Just remembered my Morrissey meant so much to me. Just dug out my 15 year old Smiths records after reading them winning the most important band of the last 50 years award on NME. The songs are amazing! Morrissey's singing is the best he's ever been on these records. The music is utterly stunning. Johnny Marr must be the best composer of the last 100 years. His guitar is hands down, the most original of his generation. The bass player Andy Rouke is wonderful, and Mike Joyce was the most underrated drummer of his time. I remember speaking with drum professionals at the time, and a lot of them mentioned to me that Mike Joyce was one of their favorites. He is known in that circle of being incredibly tight. He captures the mood of the song so perfectly, without ever being intrusive or overwhelming, yet when he was quiet, you really noticed.

I hadn't listened to these records for about ten years, and only found this site after wanting to remininsce the Smiths. It's wonderful to see a place which still celebrates their spirit, the wonder that is music of the Smiths. It's music of youth and fondness, or love and desperation, or plight and innocence. "I Know It's Over" is among the most powerful songs ever recorded. "Rank" shows what it was like to the majority of their fans on this side of the Atlantic that never got to see them live. That's why I see fans hunger to see Morrissey live today, to recapture those memories that they never had. When has music been this good?

If they would only realize the magic that they once were, perhaps they could find it in themselves to realize the absolute, utterly most deep and wanting dream their fans have ever had. If they were to play together today, if only for a few shows, I daresay that nearly every fan wanting to kill themselves would put it off until they have seen the show, and then never be as miserable and depressed again. Or at the very least, it might put off that tragic death for a few more days, for a few more minutes, for a few more seconds...

"Shove me on the patio, I'll take it slowly..." and you can see the white sheets, and the wooden picket fence, and just fall balletically, never hitting the ground.

Like the computer hackers of the same generation, we were a breed, a colony underground, away from light and air, digging into the tunnels of our hearts. A rare strain, as unlike as the technogeeks and their electronica, knowing what it was to be human, to really feel and live the world, rather than just sinking in.

We took to the streets in our passion, going to far away places if only to hunt down where that photo was taken, or find that rare bootleg, it was the Smiths that beat the drum of our lives. We thristed for anything, a Xeroxed magazine column, a foreign magazine, Irish Republicanzine, anything that might hint at references to our idols. We read volumes of Oscar Wilde, reliving the childhood of our hero, sighing at encountering 30 odd names listed in a faded book of Morrissey's favorite heros...there we go again, what was that film with Warren Beatty again? Some were mildly interesting, some blew our minds like The New York Dolls. And you knew that you were on to something.

And so some have grown older and have wandered the dangers of hip-hop and metal and never turned back after hearing modern heros like Radiohead.
But when one turns these oldies on, what comes back is a sea of emotion, of having once lived and loved, of wilderness and abandonement, of lying in the gutter in utter happiness.

So what happens now? Not for so long have I asked these questions, those of uncertainty, of anticipation, of being ready for living the rest of your life. And what has the last 15 years brought us so far?

For me it has brought a family. A child of my own that is completely unaware of my love affair with the Smiths. It has brought a loving spouse that brings so much joy and affection and immediacy that we never discuss long lost dreams in our music. It has brought a job that just gets better and better. It has brought a house with a pool and a hammock, summer days in the sea air, and an environment that is tranquil and easy.

End of Part 1

> Just remembered my Morrissey meant so much to me. Just dug out my 15 year
> old Smiths records after reading them winning the most important band of
> the last 50 years award on NME. The songs are amazing! Morrissey's singing
> is the best he's ever been on these records. The music is utterly
> stunning. Johnny Marr must be the best composer of the last 100 years. His
> guitar is hands down, the most original of his generation. The bass player
> Andy Rouke is wonderful, and Mike Joyce was the most underrated drummer of
> his time. I remember speaking with drum professionals at the time, and a
> lot of them mentioned to me that Mike Joyce was one of their favorites. He
> is known in that circle of being incredibly tight. He captures the mood of
> the song so perfectly, without ever being intrusive or overwhelming, yet
> when he was quiet, you really noticed.

> I hadn't listened to these records for about ten years, and only found
> this site after wanting to remininsce the Smiths. It's wonderful to see a
> place which still celebrates their spirit, the wonder that is music of the
> Smiths. It's music of youth and fondness, or love and desperation, or
> plight and innocence. "I Know It's Over" is among the most
> powerful songs ever recorded. "Rank" shows what it was like to
> the majority of their fans on this side of the Atlantic that never got to
> see them live. That's why I see fans hunger to see Morrissey live today,
> to recapture those memories that they never had. When has music been this
> good?

> If they would only realize the magic that they once were, perhaps they
> could find it in themselves to realize the absolute, utterly most deep and
> wanting dream their fans have ever had. If they were to play together
> today, if only for a few shows, I daresay that nearly every fan wanting to
> kill themselves would put it off until they have seen the show, and then
> never be as miserable and depressed again. Or at the very least, it might
> put off that tragic death for a few more days, for a few more minutes, for
> a few more seconds...

> "Shove me on the patio, I'll take it slowly..." and you can see
> the white sheets, and the wooden picket fence, and just fall balletically,
> never hitting the ground.

> Like the computer hackers of the same generation, we were a breed, a
> colony underground, away from light and air, digging into the tunnels of
> our hearts. A rare strain, as unlike as the technogeeks and their
> electronica, knowing what it was to be human, to really feel and live the
> world, rather than just sinking in.

> We took to the streets in our passion, going to far away places if only to
> hunt down where that photo was taken, or find that rare bootleg, it was
> the Smiths that beat the drum of our lives. We thristed for anything, a
> Xeroxed magazine column, a foreign magazine, Irish Republicanzine,
> anything that might hint at references to our idols. We read volumes of
> Oscar Wilde, reliving the childhood of our hero, sighing at encountering
> 30 odd names listed in a faded book of Morrissey's favorite heros...there
> we go again, what was that film with Warren Beatty again? Some were mildly
> interesting, some blew our minds like The New York Dolls. And you knew
> that you were on to something.

> And so some have grown older and have wandered the dangers of hip-hop and
> metal and never turned back after hearing modern heros like Radiohead.
> But when one turns these oldies on, what comes back is a sea of emotion,
> of having once lived and loved, of wilderness and abandonement, of lying
> in the gutter in utter happiness.

> So what happens now? Not for so long have I asked these questions, those
> of uncertainty, of anticipation, of being ready for living the rest of
> your life. And what has the last 15 years brought us so far?

> For me it has brought a family. A child of my own that is completely
> unaware of my love affair with the Smiths. It has brought a loving spouse
> that brings so much joy and affection and immediacy that we never discuss
> long lost dreams in our music. It has brought a job that just gets better
> and better. It has brought a house with a pool and a hammock, summer days
> in the sea air, and an environment that is tranquil and easy.

you forgot to add the man playing a violin in your oh so perfect world.
i'll be sure to light a candle for ya

> End of Part 1

> you forgot to add the man playing a violin in your oh so perfect world.
> i'll be sure to light a candle for ya

what a mean-spirited reply, that post was great!

> you forgot to add the man playing a violin in your oh so perfect world.
> i'll be sure to light a candle for ya

Would you please commit suicide? Thank you. I'll be sure to string something onto your brain.

> what a mean-spirited reply, that post was great!

I thought it was complete bollox actually - no offence intended.

> Andy Rouke is wonderful,

I only mentioned 'Barbarism Begins At Home' the other day.. and 'Nowhere Fast'..

> I remember speaking with drum professionals at the time, and a
> lot of them mentioned to me that Mike Joyce was one of their favorites. He
> is known in that circle of being incredibly tight. He captures the mood of
> the song so perfectly, without ever being intrusive or overwhelming, yet
> when he was quiet, you really noticed.

Listen to Mike Joyce on 'What She Said'.. excellence.. It drives that song like a train from start to enthusistic end..

> plight and innocence. "I Know It's Over" is among the most
> powerful songs ever recorded.

Yes.. totally agree,..

"Rank" shows what it was like to
> the majority of their fans on this side of the Atlantic that never got to
> see them live. That's why I see fans hunger to see Morrissey live today,
> to recapture those memories that they never had.

I never thought Rank was that good in quality to be honest. Many bootlegs surpass it.

> If they would only realize the magic that they once were, perhaps they
> could find it in themselves to realize the absolute, utterly most deep and
> wanting dream their fans have ever had. If they were to play together
> today, if only for a few shows, I daresay that nearly every fan wanting to
> kill themselves would put it off until they have seen the show, and then
> never be as miserable and depressed again. Or at the very least, it might
> put off that tragic death for a few more days, for a few more minutes, for
> a few more seconds...

Wow. Late night Maudlin Street stuff.. Never seriously considered it myself. But you paint a pretty picture of the perfect suicide.

> "Shove me on the patio, I'll take it slowly..." and you can see
> the white sheets, and the wooden picket fence, and just fall balletically,
> never hitting the ground.

Interesting that you take a completely different view of those (although you've mis-quoted) lyrics.. I see a crazy paved patio coming away at the seams in a Mancunian suburb where the water doesn't drain away properly.. and you're standing having that lonely cigarrette as the party inside is in full cry.. Or maybe an image of unrequited stony love.. No wooden picket fences in Morrisseys world at all then.

> We took to the streets in our passion, going to far away places if only to
> hunt down where that photo was taken, or find that rare bootleg, it was
> the Smiths that beat the drum of our lives.

To a certain degree.. But I'd hope the 'we' always had a myriad of other interests to occupy oursleves as well!! Belonging is OK, but not to become an indvidual herd!

> We thristed for anything, a
> Xeroxed magazine column, a foreign magazine, Irish Republicanzine,

Sorry my American friend, The majority of British would certianl NOT have courted the Irish Republican movement. On both sides of the fence it was considered dubious and the province of modern day gangsterism.

> anything that might hint at references to our idols. We read volumes of
> Oscar Wilde,

I discovered Wilde through Morrissey I do confess.

> And so some have grown older and have wandered the dangers of hip-hop and
> metal and never turned back after hearing modern heros like Radiohead.

I never sold out.. indie Boy till I die. I live for the live performance.. MY once a week escapism from the real world.

> But when one turns these oldies on, what comes back is a sea of emotion,
> of having once lived and loved, of wilderness and abandonement, of lying
> in the gutter in utter happiness.

And the gutter of mysery was a place I went as well a few times.

> For me it has brought a family. A child of my own that is completely
> unaware of my love affair with the Smiths. It has brought a loving spouse
> that brings so much joy and affection and immediacy that we never discuss
> long lost dreams in our music. It has brought a job that just gets better
> and better. It has brought a house with a pool and a hammock, summer days
> in the sea air, and an environment that is tranquil and easy.

I'd be interested to see how many people share your 'chocolate box' vision of the world. But for me..

It has brought constant excitement, conflict, and absolute moments of conviction and moments of doubt. But through it all the music stayed true and the laughs never went away.

Ruffian

> We took to the streets in our passion, going to far away places if only to
> hunt down where that photo was taken, or find that rare bootleg, it was
> the Smiths that beat the drum of our lives. We thristed for anything, a
> Xeroxed magazine column, a foreign magazine, Irish Republicanzine,
> anything that might hint at references to our idols.

You might have done that over in Yankland, where the Republican Movement has this ridiculously romanticised aura attached to it, but the dollars you gave to Noraid with a tear in your shamrocked-dazzled eye help to fund the bombing of this country's major cities. Think of the effect that the Oklahoma City bombing had on your country. As Ruffian points out, the Republican groups are merely a front for protection rackets, drug dealers and general thuggery.

> You might have done that over in Yankland, where the Republican Movement
> has this ridiculously romanticised aura attached to it, but the dollars
> you gave to Noraid with a tear in your shamrocked-dazzled eye help to fund
> the bombing of this country's major cities. Think of the effect that the
> Oklahoma City bombing had on your country. As Ruffian points out, the
> Republican groups are merely a front for protection rackets, drug dealers
> and general thuggery.

I agree.

LMC

> I agree.

> LMC

though the author might be referring to the irish republicanism in the context of oscar wilde, with his mother being the famous speranza, a famous irish republican. this brings into mind nme's criticism of morrissey's use of skinheads. i wonder how many fans actually bought into that and started romanticizing the national front as well.