Jay, Johnny, and Jeff



Tonight (well, now it’s 2 AM- so technically yesterday evening) Jeff Stodel, [rhythm guitarist for the Sweet and Tender Hooligans], and me [Jay Tando, a Totally Random Moz Fan], met with one Johnny Marr, formerly of some 80’s Manchester garage band called the SMITHS…

Neil Finn, former frontman of the Split Enz and Crowded House, was in town for a show at the Hollywood House of Blues and he had as a special guest the Mysterious Mancunian Madman himself as his lead guitarist for the second half of the set…

A few hours before the show we tried our luck getting into the sound check. No problem. When we walked in, there was nobody but a few sound guys and the band onstage. Johnny was testing out his mic and after a moment he stepped to the side and the road manager was cool enough to let him know that we'd like to meet him. While there was a break in the sound check, Johnny came over and noticed that Jeff had a guitar with him. [Jeff had purchased the guitar a few months ago from a guy in England who said it was Johnny’s when he was in the Smiths, and Jeff wanted to validate it’s authenicity “straight from the horse’s mouth”.] Johnny instantly recognized it as the one he had written “Stop Me If You Think That You’ve Heard This One Before” and used during the “Strangeways Here We Come” sessions… and then he took it and showed Jeff the chords for “Stop Me…” and then Jeff, unable to resist, took the guitar back and serenaded Johnny with the opening chords to “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”, with myself on reluctant nervous impromptu vocals. Jeff said “Jay I know you know this!” and implored me to butcher the first few verses. Johnny laughed, “That’s SPOT ON- you’ve got it right!”

He was very personable and seemed very down to earth and genuinely interested in chatting with us for the fifteen minutes we were with him. We had a few questions for him in the blur:
Jeff asked Johnny what did he consider his highlight of his career in the Smiths?
Johnny said every single thing they did was a highlight. He especially liked “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”- and “How Soon Is Now ?” Regarding the former, he told us how excited he was in the studio when he finally laid down the whining guitar bit at the end of the track. For the latter, Jeff said it seems as though “How Soon Is Now ?” has become the “Stairway To Heaven” of our generation. Johnny just smiled and said that he was just starting to become aware of the impact that the song has had. He also added an interesting factoid: he wrote “How Soon Is Now ?” and “Please. Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want…” in the SAME DAY!

We brought up the Ex-Smiths Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce and I commented that it appeared Johnny had buried any hatchets and he replied that he “never had any hatchets to bury. If I saw them around, I would walk up to them and say hello.” Apparently all of the animosity was created by the press. He jokingly shadow-boxed as he described the media’s portrayal of the relations between his former band members. No direct mention was made of Morrissey- though he did say that “I love all those guys. How can you play that many shows and spend that much time together in the studio and not love someone?”

I did NOT want to be the 1,000,000, 000-th dude to ask him about a possible Smiths reunion.

At the show, he first came out unannounced during the middle of a Crowded House song and played a beautiful riff on harmonica then just as quickly disappeared from the stage… he returned a few songs later – this time introduced by Neil- to play lead guitar on none other than “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” with Neil doing Morrissey’s part on lead vocals. Both Neil and Johnny did a FANTASTIC job… He later played on several more Finn songs and even sang a Healer’s song, “Down On the Corner” and then for the encore they played (OH MY GAWD!!) “HOW SOON IS NOW?”

Neil introduced it by saying “We are about to do one of my favorite songs of all time!” and then Johnny rips into the opening riff and the place went FUCKING NUTS!!!

An excellent night indeed.



























I hope you enjoyed the pix!!

All the best to you, fellow Smiths/Moz Fanz!!

Jay

damn, "Some Totally Random Moz Fan"... when you're offtopic... you're OFFTOPIC.

but when you're ONTOPIC.... woah!! watch out! great story, man... sounds like a dream encounter with the Marr...

cheers

These pics r AWSUMWE! The both of u r so lucky. I'm glad to know Johnney doesn't have an attitude and am really releaved there isn't any real animosity between Johnney and the other Smiths. Once again Congrats.

> damn, "Some Totally Random Moz Fan"... when you're offtopic...
> you're OFFTOPIC.
- ha ha ha ha!!

> but when you're ONTOPIC.... woah!! watch out! great story, man... sounds
> like a dream encounter with the Marr...
- it was AWESOME!!

> cheers
- thanx for the kind words, my friend!!

best!

> These pics r AWSUMWE!
- thanx !

The both of u r so lucky. I'm glad to know Johnney
> doesn't have an attitude and am really releaved there isn't any real
> animosity between Johnney and the other Smiths.
- yes that was WAY cool to hear!

Once again Congrats.
- hey thanx JS! It's great to read some POSITIVE feedback in here once in a while!

*wink*

best!

i feel so sorry for johnny. look at him leaning away from Mud!

"bloody hell, this is an icky bloke!"

Will you ever contribute anything to this site that resembles class?

Though Jeff's eyes do look like a zombie's, and though you SHOULD have asked about the reunion (2002: The Who, Duran Duran, Doors, Roxy Music, Oasis, Siouxsie and NO SMITHS? What kind of world is that?), that was an excellent post which should be featured in the site's main page.
ps: How Soon and Please, Please in the same day. Either he's a liar or an even greater genius than I thought.

> Jay, Johnny, and Jeff

> Tonight (well, now it’s 2 AM- so technically yesterday evening) Jeff
> Stodel, [rhythm guitarist for the Sweet and Tender Hooligans], and me [Jay
> Tando, a Totally Random Moz Fan], met with one Johnny Marr, formerly of
> some 80’s Manchester garage band called the SMITHS…

> Neil Finn, former frontman of the Split Enz and Crowded House, was in town
> for a show at the Hollywood House of Blues and he had as a special guest
> the Mysterious Mancunian Madman himself as his lead guitarist for the
> second half of the set…

> A few hours before the show we tried our luck getting into the sound
> check. No problem. When we walked in, there was nobody but a few sound
> guys and the band onstage. Johnny was testing out his mic and after a
> moment he stepped to the side and the road manager was cool enough to let
> him know that we'd like to meet him. While there was a break in the sound
> check, Johnny came over and noticed that Jeff had a guitar with him. [Jeff
> had purchased the guitar a few months ago from a guy in England who said
> it was Johnny’s when he was in the Smiths, and Jeff wanted to validate
> it’s authenicity “straight from the horse’s mouth”.] Johnny instantly
> recognized it as the one he had written “Stop Me If You Think That You’ve
> Heard This One Before” and used during the “Strangeways Here We Come”
> sessions… and then he took it and showed Jeff the chords for “Stop Me…”
> and then Jeff, unable to resist, took the guitar back and serenaded Johnny
> with the opening chords to “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”, with
> myself on reluctant nervous impromptu vocals. Jeff said “Jay I know you
> know this!” and implored me to butcher the first few verses. Johnny
> laughed, “That’s SPOT ON- you’ve got it right!”

> He was very personable and seemed very down to earth and genuinely
> interested in chatting with us for the fifteen minutes we were with him.
> We had a few questions for him in the blur:
> Jeff asked Johnny what did he consider his highlight of his career in the
> Smiths?
> Johnny said every single thing they did was a highlight. He especially
> liked “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”- and “How Soon Is Now ?” Regarding
> the former, he told us how excited he was in the studio when he finally
> laid down the whining guitar bit at the end of the track. For the latter,
> Jeff said it seems as though “How Soon Is Now ?” has become the “Stairway
> To Heaven” of our generation. Johnny just smiled and said that he was just
> starting to become aware of the impact that the song has had. He also
> added an interesting factoid: he wrote “How Soon Is Now ?” and “Please.
> Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want…” in the SAME DAY!

> We brought up the Ex-Smiths Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce and I commented
> that it appeared Johnny had buried any hatchets and he replied that he
> “never had any hatchets to bury. If I saw them around, I would walk up to
> them and say hello.” Apparently all of the animosity was created by the
> press. He jokingly shadow-boxed as he described the media’s portrayal of
> the relations between his former band members. No direct mention was made
> of Morrissey- though he did say that “I love all those guys. How can you
> play that many shows and spend that much time together in the studio and
> not love someone?”

> I did NOT want to be the 1,000,000, 000-th dude to ask him about a
> possible Smiths reunion.

> At the show, he first came out unannounced during the middle of a Crowded
> House song and played a beautiful riff on harmonica then just as quickly
> disappeared from the stage… he returned a few songs later – this time
> introduced by Neil- to play lead guitar on none other than “There Is A
> Light That Never Goes Out” with Neil doing Morrissey’s part on lead
> vocals. Both Neil and Johnny did a FANTASTIC job… He later played on
> several more Finn songs and even sang a Healer’s song, “Down On the
> Corner” and then for the encore they played (OH MY GAWD!!) “HOW SOON IS
> NOW?”

> Neil introduced it by saying “We are about to do one of my favorite songs
> of all time!” and then Johnny rips into the opening riff and the place
> went FUCKING NUTS!!!

> An excellent night indeed.

> I hope you enjoyed the pix!!

> All the best to you, fellow Smiths/Moz Fanz!!

> Jay

> Though Jeff's eyes do look like a zombie's,
- ha ha ha well when I'll have to wash that "red" right out of his eyes when I further edit the pix...

and though you SHOULD have
> asked about the reunion (2002: The Who, Duran Duran, Doors, Roxy Music,
> Oasis, Siouxsie and NO SMITHS? What kind of world is that?),
- I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday!!

(well, ummm... maybe)

that was an
> excellent post which should be featured in the site's main page.
- thanx my friend, who ever you are!

> ps: How Soon and Please, Please in the same day. Either he's a liar or an
> even greater genius than I thought.
- pure brilliance.

best!

She's here practically 24/7 and never shows anything remotley interesting. And the people who do contribute she tlks nonsense as if she could do it better. Good going Jay, screw Suzanne and her retarded posts. God all she does is bitch bitch bitch!

> She's here practically 24/7 and never shows anything remotley interesting.
> And the people who do contribute she tlks nonsense as if she could do it
> better. Good going Jay, screw Suzanne and her retarded posts. God all she
> does is bitch bitch bitch!

sure, i could do better than Jay. I wouldn't scare johnny by trying to molest him like he did.

True. She is here a lot. I don't know if she's here 24/7 because I'm not here that much. But, every time I come to Morrissey-Solo there is a new post by her.

She does have some funny posts. Maybe 1 out of every 10 of her posts are witty and I think, "hey, that suzanne girl is funny"

The trouble is that means the other 90% of her posts are shit.

take a look at her profile: http://www.morrissey-solo.com/~suzanne/
suzanne has posted 794 comments.

Who has time to write all that stuff? It makes me think that Morrissey-solo is her entire life. How horribly sad! If this website disappeared tomorrow what would she do?

In general I find her comments to be quite negative. She doesn't seem to have anything nice to say to anyone. She's the first one to criticize others -- and if anyone criticizes her, she goes into attack mode. She doesn't seem to want to stop and listen to suggestions.

Also about Jay & Jeff meeting Johnny Marr - I think that is fantastic. Congrats. I'm totally jealous! Random Moz fan, I'm sorry that Miss Suzanne can't be happy for you. Her bitter side has gotten the best of her. (Comme d'habitude) Don't let it impede on the glory your own success.

Again, Congrats.

> She's here practically 24/7 and never shows anything remotley interesting.
> And the people who do contribute she tlks nonsense as if she could do it
> better. Good going Jay, screw Suzanne and her retarded posts. God all she
> does is bitch bitch bitch!




join the i hate suzanne club -- free membership this month (http://www.morrissey-solo.com/~suzanne/)

How about we do this:

whatever your issues are- if you have something ill to say about me why not email me directly and spare the rest of the world your venom:

jaytando@yahoo.com

love, peace, and harmony

N0000000000! Don't let her win. Evil must not triumph over good!

> How about we do this:

> whatever your issues are- if you have something ill to say about me why
> not email me directly and spare the rest of the world your venom:

> jaytando@yahoo.com love, peace, and harmony




join the i ATE suzanne fan club - free fork / f*ck (your choice) with membership. (http://www.morrissey-solo.com/~suzanne/)

1. suddenly, all of these people who have no identifiable name show up to say something.

2. all of them have the same critique.

3. all of them hate me, and yet, they know exactly when i post (all of them know its 24/7...isn't that strange?), they all know what i do all day long, and they also know what's on my user profile.

and yes, you will see my karma is at 78 points. its been hovering there in that range for months because someone has been stalking my posts and marking everything i say as troll, and i'm not dumb as to who it is. possibly the person who knows where my user profile is, don't you think?

conclusion:

i wasn't joking about jay being icky.

> 1. suddenly, all of these people who have no identifiable name show up to
> say something.

> 2. all of them have the same critique.

> 3. all of them hate me, and yet, they know exactly when i post (all of
> them know its 24/7...isn't that strange?), they all know what i do all day
> long, and they also know what's on my user profile.

> and yes, you will see my karma is at 78 points. its been hovering there in
> that range for months because someone has been stalking my posts and
> marking everything i say as troll, and i'm not dumb as to who it is.
> possibly the person who knows where my user profile is, don't you think?

> conclusion:

> i wasn't joking about jay being icky.
World Court at Hague?
Calm down, Suzanne, Suzanne Vega Phantom is watching out for You for good!
You are a fox!
Jay Tando is a noodle.
You have to move to LA, there you will realize all your dreams. I'm 100% sure, Texas is bad for your Karma, not Jay...
Hug for you from me and my Master David The Latvian Troll.

P.S.
My Master asked me to bring You his apologies for being an disappearing act. But he is as queer as a fruitcake, what would girl expect... (Knowing Smile)

> 1. suddenly, all of these people who have no identifiable name show up to
> say something.

hey, you foolios better leave your names so i can mock and ridicule you properly!

> 2. all of them have the same critique.

finally the kind people have realized the truth: that i really am a bitch!

> 3. all of them hate me, and yet, they know exactly when i post (all of
> them know its 24/7...isn't that strange?), they all know what i do all day
> long, and they also know what's on my user profile.

i know i am hated. but i can't help it. just because my life revolves around miami vice re-runs and an unhealthy love of philip michael thomas doesn't mean that i can't find the hours for my favorite past time: writing sniveling and condescending one-liners on Morrissey-solo.

> and yes, you will see my karma is at 78 points.

i know, i've said A LOT of useless shit in my time of being a troll on Morrissey-solo. Wow. only 78, I thought I was much more of a troll than that.

> its been hovering there in
> that range for months because someone has been stalking my posts and
> marking everything i say as troll,

i can't help it if my true potential has been realised.

> and i'm not dumb as to who it is.
> possibly the person who knows where my user profile is, don't you think?

i don't have a clue who it is -- but maybe if i pretend i do know, i will seem intelligent.

> conclusion:

> i wasn't joking about jay being icky.

this is my half-hearted apology. please don't hate me anymore. i need for the mere masses on Morrissey-solo to believe that i am superior.

> 3. all of them hate me, and yet, they know exactly when i post (all of
> them know its 24/7...isn't that strange?), they all know what i do all day
> long, and they also know what's on my user profile.

Next thing you know they be camping outside your house.
Could this be a "the more you ignore me, the closer I get" situation? Have you been breaking hearts lately, miss?

ps- just a brief reminder:this is a Morrissey board.

> World Court at Hague?
> Calm down, Suzanne, Suzanne Vega Phantom is watching out for You for good!
> You are a fox!
> Jay Tando is a noodle.
> You have to move to LA, there you will realize all your dreams. I'm 100%
> sure, Texas is bad for your Karma, not Jay...

you mean that i could have been doing better for myself than sniffing coke with robert rodriguez? jeez, i aspired for so little in my life.

> Hug for you from me and my Master David The Latvian Troll.

> P.S.
> My Master asked me to bring You his apologies for being an disappearing
> act. But he is as queer as a fruitcake, what would girl expect... (Knowing
> Smile)

...the guy with the "b-fiend"?

A FANTASTIC SHOW!!

cheers!

----

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 2002
HOUSE OF BLUES - LA, CA (PST)
PINEAPPLE HEAD
DRIVING ME MAD
ONE STEP AHEAD
HOLE IN THE ICE
ANYTIME
INTO THE SUNSET
FALL AT YOUR FEET
LOVE THIS LIFE (Neil solo)
HONEY DON’T THINK (Neil solo w/ Grant Lee Phillips)
FOUR SEASONS (Neil solo w/ Grant Lee Phillips)
SINNER•
LAST TO KNOW•
HUMAN KINDNESS•
HISTORY•
THERE IS A LIGHT* (Neil on vocals)
DOWN ON THE CORNER* (Healers song- Johnny Marr on vocals)
LOOSE TONGUE*
SHE WILL HAVE HER WAY*
DISTANT SUN (Neil solo)
HOW SOON IS NOW* (Neil on vocals. Marr played harmonica as well as the famous guitar riffs)
TURN & RUN*
WEATHER*•
LULLABY
•Wendy Melvoin *Johnny Marr

> Next thing you know they be camping outside your house.

if that's true, i'll move to the Hebrides and be protected by vicious man-eating sheep.

> Could this be a "the more you ignore me, the closer I get"
> situation?

or a "the more you ignore me, the more i still haven't gotten a clue" situation

>Have you been breaking hearts lately, miss?

black hearts don't count.

> ps- just a brief reminder:this is a Morrissey board.

not before i take it over.

> black hearts don't count.

I guess we know where you stand!

> i think greasetea has some words to say about your stupid post

Are you worshipping at greasetea's feet now?
I would have thought it .

Johnny Marr got everything he knows off of Andy Rourke. Johnny gets all the credite for what is acually Andy Rourke's stuff. Remember Johnny couldn't play the guitar until Andy had to teach him.Andy turned Johnny on to David Crosby and lot's of music. Andy Rourke is so nice and really cares about music. Andy Rourke can do anything on the guitar rhythm guitar or even lead guitar not just bass.Johnny Marr has ended up with everything he has all the ego, fame, money he could want and the recognition of being a creative genius guitar hero. Not only did Johnny steel all this stuff off Andy Rourke he also gets the credite for discovering Oasis. Andy Rourke discovered Oasis not Johnny Marr.Andy Rourke is a true artist/musician who did not sell out and lives in the real world and loves music.Johnny Marr lives in celebraty planet with all his show biz buddy's Neil Finn, Oasis, Radiohead, The Charlatans, Pet Shop Boys, Beastie Boys, Chrisse Hynde,Paul McCartney,Bernard Butler,Bernard Summner, Joe Moss (Smiths manager) the list is endless and what is musically interesting about any of this stuff? Having said all that Johnny Marr is a very sharp, quick and intelligent man and you have got to love Johnny Marr the cool and carismatic and mystical one who can appear to be quite down to earth and can be quite funny and charming and has got a presance.Peace to the small, slight and beautiful working-class guitar hero.I just feel bad for poor Andy Rourke that is all and I feel he got a bad deal.Is it just me or isn't there something a bit hard and macho about the vegetarian Johnny Marr like the very sucessful and buisness minded and also a vegetarian, man of the people, fames not changed me Paul McCartney who looks like a woman and comes across as oh sooo very nice and positive and charming like all good working-class con-men, wide-boys do.Johnny Marr looks across between Keith Richards, Liam Gallagher or is it Noel Gallagher? and Stuart Sutcliffe (when Johnny was younger)not Sterling Morrison out of the Velvet Underground.More about Marr and McCartney remeber Paul McCartney's Step-Mum Angela Williams (Angie McCartney) is the same name as Johnny Marr's wife Angelia Brown (Angie Marr).

> We brought up the Ex-Smiths Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce.

Johnny Marr got everything he knows off of Andy Rourke. Johnny gets all the credite for what is acually Andy Rourke's stuff. Remember Johnny couldn't play the guitar until Andy had to teach him.Andy turned Johnny on to David Crosby and lot's of music. Andy Rourke is so nice and really cares about music. Andy Rourke can do anything on the guitar rhythm guitar or even lead guitar not just bass.Johnny Marr has ended up with everything he has all the ego, fame, money he could want and the recognition of being a creative genius guitar hero. Not only did Johnny steel all this stuff off Andy Rourke he also gets the credite for discovering Oasis. Andy Rourke discovered Oasis not Johnny Marr.Andy Rourke is a true artist/musician who did not sell out and lives in the real world and loves music.Johnny Marr lives in celebraty planet with all his show biz buddy's Neil Finn, Oasis, Radiohead, The Charlatans, Pet Shop Boys, Beastie Boys, Chrisse Hynde,Paul McCartney,Bernard Butler,Bernard Summner, Joe Moss (Smiths manager) the list is endless and what is musically interesting about any of this stuff? Having said all that Johnny Marr is a very sharp, quick and intelligent man and you have got to love Johnny Marr the cool and carismatic and mystical one who can appear to be quite down to earth and can be quite funny and charming and has got a presance.Peace to the small, slight and beautiful working-class guitar hero.I just feel bad for poor Andy Rourke that is all and I feel he got a bad deal.Is it just me or isn't there something a bit hard and macho about the vegetarian Johnny Marr like the very sucessful and buisness minded and also a vegetarian, man of the people, fames not changed me Paul McCartney who looks like a woman and comes across as oh sooo very nice and positive and charming like all good working-class con-men, wide-boys do.Johnny Marr looks across between Keith Richards, Liam Gallagher or is it Noel Gallagher? and Stuart Sutcliffe (when Johnny was younger)not Sterling Morrison out of the Velvet Underground.More about Marr and McCartney remeber Paul McCartney's Step-Mum Angela Williams (Angie McCartney) is the same name as Johnny Marr's wife Angelia Brown (Angie Marr).I could go on more about smartly dressed Sir Paul the social climber who courts the royals and Johnny anti-class system like their Irish,Catholic (Paul McCartney was half Catholic half C of E), Northern (from the North West of England), Working-class, Grammar School Boy's backgrounds,who didn't go to art-school but who desperatly want to be authentic art-college type people the art-school wanna-bees. In the persuit of all that is cultural whether that is the theater, poetry, dance, films, art, music,photography or what ever.

> We brought up the Ex-Smiths Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce.

> Are you worshipping at greasetea's feet now?

i have always did that...

> I would have thought it .

> you mean that i could have been doing better for myself than sniffing coke
> with robert rodriguez? jeez, i aspired for so little in my life.

> ...the guy with the "b-fiend"?
Suzanne, that was a hug from me...
You are darling...
BTW, who is Robert Rodriguez? Is he stand-up comedian?...

Another fan took some great pix to share:

http://jeffreygoldman.actingland.com/NF_SD_7-2-02.html

and here as well:

http://jeffreygoldman.actingland.com/NF_ANA_7-3-02.html

enjoy ;^)

Fab-5-dillio is so on the key, he's so dope yo!

> Suzanne, that was a hug from me...

was it? wait, i'm confused....

how many latvian guys named David come here?

or are you saying that you're one in the same?

> You are darling...

*blush*

> BTW, who is Robert Rodriguez? Is he stand-up comedian?...

nope! the guy who directed Desperado, From Dusk Til Dawn, and of course, Spy Kids I and II!

he films all his movies here. maybe i'll be an extra in one some day!

Any time I have extended an olive branch out to Suzanne it gets hacked and chopped up and burned to a crisp- and yet if anyone says one bad thing about her or anyone else on this site I get the blame for it...

For the LAST time: There are ZERO negative comments about ANYONE here coming from yours truly.

All I've ever done was love you.

Let's move on now, shall we?

best,

Jay

P.S. - This is the last time I will ever post. No I've changed my mind again. Good-bye and Thank You.

> Fab-5-dillio is so on the key, he's so dope yo!

hello my friend! how are you?

I think I'm going to be sick. I had free tickets to the Sunday night show at the Fillmore in SF, and ended up having to cancel since I returned home from LA later than I was expecting. I still could have gone, and had I known Johnny was going to be there......but....... well I'm happy for you guys and glad it was a great experience!

*still* waiting to see the elusive Johnny Marr live and in person........
> Jay, Johnny, and Jeff

> Tonight (well, now it’s 2 AM- so technically yesterday evening) Jeff
> Stodel, [rhythm guitarist for the Sweet and Tender Hooligans], and me [Jay
> Tando, a Totally Random Moz Fan], met with one Johnny Marr, formerly of
> some 80’s Manchester garage band called the SMITHS…

> Neil Finn, former frontman of the Split Enz and Crowded House, was in town
> for a show at the Hollywood House of Blues and he had as a special guest
> the Mysterious Mancunian Madman himself as his lead guitarist for the
> second half of the set…

> A few hours before the show we tried our luck getting into the sound
> check. No problem. When we walked in, there was nobody but a few sound
> guys and the band onstage. Johnny was testing out his mic and after a
> moment he stepped to the side and the road manager was cool enough to let
> him know that we'd like to meet him. While there was a break in the sound
> check, Johnny came over and noticed that Jeff had a guitar with him. [Jeff
> had purchased the guitar a few months ago from a guy in England who said
> it was Johnny’s when he was in the Smiths, and Jeff wanted to validate
> it’s authenicity “straight from the horse’s mouth”.] Johnny instantly
> recognized it as the one he had written “Stop Me If You Think That You’ve
> Heard This One Before” and used during the “Strangeways Here We Come”
> sessions… and then he took it and showed Jeff the chords for “Stop Me…”
> and then Jeff, unable to resist, took the guitar back and serenaded Johnny
> with the opening chords to “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”, with
> myself on reluctant nervous impromptu vocals. Jeff said “Jay I know you
> know this!” and implored me to butcher the first few verses. Johnny
> laughed, “That’s SPOT ON- you’ve got it right!”

> He was very personable and seemed very down to earth and genuinely
> interested in chatting with us for the fifteen minutes we were with him.
> We had a few questions for him in the blur:
> Jeff asked Johnny what did he consider his highlight of his career in the
> Smiths?
> Johnny said every single thing they did was a highlight. He especially
> liked “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”- and “How Soon Is Now ?” Regarding
> the former, he told us how excited he was in the studio when he finally
> laid down the whining guitar bit at the end of the track. For the latter,
> Jeff said it seems as though “How Soon Is Now ?” has become the “Stairway
> To Heaven” of our generation. Johnny just smiled and said that he was just
> starting to become aware of the impact that the song has had. He also
> added an interesting factoid: he wrote “How Soon Is Now ?” and “Please.
> Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want…” in the SAME DAY!

> We brought up the Ex-Smiths Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce and I commented
> that it appeared Johnny had buried any hatchets and he replied that he
> “never had any hatchets to bury. If I saw them around, I would walk up to
> them and say hello.” Apparently all of the animosity was created by the
> press. He jokingly shadow-boxed as he described the media’s portrayal of
> the relations between his former band members. No direct mention was made
> of Morrissey- though he did say that “I love all those guys. How can you
> play that many shows and spend that much time together in the studio and
> not love someone?”

> I did NOT want to be the 1,000,000, 000-th dude to ask him about a
> possible Smiths reunion.

> At the show, he first came out unannounced during the middle of a Crowded
> House song and played a beautiful riff on harmonica then just as quickly
> disappeared from the stage… he returned a few songs later – this time
> introduced by Neil- to play lead guitar on none other than “There Is A
> Light That Never Goes Out” with Neil doing Morrissey’s part on lead
> vocals. Both Neil and Johnny did a FANTASTIC job… He later played on
> several more Finn songs and even sang a Healer’s song, “Down On the
> Corner” and then for the encore they played (OH MY GAWD!!) “HOW SOON IS
> NOW?”

> Neil introduced it by saying “We are about to do one of my favorite songs
> of all time!” and then Johnny rips into the opening riff and the place
> went FUCKING NUTS!!!

> An excellent night indeed.

> I hope you enjoyed the pix!!

> All the best to you, fellow Smiths/Moz Fanz!!

> Jay

Dina,

I think that was Marr's last Neil Finn tour appearance cuz I heard he was headed back to L.A. after the SF show... but keeps your hopes up my friend: the Healer's album is supposedly recently FINALLY been done and set for release soon and I'm sure he'll tour for it!!

best,

Jay

P.S. - who knows? Maybe he'll join Moz himself onstage soon (hey, as Neil Finn would say: "Don't Dream It's Over!")

> I think I'm going to be sick. I had free tickets to the Sunday night show
> at the Fillmore in SF, and ended up having to cancel since I returned home
> from LA later than I was expecting. I still could have gone, and had I
> known Johnny was going to be there......but....... well I'm happy for you
> guys and glad it was a great experience!

> *still* waiting to see the elusive Johnny Marr live and in person........

Thanks Jay. I hope he tours on his own soon too! I've been waiting for that album FOREVER! I feel a little better, knowing that he didn't play with Neil the *entire* duration of the show, but man, seeing them perform How Soon is Now AND There is a light would have made my YEAR!

take care, dina

> Dina,

> I think that was Marr's last Neil Finn tour appearance cuz I heard he was
> headed back to L.A. after the SF show... but keeps your hopes up my
> friend: the Healer's album is supposedly recently FINALLY been done and
> set for release soon and I'm sure he'll tour for it!!

> best,

> Jay

> P.S. - who knows? Maybe he'll join Moz himself onstage soon (hey, as Neil
> Finn would say: "Don't Dream It's Over!")

...God, NEVER, EVER, tuck tshirts into trousers!!!!!

It's not Miami Vice, you know!

Johnny - looking a bit chin-ny.. and where'd he dig that shirt up from?

> Jay, Johnny, and Jeff

> Tonight (well, now it’s 2 AM- so technically yesterday evening) Jeff
> Stodel, [rhythm guitarist for the Sweet and Tender Hooligans], and me [Jay
> Tando, a Totally Random Moz Fan], met with one Johnny Marr, formerly of
> some 80’s Manchester garage band called the SMITHS…

> Neil Finn, former frontman of the Split Enz and Crowded House, was in town
> for a show at the Hollywood House of Blues and he had as a special guest
> the Mysterious Mancunian Madman himself as his lead guitarist for the
> second half of the set…

> A few hours before the show we tried our luck getting into the sound
> check. No problem. When we walked in, there was nobody but a few sound
> guys and the band onstage. Johnny was testing out his mic and after a
> moment he stepped to the side and the road manager was cool enough to let
> him know that we'd like to meet him. While there was a break in the sound
> check, Johnny came over and noticed that Jeff had a guitar with him. [Jeff
> had purchased the guitar a few months ago from a guy in England who said
> it was Johnny’s when he was in the Smiths, and Jeff wanted to validate
> it’s authenicity “straight from the horse’s mouth”.] Johnny instantly
> recognized it as the one he had written “Stop Me If You Think That You’ve
> Heard This One Before” and used during the “Strangeways Here We Come”
> sessions… and then he took it and showed Jeff the chords for “Stop Me…”
> and then Jeff, unable to resist, took the guitar back and serenaded Johnny
> with the opening chords to “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”, with
> myself on reluctant nervous impromptu vocals. Jeff said “Jay I know you
> know this!” and implored me to butcher the first few verses. Johnny
> laughed, “That’s SPOT ON- you’ve got it right!”

> He was very personable and seemed very down to earth and genuinely
> interested in chatting with us for the fifteen minutes we were with him.
> We had a few questions for him in the blur:
> Jeff asked Johnny what did he consider his highlight of his career in the
> Smiths?
> Johnny said every single thing they did was a highlight. He especially
> liked “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”- and “How Soon Is Now ?” Regarding
> the former, he told us how excited he was in the studio when he finally
> laid down the whining guitar bit at the end of the track. For the latter,
> Jeff said it seems as though “How Soon Is Now ?” has become the “Stairway
> To Heaven” of our generation. Johnny just smiled and said that he was just
> starting to become aware of the impact that the song has had. He also
> added an interesting factoid: he wrote “How Soon Is Now ?” and “Please.
> Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want…” in the SAME DAY!

> We brought up the Ex-Smiths Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce and I commented
> that it appeared Johnny had buried any hatchets and he replied that he
> “never had any hatchets to bury. If I saw them around, I would walk up to
> them and say hello.” Apparently all of the animosity was created by the
> press. He jokingly shadow-boxed as he described the media’s portrayal of
> the relations between his former band members. No direct mention was made
> of Morrissey- though he did say that “I love all those guys. How can you
> play that many shows and spend that much time together in the studio and
> not love someone?”

> I did NOT want to be the 1,000,000, 000-th dude to ask him about a
> possible Smiths reunion.

> At the show, he first came out unannounced during the middle of a Crowded
> House song and played a beautiful riff on harmonica then just as quickly
> disappeared from the stage… he returned a few songs later – this time
> introduced by Neil- to play lead guitar on none other than “There Is A
> Light That Never Goes Out” with Neil doing Morrissey’s part on lead
> vocals. Both Neil and Johnny did a FANTASTIC job… He later played on
> several more Finn songs and even sang a Healer’s song, “Down On the
> Corner” and then for the encore they played (OH MY GAWD!!) “HOW SOON IS
> NOW?”

> Neil introduced it by saying “We are about to do one of my favorite songs
> of all time!” and then Johnny rips into the opening riff and the place
> went FUCKING NUTS!!!

> An excellent night indeed.

> I hope you enjoyed the pix!!

> All the best to you, fellow Smiths/Moz Fanz!!

> Jay

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
THIS IS THE FUNNIEST PIECE OF SHIT I HAVE EVER READ IN MY LIFE..
seriously fucking excellent!

keep the laughs coming! write another one...

i am not kidding. you just made me laugh so hard! brilliant!
the first line is the best!

> Johnny Marr got everything he knows off of Andy Rourke. Johnny gets all
> the credite for what is acually Andy Rourke's stuff. Remember Johnny
> couldn't play the guitar until Andy had to teach him.Andy turned Johnny on
> to David Crosby and lot's of music. Andy Rourke is so nice and really
> cares about music. Andy Rourke can do anything on the guitar rhythm guitar
> or even lead guitar not just bass.Johnny Marr has ended up with everything
> he has all the ego, fame, money he could want and the recognition of being
> a creative genius guitar hero. Not only did Johnny steel all this stuff
> off Andy Rourke he also gets the credite for discovering Oasis. Andy
> Rourke discovered Oasis not Johnny Marr.Andy Rourke is a true
> artist/musician who did not sell out and lives in the real world and loves
> music.Johnny Marr lives in celebraty planet with all his show biz buddy's
> Neil Finn, Oasis, Radiohead, The Charlatans, Pet Shop Boys, Beastie Boys,
> Chrisse Hynde,Paul McCartney,Bernard Butler,Bernard Summner, Joe Moss
> (Smiths manager) the list is endless and what is musically interesting
> about any of this stuff? Having said all that Johnny Marr is a very sharp,
> quick and intelligent man and you have got to love Johnny Marr the cool
> and carismatic and mystical one who can appear to be quite down to earth
> and can be quite funny and charming and has got a presance.Peace to the
> small, slight and beautiful working-class guitar hero.I just feel bad for
> poor Andy Rourke that is all and I feel he got a bad deal.Is it just me or
> isn't there something a bit hard and macho about the vegetarian Johnny
> Marr like the very sucessful and buisness minded and also a vegetarian,
> man of the people, fames not changed me Paul McCartney who looks like a
> woman and comes across as oh sooo very nice and positive and charming like
> all good working-class con-men, wide-boys do.Johnny Marr looks across
> between Keith Richards, Liam Gallagher or is it Noel Gallagher? and Stuart
> Sutcliffe (when Johnny was younger)not Sterling Morrison out of the Velvet
> Underground.More about Marr and McCartney remeber Paul McCartney's
> Step-Mum Angela Williams (Angie McCartney) is the same name as Johnny
> Marr's wife Angelia Brown (Angie Marr).

Morrissey got everything he knows off of Mike Joyce. Morrissey gets all
> the credite for what is acually Mike Joyce's stuff. Remember Morrissey
> couldn't read or write, sing, speak or even breathe properly until Mike had to teach him. Mike turned Morrissey on
> to George Formby and lot's of music. Mike Joyce is so nice and really
> cares about lyrics and singing. Mike Joyce can do anything vocally from yodelling to grand opera and can write words better than Shakespeare, not just play drums .Morrissey has ended up with everything
> he has all the ego, fame, money he could want and the recognition of being
> a creative genius songwriter hero. Not only did Morrissey steel all this stuff
> off Mike Joyce he also gets the credit for discovering Raymonde. Erm...
Morrissey once said that Mike talks contantly but says nothing. This is not fair as Morrissey was actually writing everything down and then using it as lyrics. Everything in every Smiths song that is not out of a Carry On film or a Shelagh Delaney play is actually straight from the drummer's mouth. Mike Joyce is a true
> artist/musician who did not sell out and lives in the real world and loves
> music.Morrissey lives in celebraty planet with all his show biz buddy's
> Michael Stipe, Courtney Love, his gardener, that bloke from Ambitious Outsiders, his mum, the barman at the Cat and Fiddle,
> the list is endless and what is musically interesting
> about any of this stuff? Having said all that Morrissey is a very sharp,
> devious, truculent and unreliable man and you have got to love Morrissey or he will sue you and refuse to release any records for ten more years.Peace to the
> lanky, stocky and wearing well work-shy hero.I just feel bad for
> poor Mike Joyce that is all and I feel he got a bad deal apart from that million quid .Is it just me or
> isn't there something a bit hard and macho about the vegetarian Morrissey like the very sucessful and buisness minded and also a vegetarian,
> man of the people, fames not changed me Ringo Starr who looks like Grover from Sesame Street and comes across as oh sooo very nice and positive and charming like
> all good working-class con-men, wide-boys do.Morrissey looks across
> between Wendy Richards, Liam Neeson or is it Noel Edmonds? and Peter
> Sutcliffe (when Mozzer was younger)not Sterling Moss out of the sport of Formula One.More about Morrissey and Starr remeber Ringo Starr's cash-cow
> Thomas the Tank Engine(Tommy Tank) is the same name as Morrissey's musical hero Thomas Dolby(She Blinded Me With Silence).

Umm Andy was on smack most of the time he was in the Smiths.

He is amazing for being able to keep up under an intense addiction.

Johnny Marr did EVERYTHING!

LWF

P.S. Did anyone see Andy and Mike when they toured with Siened OConner?

Suzanne:

The world of cybespace is packed with some of the strangest people I've ever encountered. I'm a big fan of your posts, and I think you write beautifully.

Jeez. I'd swap a gun toting So Solid Crew fan for a self-proclaimed Smiths fan anyday. Well. Sometimes at least.

> Suzanne:

> The world of cybespace is packed with some of the strangest people I've
> ever encountered. I'm a big fan of your posts, and I think you write
> beautifully.

thanks

despite my mental disfigurement, i only halfway try....

> Jeez. I'd swap a gun toting So Solid Crew fan for a self-proclaimed Smiths
> fan anyday. Well. Sometimes at least.

The guy on the right better watch out. Caleb's eyes get red like that right before the fangs come out.


http://www.morrissey-solo.com/discuss/profiles/jeff-johnnymarr1x.jpg

Who is the tall blonde guy next to the world's sexiest midget?

> The guy on the right better watch out. Caleb's eyes get red like that
> right before the fangs come out.