Questlove Supreme / YouTube: Johnny Marr interview; Smiths mentions throughout

Questlove talks to Marr for 1.5 hours - reminiscing & Smiths mentions throughout.
FWD.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

But if Marr ((or Moz), but Marr for now, decides he and Moz share enough important political differences that he doesn't want to make art together with Moz, (or perform with him. that's certainly a valid choice, right? Should they sublimate their own desires for the sake of the reunion crowds?

I think it would be interesting if artists that have different political views tried coming together for the sake of art, expressing and creating together may make them realize that they have more in common than they first thought.
And through this shared expression, they also might remember why they came together in the first place, which was to make great art, in regards to a Smiths reunion.

I think they're both capable of deciding what they want to do, regardless of what 'good guys' or 'bad guys' around them might say or do

of course. No one here is forcing anyone to do what they don’t want to do.

I’m not talking about good guys or bad guys
‘around them’. I’m talking about how people let their beliefs (who’s right/who’s wrong) become obstacles that stand in the way of them simply coming together to make music.

 

[William Fisher]

Timestamp?

1 hour 29 minutes

 

[DaveJCarr]

I think it would be interesting if artists that have different political views tried coming together for the sake of art, expressing and creating together may make them realize that they have more in common than they first thought.
And through this shared expression, they also might remember why they came together in the first place, which was to make great art, in regards to a Smiths reunion.

It could happen that way, but the reverse is true as well. Time could easily reveal to them just how little they have in common and how different they maybe always have been. The "have always ben always have been different people" is something they've both increasingly voiced over the years.

I have a hard time believing the same duo that wrote The Queen is Dead" "Ask" "Death of a Disco Dancer, "Meat is Murder" could come together and write more torch songs or what have you, those songs are very pointed and political Hall & Oates? Lennon and McCartney? Oasis? Sure

Morrissey and Marr? I don't see it. And they have to want to do it, which at least one party does not

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

It could happen that way, but the reverse is true as well. Time could easily reveal to them just how little they have in common and how different they maybe always have been. The "have always ben always have been different people" is something they've both increasingly voiced over the years.

But not everyone has time.

I have a hard time believing the same duo that wrote The Queen is Dead" "Ask" "Death of a Disco Dancer, "Meat is Murder" could come together and write more torch songs or what have you, those songs are very pointed and political Hall & Oates? Lennon and McCartney? Oasis? Sure
Morrissey and Marr? I don't see it. And they have to want to do it, which at least one party does not

Sorry, I was simply talking about them coming together for reunion shows.

 

[DaveJCarr]

But not everyone has time.


Sorry, I was simply talking about them coming together for reunion shows.

Yes. They are both mortal - and the time for a reunion is quickly vanishing, but it is their time to spend.

If they want to come together fine, but doing so just to perform those old songs? As Morrissey himself has said, The past is different country.

 

[goinghome]

Huffpost has just contacted Johnny Marr for additional comment on the prospect of a reconciliation between him and Morrissey, that would be sufficient to reform, as such, The Smiths
- https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/en...appen-johnny-marr_uk_66d593d9e4b078fcd931410f

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Yes. They are both mortal - and the time for a reunion is quickly vanishing, but it is their time to spend.

Again. No one, and certainly not I, is trying to stop or even believe that they can stop anyone
from having choices or following through with their decisions.

It’s every one’s life to wreck their own way.

If they want to come together fine, but doing so just to perform those old songs?

We don’t know exactly what their individual reasons are for coming to together would be if they did.

As Morrissey himself has said, The past is different country.

I don’t know the context of that which was said by him. But a reunion doesn’t always need to be looked at as people trying to recreate a past. That’s what tribute bands are for.

 

[SteveWS]

It's a bit like expecting Stewart Lee to go on a stand-up tour with Jim Davidson.

it's been very beneficial to Johnny, this notion that he had no idea about Morrissey's more-challenging political views during the Smiths' time. And it's about as convincing (ahem) as his perennial claims that he 'hadn't quite figured that one out yet' whenever asked about Morrissey lyrics which appeared to be addressed to Johnny personally.

Ironically, it is perhaps Johnny Marr who was the most political of the pair; as in 'politician' - a byword for someone who has few actual convictions and who is willing to be both hypocritical and forever open to compromise for the sake of their ambition, wealth and advancement.

 

[Anonymous]

Does he say anything new or interesting in this video, or is it just the same old "..and then I joined The Krankies - best band I've ever played in"-type guff he's said a million times before?

 

[DaveJCarr]

it's been very beneficial to Johnny, this notion that he had no idea about Morrissey's more-challenging political views during the Smiths' time. And it's about as convincing (ahem) as his perennial claims that he 'hadn't quite figured that one out yet' whenever asked about Morrissey lyrics which appeared to be addressed to Johnny personally.

Ironically, it is perhaps Johnny Marr who was the most political of the pair; as in 'politician' - a byword for someone who has few actual convictions and who is willing to be both hypocritical and forever open to compromise for the sake of their ambition, wealth and advancement.

So, out of curiosity would you be more satisfied if Marr said something like "Yeah he said some of that nationalist/nativist stuff back then, and at the time, it seemed right/plausible to me, but that's not a position that appeals to me. Now that I understand the scope of what he says, I don't think it was ever representative of my views. If he does that, I can see the "woke mob" accusations dly from everywhere. And also. "see Moz was never and has never been racist/xenophobic or whatever, and if he was Johnny agreed with him, at one point."


It seems to me that whatever Marr does/says in that regard, he's susceptible to some kind of hypocrite label. What's the line between hypocrite, and genuinely changing one's beliefs upon reflection etc for you

To me, having a mind open to revision is at least as valuable as a certain kind of resolute consistency. Moz has certainly gotten less nuanced and more blunt in his public comments and political commentary and songwriting, since the Smiths

 

[Mosserray]

it's been very beneficial to Johnny, this notion that he had no idea about Morrissey's more-challenging political views during the Smiths' time. And it's about as convincing (ahem) as his perennial claims that he 'hadn't quite figured that one out yet' whenever asked about Morrissey lyrics which appeared to be addressed to Johnny personally.

Ironically, it is perhaps Johnny Marr who was the most political of the pair; as in 'politician' - a byword for someone who has few actual convictions and who is willing to be both hypocritical and forever open to compromise for the sake of their ambition, wealth and advancement.

If you're saying that Johnny Marr is someone without actual convictions and values, then why would he pass up a very lucrative offer in order to stand by his values? Yet Morrissey who said he would Never reunite the Smiths caves in to the almighty dollar. Who is the one with convictions?

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Does he say anything new or interesting in this video, or is it just the same old "..and then I joined The Krankies - best band I've ever played in"-type guff he's said a million times before?

Actually. Out of all the bands Johnny played in post Smiths, The Krankies were by far the best.

 

[SteveWS]

So, out of curiosity would you be more satisfied if Marr said something like "Yeah he said some of that nationalist/nativist stuff back then, and at the time, it seemed right/plausible to me, but that's not a position that appeals to me. Now that I understand the scope of what he says, I don't think it was ever representative of my views. If he does that, I can see the "woke mob" accusations dly from everywhere. And also. "see Moz was never and has never been racist/xenophobic or whatever, and if he was Johnny agreed with him, at one point."


It seems to me that whatever Marr does/says in that regard, he's susceptible to some kind of hypocrite label. What's the line between hypocrite, and genuinely changing one's beliefs upon reflection etc for you

To me, having a mind open to revision is at least as valuable as a certain kind of resolute consistency. Moz has certainly gotten less nuanced and more blunt in his public comments and political commentary and songwriting, since the Smiths

While I think that Johnny is sincere about his political opinions, I also think it benefits him - career-wise - if Morrissey is cast by many as 'iredeemable' whereas he is portrayed by many as the near-faultless alternative. For all that Morrissey may indeed have hoisted himself upon his own petard, Johnny's left him lonely on that limb for the sake of JM's own interests. And not for the first time either - there were sound reasons beyond show-off, sarcastic prose why M wrote in Autobiography so scathingly about JM's High Court u-turn.

Joe Moss apparently once advised Johnny to make sure that he would be the first to leave the band, advice that basically translates to 'Look after number one'; Johnny always has.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

If you're saying that Johnny Marr is someone without actual convictions and values, then why would he pass up a very lucrative offer in order to stand by his values?

Is that why he ignored the offer? To stand by his values? Did he comment on it recently?

Yet Morrissey who said he would Never reunite the Smiths caves in to the almighty dollar. Who is the one with convictions?

Is that why Morrissey really wants to play on stage with Johnny again?

 

[SteveWS]

If you're saying that Johnny Marr is someone without actual convictions and values, then why would he pass up a very lucrative offer in order to stand by his values? Yet Morrissey who said he would Never reunite the Smiths caves in to the almighty dollar. Who is the one with convictions?

I'm not really saying that Johnny lacks those things; just that, I feel, he has often been self-serving as Morrissey undoubtedly has.

When we consider all the possible elements in this near-'chess game' between the two in the court of public opinion - something that has practically gone on since the split - then we should surely be aware that this whole reunion business isn't really about the proffered money or even the awkward politics: instead, it's arguably a matter of reputations, statuses, personalities, psychologies and personal pride.

 

[Anonymous]

Is that why Morrissey really wants to play on stage with Johnny again?

As well as the cash, Morrissey really craves the adulation and respect of the public and critics that he feels he has earned. Instead, his audience has massively shrunk, he can't get a record deal, barely gets played on radio, is slagged off by a large chunk of the public as a right-wing nutjob, and sees Johnny getting all the plaudits for his old band. He's had several years waiting for public opinion to turn back in his favour, and it hasn't yet. I feel like at this point in time, he feels like Johnny is the only person who can save his career, and turn things round, and propel him from zero to hero again.

What are his alternatives? Spend the next decade touring smaller and smaller venues, whilst amassing a collection of new studio albums that no one wants to release?

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

As well as the cash, Morrissey really craves the adulation and respect of the public and critics that he feels he has earned. Instead, his audience has massively shrunk, he can't get a record deal, barely gets played on radio, is slagged off by a large chunk of the public as a right-wing nutjob, and sees Johnny getting all the plaudits for his old band. He's had several years waiting for public opinion to turn back in his favour, and it hasn't yet. I feel like at this point in time, he feels like Johnny is the only person who can save his career, and turn things round, and propel him from zero to hero again.

I don’t agree. I still believe he gets enough adulation and respect from the shows he does.
Even if a reunion happened, I believe he would still find satisfaction in going back to solo shows.

What are his alternatives? Spend the next decade touring smaller and smaller venues, whilst amassing a collection of new studio albums that no one wants to release?

if so? So be it.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I'm not really saying that Johnny lacks those things; just that, I feel, he has often been self-serving as Morrissey undoubtedly has.

When we consider all the possible elements in this near-'chess game' between the two in the court of public opinion - something that has practically gone on since the split - then we should surely be aware that this whole reunion business isn't really about the proffered money or even the awkward politics: instead, it's arguably a matter of reputations, statuses, personalities, psychologies and personal pride.

Don’t know, but IMO, I think the open letter really hurt Johnny. And so I don’t blame him for ignoring the offer. Their feud was made public, and I don’t think Marr is ready to forget & forgive that quickly. Maybe that’s not the only reason, but I’m speculating it might be a major one.

 

[Cornflakes]

Must have been a pretty bloody massive offer for Moz to have had even a slight expectation Johnny would bite.

 

[SteveWS]

Don’t know, but IMO, I think the open letter really hurt Johnny. And so I don’t blame him for ignoring the offer. Their feud was made public, and I don’t think Marr is ready to forget & forgive that quickly. Maybe that’s not the only reason, but I’m speculating it might be a major one.

Yep.

Beneath all that drama, and even beneath the various compliments that have often flowed between them publicly, is perhaps something unspoken: each of them feels that they alone were mostly responsible for the Smiths' success and brilliance; and yet decorum and modesty dictates that each feels obliged to share the praise with the other. They're grateful to one another, certainly, and aware what each of them owes to the other; but this civility is in some ways a facade.