells Johnny Marr to stop talking about him in interviews - January 26, 2022
• MEN: 'Move on. It's as if you can’t uncross your own legs without mentioning me': Morrissey tells Johnny Marr to stop talking about him - January 26, 2022
• NME: Morrissey asks Johnny Marr to stop mentioning him in interviews - January 25, 2022
• Rolling Stone: Still Ill: Morrissey Really Wants Johnny Marr to Stop Talking About Him - January 26, 2022
• Stereogum: Morrissey To Johnny Marr: Keep My Name Out Of Your Mouth - January 25, 2022
• The Telegraph: Why Morrissey and Johnny Marr hate each other (paywalll) - January 27, 2022 (transcript at Yahoo!)

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Just a guess - reunion's off
FWD.

 

[Johnny who?]

In the Mike Joyce video posted in one of these threads, you can see he handles some inflammatory questions about Morrissey with much more grace and dignity than Marr does.
Marr can't do that because he is just too bitter, he refuses to move on. He sees what he lost, he sees that he threw away his career.
That is all Morrissey is asking him to do, move on with your own life and career and leave me out of it. It's a reasonable request.
Marr is like that ex girlfriend who will not go away and is constantly making public jabs. I had a friend who went thru that, his ex is a 'writer' and she was always making not so veiled derogatory references to him. Finally, he sent her an email asking her to stop and she quotes the email in her writings now and refers to him now as a 'critic'. She won't let go. It's pathetic to see.
I do think this had to be done publicly so none of what Morrissey said would be distorted.
I think Morrissey is correct when he says Marr made a very terrible choice and refuses to take responsibility for it so he blames Morrissey.

 

[Vegan Cro Spirit .888]

In the Mike Joyce video posted in one of these threads, you can see he handles some inflammatory questions about Morrissey with much more grace and dignity than Marr does.
Marr can't do that because he is just too bitter, he refuses to move on. He sees what he lost, he sees that he threw away his career.
That is all Morrissey is asking him to do, move on with your own life and career and leave me out of it. It's a reasonable request.
Marr is like that ex girlfriend who will not go away and is constantly making public jabs. I had a friend who went thru that, his ex is a 'writer' and she was always making not so veiled derogatory references to him. Finally, he sent her an email asking her to stop and she quotes the email in her writings now and refers to him now as a 'critic'. She won't let go. It's pathetic to see.
I do think this had to be done publicly so none of what Morrissey said would be distorted.
I think Morrissey is correct when he says Marr made a very terrible choice and refuses to take responsibility for it so he blames Morrissey.

1oo percent jilted the Pep no doubt about it.
this may whats up with the LePep he may be in love with Moz
the signs are all there, bizarre behavior, going to the ocean with tiny little britches and posting for all to see
"im making a supergroup with a pair of twats so we can make
a I Told You So Tour" Pep, Moz is grown, as if Moz would take note, like a schoolgirl what shanda!!

and Macca bounced him

 

[Anonymous]

Why should he refuse to any reasonable questions from journalists? Moz is apparently so paranoid about Johnny that - according to several posters here - even failing to mention him is seen as some kind of public attack - eg naming Isaac Brock as the greatest lyricist he's ever worked with. That opinion may seem like lunacy to most of us, but if that's Johnny's personal opinion - so what? Who gives a toss? Is he supposed to lie and say "Morrissey was the bestest at everything?"

Johnny should definitely double down on Isaac Brock #1 lyricist and add Bernard Sumner best singer, Bryan Ferry most handsome and Chrissie Hynde the sexiest. Why should he give that sad clown M** any more press. Johnny should firmly take the reins of the Smiths legacy and declare himself the one true genius, not the M- word!

 

[Vegan Cro Spirit .888]

Johnny should definitely double down on Isaac Brock #1 lyricist and add Bernard Sumner best singer, Bryan Ferry most handsome and Chrissie Hynde the sexiest. Why should he give that sad clown M** any more press. Johnny should firmly take the reins of the Smiths legacy and declare himself the one true genius, not the M- word!

 

[The Scarlet Fingernail]

This is not hysterical bombast - goes on to reference tsunamis and spittle on chins.

 

[Anonymous]

...






Yes, but no need for the player (Marr) to give them (media) the ball (Morrissey comments) to play and ‘win’ with.


If they don’t have the Morrissey comments then they can’t play their game of turning it into clickbait.

Why is this so difficult for you to understand.

But he can say what he wants. Why should Morrissey prevent him from saying what he wants?

Are you trying to cancel JM's opinions? What happened to the freedom of speech claims that so many Morrissey fans screamed about when people were attacking Morrissey for his views?

 

[Anonymous]

In the Mike Joyce video posted in one of these threads, you can see he handles some inflammatory questions about Morrissey with much more grace and dignity than Marr does.
Marr can't do that because he is just too bitter, he refuses to move on. He sees what he lost, he sees that he threw away his career.
That is all Morrissey is asking him to do, move on with your own life and career and leave me out of it. It's a reasonable request.
Marr is like that ex girlfriend who will not go away and is constantly making public jabs. I had a friend who went thru that, his ex is a 'writer' and she was always making not so veiled derogatory references to him. Finally, he sent her an email asking her to stop and she quotes the email in her writings now and refers to him now as a 'critic'. She won't let go. It's pathetic to see.
I do think this had to be done publicly so none of what Morrissey said would be distorted.
I think Morrissey is correct when he says Marr made a very terrible choice and refuses to take responsibility for it so he blames Morrissey.

The irony of someone claiming JM threw away his career when talking about M & JM.

I think the one person who stands out as having thrown away his career currently is definitely Morrissey.

He has lost a large percentage of his fan base, has no record contract, has no credible management team and has a brand that is deemed without the business as toxic to say the least.

JM has a record contract, has had many successful collaborations over the years, successful film work, and is very comfortable wealth wise and seems far happier generally and seems to have control over his own career and the direction he wants to go in and be in.

Also the irony re your comments about JM commenting on people. Morrissey has made a life based around derogatory commentary about other artists in print and from the stage and he has also banged on about the freedom to speak his views and then the outrage when media have attacked his views as cancel culture.

But when JM mentions Morrissey in an interview when he is always going to be asked about Morrissey and he says he is unable to pick up the phone and talk to him suddenly there is outrage.

If Morrissey is entitled to speak his derogatory commentary about other artists and speak about his views then surely the same entitlement is allowed for JM or would you rather cancel him?

What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

But he can say what he wants.

Sure. Of course he could.

Why should Morrissey prevent him from saying what he wants?

He can’t prevent or stop Marr. He and everyone knows that.

Are you trying to cancel JM's opinions?

No one can. Everyone knows this, even Morrissey.

What happened to the freedom of speech claims that so many Morrissey fans screamed about when people were attacking Morrissey for his views?

Yes, what happened to it?

Morrissey is just asking. Not demanding followed by threats.

He knows it’s up to Marr to make the correct decision. He just finally
wants it known that he’s not happy about it.

 

[Vegan Cro Spirit .888]

well, LePep has yet to HAVE a career to throw away. Playing opening sets in the USA to the fing sucky Killers is analogous to being Blotto in the American Pie movie.
Manchesters shame, this Pep
maybe he can produce the next Jr LePew 'album'

 

[The Scarlet Fingernail]

Sixth form drivel. Much like his autobiography, novel and just about every lyric since you are the quarry. Someone has to edit him

 

[Anonymous]

Sure. Of course he could.



He can’t prevent or stop Marr. He and everyone knows that.



No one can. Everyone knows this, even Morrissey.



Yes, what happened to it?

Morrissey is just asking. Not demanding followed by threats.

He knows it’s up to Marr to make the correct decision. He just finally
wants it known that he’s not happy about it.

Well I am sure not many people have been happy at being the target of Morrissey's attacks over the years either, the likes of Kylie, Elton John, anybody who dared to right anything about him, Robert Smith, etc etc etc the list is way too large to be repeated in full here.

It is just tough. Part and parcel of being famous and more so for being considered infamous.

Long let people continue to speak as they feel.

 

[Anonymous]

Sixth form drivel. Much like his autobiography, novel and just about every lyric since you are the quarry. Someone has to edit him

oh come now. Surely the likes of Kick the Bride Down the Aisle stands as a piece of lyrical genius.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Sixth form drivel. Much like his autobiography, novel and just about every lyric since you are the quarry. Someone has to edit him

oh come now. Surely the likes of Kick the Bride Down the Aisle stands as a piece of lyrical genius.

Yeah let’s hope Moz can reach Marr’s high standard of lyric writing and the use of language in general one day.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Well I am sure not many people have been happy at being the target of Morrissey's attacks over the years either, the likes of Kylie, Elton John, anybody who dared to right anything about him, Robert Smith, etc etc etc the list is way too large to be repeated in full here.

I’m sorry you’re a fan of these artists
or anyone that Morrissey has criticized.

It is just tough. Part and parcel of being famous and more so for being considered infamous.

So, it’s alright if Morrissey criticizes
those that you mentioned above then, no?

Long let people continue to speak as they feel.

Yes, the open letter was Morrissey speaking as he feels, so why should you have an issue with Morrissey’s right to speak freely?


And, Marr can continue to do so also. Morrissey isn’t stopping Marr, how can he? Marr’s a big boy, the decision is his.

 

[SuedeMoz]

This is true, but I think the crucial difference here is that Morrissey doesn't need great music to create songs. Take a song like 'Boxers' for example. Great song, but is it great music? Not really. And yes, his solo career hasn't had the consistency of The Smiths, but then The Smiths only last about 5 years, whereas his solo career is now 35 years old. While everyone will disagree on what are his solo highpoints, I think most fans would probably feel they could collate a substantial body of Morrissey solo songs that are as good as the best of The Smiths - not as musically distinctive, but still as good.

That is a fair point that Morrissey has turned some songs with OK to mediocre music into good songs. However when we look at the Morrissey A-Z vs The Smiths threads... I believe we'll see more members rating 10/10 songs in The Smiths thread than the Morrissey threads... and that's with far fewer songs.

I'm a big fan of a lot of Morrissey's solo work especially from 1998-1995 and a few things after that. It just gets tiresome when you read threads here that want to claim that The Smiths (musically) were 80-90% Morrissey. If that were true then his solo work should have equaled or even surpassed that of The Smiths. In quantity sure it has, but it would be hard to argue in quality it has.

 

[Anonymous]

Sure. Of course he could.



He can’t prevent or stop Marr. He and everyone knows that.



No one can. Everyone knows this, even Morrissey.



Yes, what happened to it?

Morrissey is just asking. Not demanding followed by threats.

He knows it’s up to Marr to make the correct decision. He just finally
wants it known that he’s not happy about it.

Moz shamelessly wanted the press and to smear Johnny Marr. Calculating, cruel, dressed up in "poor me, I'm a victim" language. Despicable.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah let’s hope Moz can reach Marr’s high standard of lyric writing and the use of language in general one day.

And lets hope Morrissey can write music and play guitar in general one day.

If you are going to make such nonsense comparisons then at least compare like for like from both sides.

This has nothing to do with any school boy bragging as to who is better at what. It is about someone having the freedom to speak about whatever he is asked in an interview and the freedom to talk about whatever he wants without someone asking him to stop it.

Long may he continue to speak his mind.

It is not the first time any artists split up and dont exactly see eye to eye and it being talked about in interviews or books or whatever. It is a common thing to happen and it will continue to happen and who really cares if one side doesnt like it. Tough shit. Take it and ignore it and carry on.

For someone who has dished out so much derogatory commentary over the years it is odd that he doesnt seem to understand that is how it works and happens when in the public eye.

All that he has done is fuel the fire. He really should try to find a Public Relations agent who may be able to advise him on how to react (or turn the other cheek) to such part and parcel media attention.

His fans may have loved the open letter but it isn't them he should be trying to impress, it is the large swathes of fans who walked and the general public image and the reputation of his brand within the music business that he should be more concerned about.

If the open letter had been full of the worst commentary you can be sured all his followers on here and elsewhere would have still come back saying it was brilliant but who is he writing to really. He wasn't in an interview. He could have quite easily written to JM privately but no it is another flawed PR attempt to gain admiration which isn't really going to work from quarters he needs lost support from.

No management team or record company will want to do business with this kind of continual media attention and without that support the career is pretty difficult to continue in any effective way.

 

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry you’re a fan of these artists
or anyone that Morrissey has criticized.




So, it’s alright if Morrissey criticizes
those that you mentioned above then, no?




Yes, the open letter was Morrissey speaking as he feels, so why should you have an issue with Morrissey’s right to speak freely?


And, Marr can continue to do so also. Morrissey isn’t stopping Marr, how can he? Marr’s a big boy, the decision is his.

Pretty sure I never said who I was a fan of. But you can put whatever imaginary words you get a kick out of in between the words I actually wrote. I care not.

I have no issue with either party writing whatever they want about each other but in your posts you seem to have a problem with it and have almost implied you can't listen to The Smiths any more because of what JM has said.

That of course is your choice as it is both of their freedoms to write whatever they want whenever they want to.

Now what outsiders may see from this is JM answering questions in an interview and then Morrissey writing a letter that he felt obliged to make fully public instead of private asking him to not talking about him. To an outsider it just looks a little purile. If he had just ignored it no outsiders would probably have even noticed or would not have probably chosen to read such interviews. Now everyone sees the whining and it just looks daft.

 

[Bizarro]

Well I am sure not many people have been happy at being the target of Morrissey's attacks over the years either, the likes of Kylie, Elton John, anybody who dared to right anything about him, Robert Smith, etc etc etc the list is way too large to be repeated in full here.

It is just tough. Part and parcel of being famous and more so for being considered infamous.

Long let people continue to speak as they feel.

The difference is Morrissey isn't mentioning them in almost EVERY interview.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Moz shamelessly wanted the press and to smear Johnny Marr.

and in return it can also be said that Marr knew the reason why he was being asked to do interviews at all, and so he’d sometimes throw the publication a Morrissey/Smiths-split comment to keep those interviews coming.

Calculating, cruel, dressed up in "poor me, I'm a victim" language. Despicable.

On the contrary, it can be said that it was hilarious, genius and about time.