W♥M

Remembering Andy Rourke

The Smiths: Stop Me if You Think You’ve Heard This One Before (signed by Andy Rourke, Mike Joyce, and Johnny Marr) Official Statement ANDREW MICHAEL ROURKE “ANDY ROURKE” Passed away at age 59 January 17, 1964 - May 19, 2023 MAY 19, 2023 (New York, NY) -- It is with deep sadness that we announce that Andy Rourke has passed away in the early hours today at age 59 in New York City at Memorial Sloan Kettering after a lengthy illness with pancreatic cancer. Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time. Read More Andy Rourke First, this is indie dance club was celebrating its 14 Year Anniversary, and, second, guest DJ, Andy Rourke is the bassist of one of my favorite 80s band, The Smiths…. The Smiths Sad news earlier today as the world found out that Andy Rourke, former bassist for The Smiths, passed away at age 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Center in New York. .…

The news of Andy Rourke’s death came to me suddenly on Friday. I had no idea the former The Smiths bassist was dying… but on retrospect, I should have seen it coming. Especially since I wrote about how Rourke and Johnny Marr came together to produce “Strong Forever” in Jan 2023. The two were friends since the age of 13, before joining The Smiths, and it was likely a dying man’s last request.

I’ve met Rourke before, at the first The Smiths Convention in Los Angeles in 1997. I have photos of Rourke and I, but this was before digital cameras, so the photos are in a photo album somewhere in my storage. I’ll have to dig for them at a later time and digitalize them for easier access.

What I can tell you is that they were nice when we met as fans, getting our albums and singles signed by them. I had them sign my “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before”, one of the last official releases in the UK and Japan (The Smiths’ singles were rarely released in America). I would later meet Johnny Marr and had them sign the same single. One day I hope to see Morrissey and have him sign the sleeve…

So, here’s a trivia, Rourke continued to work with Morrissey after the Smiths broke up. He wrote two of my favorite B-Sides, “Get Off the Stage” and “Girl Least Likely To”… but he also wrote my least favorite Morrissey song, “Yes I Am Blind” (and deaf too apparently after hearing that song). You can’t blame Rourke entirely, as with these collaborations, he would compose the music and then Morrissey would then add his lyrics to it.

The two biggest “bass” songs in The Smiths library are “This Charming Man” (New York Mix) and “Barbarism Begins At Home” (especially hearing a live version). The former is a rare remix. You see, DJ François Kevorkian remixed the song in 1983 for the nightclubbers and was pressed for NY club DJs. Morrissey hated the song, and had the song pulled out of circulation, according to the Peepholism book by Jo Slee.

The remix, which featured really heavy emphasis on Andy Rourke’s bassline, was lost to obscurity. I actually didn’t discover the remix until the 1992 re-issue of “This Charming Man” single… and it was a song unlike any Smiths song! Again, it’s a very bass-y mix, and it was almost laughable that it’s the bassist’s song of choice when he DJed, live in person, at the 14th Anniversary of Transmission in 2015.

It’s sad to see that with Rourke’s death, there will never, truly be a Smiths reunion. Everyone knew it would never happen, but now with one of the band member dead, perhaps it’s time for the remaining three to bury the hatchet.

In the meantime, we’ll always have The Smiths’ music… and go ahead and put on that New York remix of “This Charming Man”, in honor of the great Andy Rourke.

Note: Tomorrow, May 22, is Morrissey’s birthday... “I've come to wish you an unhappy birthday.”

Mike Joyce’s statement:

I don’t think Andy realised just how good a bass player he was. I don’t think Andy ever really embraced just how momentous his contribution towards music is. I don’t think he ever grasped that and realised that. He was such a self-effacing character, he never saw himself as a great bass player because it was so effortless for him and so easy for him. He just put the bass on and magic would happen.

Johnny Marr’s statement:

Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans.

Morrissey’s statement:

Sometimes one of the most radical things you can do is to speak clearly. When someone dies, out come the usual blandishments … as if their death is there to be used. I’m not prepared to do this with Andy. I just hope … wherever Andy has gone … that he’s OK. He will never die as long as his music is heard. He didn’t ever know his own power, and nothing that he played had been played by someone else. His distinction was so terrific and unconventional and he proved it could be done. He was also very, very funny and very happy, and post-Smiths, he kept a steady identity - never any manufactured moves. I suppose, at the end of it all, we hope to feel that we were valued. Andy need not worry about that.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

R.I.P. Andy Rourke (The Smiths bassist)

Read more Musicians who died in 2023

R.I.P. ANDY ROURKE

Sad news earlier today as the world found out that Andy Rourke, former bassist for The Smiths, passed away at age 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Center in New York.

As one-fourth of one of the most influential bands of the 1980’s, his bass lines were often very recognizable and along with drummer Mike Joyce provided the vital musical backbone to so many memorable hit songs. “He didn’t ever know his own power, and nothing that he played had been played by someone else,” Morrissey has posted in tribute on his own site.

Andrew Rourke was born in Manchester, England on Jan. 17, 1964, to an English father and Irish mother and would receive an acoustic guitar from his parents at age 7, that would help define the rest of his life. He would meet future guitarist and band mate Johnny Marr in school at age 11 to begin a life-long friendship that would first pay dividends after The Smiths formed in 1982 and Marr suggested his childhood friend after other bassists weren’t working out for the group.

The Smiths’ first Top 10 hit in the UK would be “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and a meteoric rise to success, would follow soon after. But, as quick as the rise was, so was the fall, as Morrissey fired Rourke (famously via postcard), due to continuing drug use, but Rourke would soon rejoin until the group’s permanent disbanding in 1987.

Never paid as equal partners, Rourke and Joyce would soon after sue their former bandmates for a more favorable share of profits, with Rourke eventually settling out of court, while Joyce’s suit proceeded. Any bad feelings soon must have become bygones, as Rourke would guest on Morrissey solo tracks such as 1989’s “Interesting Drug” and “Last of the Famous International Playboys” from 1990.

Rourke would continue playing bass on albums from others, even touring with Badly Drawn Boy and co-forming Jetlag, which became D.A.R.K.,even calling the late Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries as a one-time member. After O'Riordan’s death, Rourke formed Blitz Vega with guitarist/vocalist Kav Sandhu to release a batch of singles including Nov. 2022's "Strong Forever" which featured (you guessed it), Johnny Marr as guest guitarist. He would also start a second career as a club DJ, which is when we saw him spin back in 2015 at First Avenue in Minneapolis.

“Andy will be remembered as a kind and beautiful soul by those who knew him and as a supremely gifted musician by music fans. We request privacy at this sad time.”, the issued statement regarding his death reads in part.

Andy Rourke with DJ Jake Rudh at First Avenue, Minneapolis MN 2015

John C ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

East, West, under the Ocean

Read More Herman’s Hermits Dillon Francis and Yung Gravy with Kittens, Jan. 26, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. $35-$48 Herman’s Hermits, Jan. 28, Ameristar. $35-$50 Fortune Feimster, Jan. 29, Uptown. $29.50-$92 …

Herman’s Hermits
hermanshermits.com

“East West” is the sixteenth single by Herman’s Hermits. The single landed in December 1966, barely making it on the top 30 UK (and US) singles chart. While it was a fine song, it clearly meant something to a young Morrissey, as he would cover the song as a B-Side to his awful single, “Ouija Board, Ouija Board”. Morrissey’s version does change the lyrics around, notably, “Lush girls, older and dying, Sighing and crying…” and “Time flew, I wanted to see you somehow I could not do, because of success. What a strange life this can be!”

East, West, over the ocean
Perpetual motion, travelling around
No rest, singing and playing
Night out and day in, doing the rounds
What a great life it must seem
Swell joints, everything classy
Nothing that's passe', only the best
Lush girls ogling and eyeing
Crying and sighing, this is success
What a great life it must seem

But when I hear young voices singing out
The bells at home come ringing out
When I think all alone
Then I think of my home

Mom, Dad, all 'round the fire
In festive attire, keeping the day
Aunts, kids, all the relations
Congratulations, this is success
What a great life it must seem

But when I hear young voices singin' out
The bells at home start ringing out
When I feel all alone
Then I long for my home

- Herman's Hermits

LOWER EAST SIDE FILM FESTIVAL
www.lesfilmfestival.com

2023 will mark the 13th Anniversary of the Lower East Side Film Festival. The LESFF recently announced their programming, which includes exclusive feature film premieres, specialty short showcases, industry panels, and parties. It will take place from May 4 - 8 at the Village East Cinema, DCTV Firehouse Cinema, plus virtually through May 14. Open bar for all screenings.

“We love the movies. That’s the simplest way to put it,” says Festival Director, Roxy Hunt. “For me, there’s nothing like standing in the back of a dark theater, waiting with anticipation to see how the audience will react as the night unfolds, and being filled with so much joy when I hear the laughs, the shock, the appreciation, for each film they see - knowing that they put their trust in us. Any New Yorker has an endless amount of choices on how they’ll spend any given night, and I can’t describe how honored I feel they choose to spend it with us.”

Please see their website for the latest programming and schedule.

Read More The Meters Art Neville, the founding member of The Neville Brothers and The Meters (and later known as The Funky Meters), has died at the age of 81, according to a statement released by his longtime manager, Kent Sorrell, via CNN. Neville was 81. …

WILLIE WEST
williewestofficial.com

If you’re in the Minneapolis area, New Orleans legend Willie West (of The Meters) will be playing an early show at Crooners, this Friday, April 21st, 2023. Music starts at 4:30pm, tickets available at eventbrite.com.

We last mentioned The Meters when Art Neville (of The Neville Brothers) had died in 2019. Neville founded the band in 1965, but when Art (and Cyril Neville) left The Meters in 1977, the band added David Batiste Sr. on keyboards and added a new singer named Willie West! The Meters broke up in the 80s, but they’re still fondly remembered by fans.

Anyway, this upcoming Friday show will be Willie West’s first live performance in many years, and it’s to promote West’s new album The Soul Sessions.

If you arrive early, before the live music, there will be a live podcast by Twin Cities musician Mick Sterling, doing an interview with Willie West. You will find out all about The Meters and West’s solo career.

Joining West live on stage will be John Wright on bass, Dan Neale on guitar, Donald Hye on pockets - drums, and Toby Marshall on keyboards, etc.

Read More Lana Del Rey We’ve always like Lana Del Rey. With a #1 Billboard album Lust For Life (sold just over 107k copies in its opening week), expect a lot of happy fans attending this stadium show …

LANA DEL REY
lanadelrey.com

Once again, Lana Del Rey has the #1 album in the UK with the extra-long title: Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd (Polydor Records). This is her sixth #1 UK album for a solo female artist. Only Madonna, Taylor Swift, Kylie Minogue and Barbara Streisand have more.

We were big early fans, writing about Del Rey in Jan 2012: “Well, that, of course, is subjective. But on a basic level, Del Rey embodies a sound that should be quite popular on the current indie scene: sexy vocals that travel the sexy spectrum from “sad and sexy” to “whispery sexy” to “nasally sexy,” set against a lush, orchestral backdrop with sparse beats and some violins. The minimal tear-jerker “Video Games” was grudgingly included on a handful of Best of 2011 lists, but I prefer “Born to Die” for its haunting, controlled tone and also for this line: “Let me kiss you hard in the pouring rain, you like your girls insane.” She’s no Dylan, but her lyrics feel authentic coming from the given source, regardless of whether or not her look is contrived. Would it be better or worse if she wrote about geeky boys in vests and made cryptic references to high-brow literature whilst strumming a Chinese erhu? What’s more, the production quality is pretty brilliant; Del Rey and co. have managed to hit a sweet spot—the axis of edginess and approachability, vintage pop and contemporary relevance, sexy bombshell and deadpan bad girl. She sounds good, the song craft is sharp, and even Pitchfork is “intrigued”.”

Lana Del Rey (05 Jan 2018)

We saw her live in Jan 2018 at the Target Center, and was blown away by the million-dollar set: “As for Lana Del Rey’s show, this was the best set design we’ve ever seen! It contains two beach folding chairs, a raised platform covered with rocks, surrounded by plants, trees, and palm trees. The floor is transformed into a body of water when the special effect lights are projected onto the surface. Plus, that’s not all: two hidden swings for the two dancers. It was unbelievable.”

If you look at the concert photos, you’re note quite sure if she’s singing at a concert or that she’s on vacation in the tropics. It was definitely the best concert set we’ve ever seen.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

More Morrissey: Blitz Vega and The More You Ignore Me

Read More The Smiths I was excited to see that This Day Is Music is publishing The Smiths - The Day I Was There, a new book on the Manchester band. This book is more or less a collection of memories from various fans, compiled and edited by Richard Houghton. …

Blitz Vega
twitter.com/blitzvegamusic

I know I’m late to the party, but I just got around to hearing Blitz Vega’s “Strong Forever”, the November 2022 single from FutureSonic Records/CEN/The Orchard.

What is incredibly important about this single is that it features a team-up of Andy Rourke and Johnny Marr, a long time The Smiths reunion of some sort… a meeting that only took 35 years in the making. We all know that Morrissey has never forgiven the other band members (and in fact had an online spat with Marr a few years ago), so seeing Rourke and Marr together is good enough for me!

Andy explains: “We approached a few people to guest on the track and I asked Johnny, who very kindly recorded some guitars and sent them over. Johnny and I have remained friends, we’ve known each other since we were 13 years old. He’s my oldest and dearest friend and I feel our friendship gets stronger as time passes."

Hearing the song, it’s pretty good! Kind of powerful, but familiar and dance-able. I feel like this is a song you want to hear before a big battle or an intense workout. It’s very catchy.

Kav Blaggers from The Happy Mondays and Andy Rourke wrote the “Strong Forever” as a campaign song against discrimination in soccer.

You can purchase the single or preview it on Amazon.

Read More Morrissey As you know, I used to be a devoted The Smiths and Morrissey fan. Like many of you, I have grown up and may have been a little disenchanted by singer Morrissey’s beliefs and personality... but I still love the music .…

The More You Ignore Me (2018)
twitter.com/TMYIMFilm

When I first saw the title The More You Ignore Me, I simply thought it was Morrissey-related, as he had a big hit with that song, “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get”. Personally speaking, I don’t really love the song, but it’s popular song. Even Bill Nye the Science Guy parodied the song with Momentisey’s “The Faster You Push Me, the Further I Get” from Not That Bad Records.

Anyway, so, indeed, the film The More You Ignore Me, is a story about love, family, and 1980s rural England. The film starts with a mental mother and her daughter Alice. One day, she discovered The Smiths on television, playing “This Charming Man”, and instantly fell in love with Morrissey and his music.

I don’t really love drama, and probably wouldn’t have watched it if it wasn’t available for free via TenaaTV.

So if you’re into Morrissey and English humor (which is not funny to some people), check it out.

Description:

The More You Ignore Me is both a poignant and darkly funny coming-of-age story of dysfunctional family life in 1980 s rural England: Gina (Sheridan Smith) whose efforts to be a loving mother and wife are undermined by her declining mental health and her growing obsession with the local weatherman and Alice (Ella Hunt) her daughter, who struggles to relate to her mum. Written by, and starring, Jo Brand based on her critically acclaimed novel of the same name using all the insight gained during her years as a psychiatric health worker, The More You Ignore Me is set to the songs of The Smiths and also stars Mark Addy, Sally Phillips, Sheila Hancock, Tom Davis and Ricky Tomlinson and is directed by Keith English.

Read more Movies and Television.

The More You Ignore Me (2018)

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Morrissey: Washington, DC is now cancelled

11/28 The Anthem, Washington, DC (cancelled) Read More Morrissey As you know, I used to be a devoted The Smiths and Morrissey fan. Like many of you, I have grown up and may have been a little disenchanted by singer Morrissey’s beliefs and personality... but I still love the music .…

It’s not looking good for the Morrissey 2022 Tour. Band illness extended to Washington DC… this is right after the Minneapolis and Milwaukee shows were postponed.

I thought the worst was over… but at this rate, it’s starting to look like the rest of the tour might be cancelled. Four more dates left on the tour.

Here is the official statement:

Regretfully, we announce the cancellation of tomorrow’s show in D.C

This is due to an extended recovery period. We appreciate the love and loyalty shown during this unfortunate time.

Refunds are available at point of purchase, the next show in Brooklyn will go ahead as scheduled.

Morrissey 2022 Tour.

Nov 11 Ontario, CA - Toyota Arena
Nov 12 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre (abbreviated)
Nov 14 El Cajon, CA - The Magnolia
Nov 15 El Cajon, CA - The Magnolia
Nov 18 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
Nov 19 San Francisco, CA - Castro Theatre
Nov 22 Salt Lake City, UT - The Union (canceled)
Nov 23 Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre (canceled)
Nov 25 Minneapolis, MN - Fillmore Minneapolis (postponed)
Nov 26 Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside Theater (postponed)
Nov 28 Washington, DC - The Anthem (canceled)
Nov 30 Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre
Dec 1 Newark, NJ - New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Dec 3 Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia
Dec 4 Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Read more Every date that Morrissey has ever canceled.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Morrissey: Minnesota & Milwaukee, we're extremely sorry to announce the postponement of shows this coming weekend due to ongoing illness

11/25 Fillmore, Minneapolis (Postponed) 11/26 Riverside Theater, Milwaukee (postponed) Read More Morrissey As you know, I used to be a devoted The Smiths and Morrissey fan. Like many of you, I have grown up and may have been a little disenchanted by singer Morrissey’s beliefs and personality... but I still love the music .…

Happy Thankskilling!

Morrissey says No to Thankskilling

I may have spoken too soon, shortly after hearing Morrissey canceling Salt Lake City and Denver, I thought for sure that Minneapolis was safe. As it turns out, Minneapolis and Milwaukee are now postponed. Just a reminder that Moz rescheduled Minneapolis three times in 2012/2013.

With band illness continuing, it affected Minneapolis and Milwaukee… so in total four dates are affected, with one abbreviated date earlier at the Greek Theatre.

There are five more dates to go in this 2022. Based on previous tours, I think the rest of the tour should go without any issues, if they recover by November 27.

Here is the official statement:

To all the fans in Minnesota & Milwaukee, we're extremely sorry to announce the postponement of shows this coming weekend due to ongoing illness. We're so grateful for your understanding at this challenging time where we need to prioritise band health. Please hold on to your tickets, we are working our hardest to reschedule these dates for next year.

In the meantime, we look forward to resuming the tour in Washington D.C on Monday 28th November.

Morrissey 2022 Tour.

Nov 11 Ontario, CA - Toyota Arena
Nov 12 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre (abbreviated)
Nov 14 El Cajon, CA - The Magnolia
Nov 15 El Cajon, CA - The Magnolia
Nov 18 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
Nov 19 San Francisco, CA - Castro Theatre
Nov 22 Salt Lake City, UT - The Union (canceled)
Nov 23 Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre (canceled)
Nov 25 Minneapolis, MN - Fillmore Minneapolis (postponed)
Nov 26 Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside Theater (postponed)
Nov 28 Washington, DC - The Anthem
Nov 30 Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre
Dec 1 Newark, NJ - New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Dec 3 Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia
Dec 4 Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Read more Every date that Morrissey has ever canceled.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Morrissey cancels Salt Lake City & Denver (11/22 and11/23) due to band illness

11/22 The Union, Salt Lake City (Cancelled) Read More Morrissey As you know, I used to be a devoted The Smiths and Morrissey fan. Like many of you, I have grown up and may have been a little disenchanted by singer Morrissey’s beliefs and personality... but I still love the music .…

I know it’s depressing, but I was betting that Morrissey would cancel the Minneapolis show, considering that he canceled or rescheduled Minneapolis three times in 2012 to 2013.

11/23 Paramount Theatre, Denver (Cancelled)

The ‘still ill’ explanation was given for last minute cancellation of tonight’s show in Salt Lake City and tomorrow’s Denver shows. It looks like Minneapolis may be safe (for now).

Here is the official statement:

Due to band illness, we are devastated to announce we cannot proceed with tonight’s show in Salt Lake City and tomorrow’s show in Denver.

Thank you to the fans for the ongoing love and support while we take a moment to restore and recover.

All being well, M and the band will be back on stage in Minneapolis on Friday night.

Show refunds are available at your point of purchase

Morrissey 2022 Tour.

Nov 11 Ontario, CA - Toyota Arena
Nov 12 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre (Abbreviated)
Nov 14 El Cajon, CA - The Magnolia
Nov 15 El Cajon, CA - The Magnolia
Nov 18 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
Nov 19 San Francisco, CA - Castro Theatre
Nov 22 Salt Lake City, UT - The Union
Nov 23 Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
Nov 25 Minneapolis, MN - Fillmore Minneapolis
Nov 26 Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside Theater
Nov 28 Washington, DC - The Anthem
Nov 30 Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre
Dec 1 Newark, NJ - New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Dec 3 Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia
Dec 4 Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Read more Every date that Morrissey has ever cancelled.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

Morrissey cancels Los Angeles show 30 minutes in

Read More Morrissey As you know, I used to be a devoted The Smiths and Morrissey fan. Like many of you, I have grown up and may have been a little disenchanted by singer Morrissey’s beliefs and personality... but I still love the music .…

Thanks to Dolly for mentioning that Morrissey’s show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, on November 12th, ended abruptly. She mentioned that it was “too cold outside”, but other fans debate that Morrissey was struggling and losing his voice.

Morrissey said on stage, “As I think you know, it’s extremely cold. Can you tell? I can. However, we will steam on. Where to? God knows.”

It’s also possible that, according to LA Times, that Capitol Records delayed his new album, Bonfire of Teenagers… and the bad news may have played a role in Morrissey walking off the stage and not coming back.

Setlist:

1. We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
2. Our Frank
3. First Of The Gang To Die
4. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
5. Billy Budd
6. Sure Enough, The Telephone Rings
7. Jim Jim Falls
8. Rebels Without Applause
9. Girlfriend In A Coma
   
   *Show ends due to unforeseen circumstances*

Morrissey 2022 tour dates:

Nov 11 Ontario, CA - Toyota Arena
Nov 12 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre (Abbreviated)
Nov 14 El Cajon, CA - The Magnolia
Nov 15 El Cajon, CA - The Magnolia
Nov 18 Oakland, CA - Fox Theater
Nov 19 San Francisco, CA - Castro Theatre
Nov 22 Salt Lake City, UT - The Union
Nov 23 Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
Nov 25 Minneapolis, MN - Fillmore Minneapolis
Nov 26 Milwaukee, WI - The Riverside Theater
Nov 28 Washington, DC - The Anthem
Nov 30 Brooklyn, NY - Kings Theatre
Dec 1 Newark, NJ - New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Dec 3 Philadelphia, PA - The Met Philadelphia
Dec 4 Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Update 11/22/2022: "Due to band illness, we are devastated to announce we cannot proceed with tonight’s show in Salt Lake City and tomorrow’s show in Denver."

Read more Every date that Morrissey has ever cancelled.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com

More Morrissey: Mozquito Coast and ASappy

Read More The Smiths I was excited to see that This Day Is Music is publishing The Smiths - The Day I Was There, a new book on the Manchester band. This book is more or less a collection of memories from various fans, compiled and edited by Richard Houghton. … Morrissey As you know, I used to be a devoted The Smiths and Morrissey fan. Like many of you, I have grown up and may have been a little disenchanted by singer Morrissey’s beliefs and personality... but I still love the music .…

We recently talked about how cool it was to see that Morrissey and The Smiths were suddenly in the news (being on The Simpsons and the topic of Shoplifters of the World) a few weeks ago. Here are a few other Morrissey/Smiths items in the news:



MOSQUITO COAST
apple.com

I’ve been enjoying the new American drama series called The Mosquito Coast on Apple TV+. The television series was developed by Neil Cross and Tom Bissell and based on the 1981 novel by Paul Theroux. The same novel was also made into a motion picture (of the same name) in 1986, starring Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren.

I haven’t seen the movie, but based on the six episodes that already aired (the finale will air on June 5), I’m really contemplating on checking out the film.

The story is about an American family living off the grid for nine years. They’re discovered by the government and the family soon went on the run. Their journey leads them to The Mosquito Coast, in Mexico.

What I like about the story is that it’s very smart and written in a way that you’re not quite sure how the family will get out of one troubled situation after another. It’s almost on the Breaking Bad level, because you know the main character is really intelligent and without resorting to violence… can out think his way out of the trap.

As for the Smiths appearance, in the second episode, “foxes and coyotes”, the family sought help with a coyote to take them across the border to Mexico. While their father, Allie Fox, removes a police ankle bracelet, their daughter, Dina, goes through the coyotes’ record collection to discover a copy of The Smiths’ classic The Queen Is Dead album. The timeline doesn’t make sense, since the book was written in 1981, and this album came out in 1986. Clearly an invention for the television show.

Anyway, the owner of the records, Chuy, said he much prefers Morrissey’s solo music, and puts on “The First of the Gang to Die” and started dancing with their mother, Margot.

The Mosquito Coast, Episode 2: “foxes and coyotes” (30 April 2021)

A$AP ROCKY
asapmob.com

In the recent GQ interview with A$AP Rocky, he dropped the news that his latest collaboration is with Morrissey! The rapper is a fan and previously mentioned in 2018 on Open Late, that he “f*** with Morrissey on some Smiths sh**. Make some emo, real, retro-infusion, motherf**in’ 2018 shit, man.”

With that, in GQ, A$AP said his album is called All Smiles and will feature the Pope of Mope: “Anything you need him to do, he show up and do.”

Apparently, the new album will be a slight departure from what you normally think of when you think of A$AP. He noted, “It's all about the evolution. If I’m still doing the same sh** with the same sounds and the same bars and the same visuals from years ago, what's the point? You got that catalog. You can go revisit that.”

Say what you will, but based on that, thought, I’m interested in hearing the new All Smiles record.

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ facebook.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Morrissey, an unhappy birthday

Read More The Simpsons This is a lovely medley of "A Fish Called Selma". Basically in this episode they decided to make Planet of the Apes into a musical. The most hilarious song is "Dr Zaius", which is basically a rip-off of Falco's Rock Me Amadeus. .... Morrissey As you know, I used to be a devoted The Smiths and Morrissey fan. Like many of you, I have grown up and may have been a little disenchanted by singer Morrissey’s beliefs and personality... but I still love the music .…

Today (May 22) is Morrissey’s birthday.

It’s so weird that in 2021, we’re seeing Morrissey and The Smiths in current media. For the diehard fans, it’s simply amazing…



THE SIMPSONS
fox.com

The long-running The Simpsons animated series aired an episode parodying Morrissey and The Smiths in an episode called “Panic on the Streets of Springfield”, which aired on April 18, 2021.

In the episode, Lisa Simpsons discovered Quilloughby (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) and The Snuffs through Slapify (parody of Spotify). She instantly fell in love with the morbid music and becomes obsessed.

After an accidental meat-eating mushroom burger incident at school, Lisa started to see Quilloughby as an imaginary friend. After some concerns over her “pre-pre-teen rebellion”, Marge canceled the Slapify music subscription. Lisa runs away to see The Snuffs reunion show at the Bummershoot music festival.

When Lisa finally see the real Quilloughby on stage for the first time in over 30 years, she realized that Quilloughby is now an overweight meat-eating racist.

I thought the first part of the show was good… but the ending was just really mean-spirited. Calling Morrissey money-loving, racist, fat, and meat-eating, is simply just not right. There are some tiny small truths in that attack (sure Moz said some bigoted things or he’s gotten chubbier or he likes money).. But if you know Morrissey, you know those things are not 100% true. The worst part is calling Morrissey a meat-eater, that’s just a lie. And to suggest that he would reunite with The Smiths for money - Morrissey wouldn’t do that out of principle. There is also the fact that the “lawnmower parts” (Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce) sued Moz and he will never work with them ever again…

The one good thing that came out of this is that Fox officially released the parody song “Everyone Is Horrid Except Me (And Possibly You)”, co-written by Flight of the Conchords’ Bret McKenzie on May 11, 2021. The “full” song is only slightly longer than what was televised, but it’s fun to see hear the parody - especially that it does sound something that Morrissey would write.

The Simpsons, Season 32, Episode 19 (18 Apr 2021)

Read More The Smiths I was excited to see that This Day Is Music is publishing The Smiths - The Day I Was There, a new book on the Manchester band. This book is more or less a collection of memories from various fans, compiled and edited by Richard Houghton. …

SHOPLIFTERS OF THE WORLD
shopliftersoftheworld.com

The American film Shoplifters of the World is director Stephen Kijak’s love-letter to Morrissey and The Smiths. It’s clear, based on all the attention to details that Kijak is a massive fan. The film came out March 26, 2021, via RLJE Films.

The story is based on an urban legend about a Smiths fan who held up a DJ at gunpoint and demanded that he play nothing but The Smiths all night. That’s pretty much is the whole movie.

While I love hearing the music, seeing the old vintage posters and album artwork… this was not a good film. I love The Smiths, but I just have to be honest: if you are not a Smiths fan, avoid this movie.

My biggest complaint is that I really didn’t care about any of the four major characters. You never really learn why each character loves the Smiths and why they are a fan. They simply are just friends and they are just fans, and that’s as much as you need to know. If you were truly a Smiths/Morrissey fan, you know that it’s hard to meet another like-minded person - especially in those pre-internet days. Maybe it’s just me, but when I first heard of The Smiths, I didn’t know anyone that had their records. I started buying their albums and eventually had to search/seek out other fans through fanzines and letters. You simply didn’t go to school and your classmates all listened to the Smiths…. Again, that may be someone’s story, but not mine.

My other complaint is that song lyrics are cringey when spoken in dramatic dialogue. It just sounds stupid when you hear it, and as a Smiths fan, you recognize the line as taken from a song. I know the movie is winking at the fans, but God, it is embarrassing.

My last issue with the film is that they made the fan who held up the radio station as if he was a hero. I don’t think it’s right to force someone to listen to music they don’t like. Imagine if someone forces you to listen to (insert hated band/music here) - you’ll hate the music even more, right? Especially if you’re a heavy metal listener… to suddenly hear The Smiths, you’ll turn off the radio right away! You’re never going to convert non-fans, so the idea is just dumb.

I know I’m really harsh on the film, but it’s just my opinion… I’m certain most fans will love the film. I don’t think the film was made for non-fans, so if you don’t understand The Smiths, you won’t “get” this movie. You can see this reflection on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics hated the film, while the fans gave it a glowing review.

The best part about the film? The soundtrack. I love hearing the songs… but at the end of the day, isn’t it just the same as putting on Louder Than Bombs or The Queen is Dead and singing along?

PS, Louder Than Bombs is one of the best Smiths compilation … and it’s awesome that it was originally an American release.

PPS, I also got a laugh when I saw someone in the film reading a James Dean is Not Dead book. Morrissey wrote that book and have plead to fans to not buy that book, as he gets no royalties from any sales from the numerous reissues and reprints. I personally own a copy, as well as his New York Dolls book.

Shoplifters of the World (2021)

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