Morrissey interviewed in Santa Fe Reporter (Aug. 28, 2002)
posted by davidt on Wednesday August 28 2002, @06:00PM

Miss Wilde writes:

Morrissey speaks!!!

Morrissey Moments (cached) - Santa Fe Reporter (week of Aug. 28-Sept. 3, 2002)


Excerpt:

Morrissey Moments
SFR's Jonanna Widner talks with the King of Sorrow.
BY JONANNA WIDNER
I caught up with Morrissey a few hours before one of his two shows in Salt Lake City. Actually, I wouldn't call it "catching up" with him: You don't really "catch up" with Morrissey, so much as he sort of glides into your life over the telephone and spend a few surprisingly comfortable moments there. On paper, his wit, charm and, well, sweetness can fall flat, but even during our brief, static-y long-distance call he seemed engaged and genuine; if he was faking, he was very convincing. We spoke for about 15 minutes, and as the phone hung up, he sort of glided back out of the room, like a specter. A specter that happened to influence, in some way, almost every band that you listen to.

JW: Hello.

M: Hullo.

How are you doing?

M: I'm scraping through.

Is the Morman reception a little different than most places?

M: It's open-armed, actually.

Really?

M: Yes, so I'm thinking of joining.

 
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Classic Morrissey (Score:1)
I love the last line of the interview. Classic. How could anyone not love this man? He seems like such an honest person. This is probably why he is difficult to work with.
fut -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @06:14PM (#38027)
(User #401 Info | http://www.omgmyblog.com/ )
    Mormonism begins at home (Score:0)
    This is reminiscent of the time the Pet Shop Boys were in SLC. When asked about Mormons, Neil Tennant said something to the effect that the duo liked SLC so much they were thinking of donating all their proceeds to the Mormon Church. Moz and Tennant as Mormons... That's the craziest thing I've heard since Alice Cooper and Trent Reznor were said to be Mormons!
    Anonymous -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @06:31PM (#38030)
    FINALLY- Something POSITIVE (Score:1)
    ... very nice to see an interview with the man- and this time it's not just another idiot "reviewer" impressing nobody with their extremely limited knowledge of Morrissey's music and even less informed of his fans' true devotion ...
    Mud <{jaytando} {at} {hotmail.com}> -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @07:07PM (#38036)
    (User #454 Info | http://jaytando.tripod.com/meeting-morrissey/ )
    I'm really just Some Totally Random Moz Fan
      Great Interview (Score:0)
      I haven't seen an interview this poignant in a long time . . . with regards to any subject. Great questions and even better answers from the man.
      Anonymous -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @07:21PM (#38040)
        How'd she do it? (Score:1)
        This paper gets an interview with Morrissey and they run it as a "Web Extra"? Please tell me this will make their regular print edition as well!

        How'd she get this interview? I hear he's been elusive as air.
        Xhris -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @07:42PM (#38041)
        (User #1858 Info)
          morrisset speaks... (Score:0)
          and says nothing, like often. he's reserved, a nice guy, really.
          Anonymous -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @08:42PM (#38049)
            Interview (Score:1)
            A truly lovely interview! Please come back, Morrissey! (To Minneapolis, specifically) I have the unfortunate curse of never having seen you live!

            So, isn't it nice to see this, so honest and so simple. No MTV extras needed for this interview!
            Whoaba <whoaba@hotmail.com> -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @08:59PM (#38050)
            (User #1366 Info | http://www.geocities.com/whoaba/ )
            "Man is not born wicked: he becomes so, as he becomes sick." -Voltaire
            • Re:Whoaba by Anonymous (Score:0) Thursday August 29 2002, @07:28AM
              Johnny Marr, did you read this? (Score:1)
              [...]
              And I feel like those songs are mine; they're nobody else's. I don't think the other three group members ever felt that those songs belonged to them because I don't think they never understood the songs.
              [...]

              I can understand his point of view but some things are better left unsaid.
              Sven68 -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @10:15PM (#38057)
              (User #4431 Info | http://www.keiselt.de/westham )
              But why not "where's the album?" (Score:1)
              Nice interview, but being a journalist myself I can't help it but being a bit annoyed that as far too often it evolves around other things than one actually is concerned about.
              Like, what's the story with the new songs?
              IS there an album coming out?
              Why did he feel the urge to go on tour now, and why the kinda strange choice of songs to play?
              Oh well, we'll never learn.
              Martin -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @10:51PM (#38058)
              (User #278 Info | http://www.thefarm.cjb.net/ )
              A Slight Case of Overcombing
                What can you say? (Score:1)
                I LOVE this man!
                Grimace -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @10:52PM (#38059)
                (User #5969 Info)
                  Well, I wonder (Score:0)
                  "Well, all I ever had and all I ever continue to have is integrity.."

                  Suedehead - the best of
                  World of Morrissey
                  My early burglary years
                  The best of Morrissey
                  The very best of the Smiths

                  Need I say more?
                  Eric Hartman -- Wednesday August 28 2002, @11:27PM (#38062)
                  (User #5103 Info)
                  It is a very mixed blessing to be brought back from the dead.
                  RE: Well, I wonder (Score:0)
                  You didn't mention 'Bona Drag'.
                  How kind of you.
                  Anonymous -- Thursday August 29 2002, @02:41AM (#38072)
                  • Bona Drag by Anonymous (Score:0) Thursday August 29 2002, @04:50AM
                    • Re:Bona Drag by Anonymous (Score:0) Thursday August 29 2002, @06:31AM
                      • Re:Bona Drag by Anonymous (Score:0) Thursday August 29 2002, @07:07AM
                        • Re:Bona Drag by Live in Dallas cross (Score:1) Friday August 30 2002, @12:03AM
                          • Re:Bona Drag by Anonymous (Score:0) Saturday August 31 2002, @03:41PM
                    I won't share you! (Score:1)
                    Quite interesting read, to say the least. You couldn't really expect the man to have such an opinion on that EMINEM jerk, could you? I also agree, that there are missing some quite obvious questions indeed, though the thing that really made me wonder, was to claim THE SMITHS' songs to be his own exclusively. That's definitely a little adventurous. How pretentious can you possibly be? It's one thing seeing Johnny nowadays ruining his credibility with that boring Neil Finn nerd, but to state, that he's not an integral part of those songs(which he wrote ALL the music for) is simply off-key. Nevertheless, great to have the Mozzer back anyway, hopefully with some record company executives catching up on those TV performances! HAIL MOZ!!
                    Opolus -- Thursday August 29 2002, @03:39AM (#38075)
                    (User #5987 Info)
                    "Slit my eyes, for they'll remember..."
                      Call me a skeptic, but... (Score:1)

                      ...she asked him when was the last time he "came to the states." His answer is early 2000. Isn't that a bit weird since he LIVES here? And not asking about new material or a record deal is just plain lazy.

                      If this wasn't in a major city's paper, I'd be inclined to smell a trace of fabrication.

                      Pleasant man, though, Morrissey or not! :)

                      Cheers,

                      Jamie
                      Jamie <northpaw22@netzero.net> -- Thursday August 29 2002, @05:36AM (#38088)
                      (User #48 Info)
                        Has this questioner even heard of Morrissey? (Score:1)
                        I agree with Jaimie about the question regarding how long it has been since he has been in the States. It is quite misinformed along with others, such as:

                        "Do you listen to hip-hop at all?"
                        See Panic

                        "How do you relate to the Smiths' body of work? Do you still listen to it? "
                        He performs it every other night

                        Overall, it is good to hear the Moz's charm.
                        Dagenham Dave -- Thursday August 29 2002, @05:56AM (#38089)
                        (User #953 Info | http://randumbs.blogspot.com/ )
                        In their rattling cars with their prattling mouths (Score:0)
                        Morrissey attributes Eminem with a lot more integrity than Eminem has likely ever possessed. Eminem is as much a tool of the BIG MUSIC INDUSTRY as Britney or N'Sync. If Eminemn wasn't a part of the Brit n'Sync realm, would Eminem sing about them with such affected vitriol? Likely not.
                        Anonymous -- Thursday August 29 2002, @07:32AM (#38103)
                        Interview (Score:1)
                        Nice, interesting interview. Nice to here he still cares and that he's as passionate as ever. Will the new work reflect this, I wonder?
                        Rico -- Thursday August 29 2002, @07:34AM (#38104)
                        (User #3487 Info | http://profiles.myspace.com/users/5347553 )
                        Karma equals minus infinity, but I stand up for the truth
                          He lives in the States! (Score:1)
                          "When is the last time you came to the states?

                          M: At the beginning of 2000."

                          Morrissey lives in LA! Am I missing something here? Did he understand "this state" rather than “to the states”?

                          Really how can anyone think this was a good interview?

                          No questions about the a new album, nothing really insightful about the new songs.

                          No come back after the bold statement of "... I don’t think they never understood the songs..."

                          And if he doesn't believe even the other band members could understand the songs could anybody else be capable of it in his opinion?

                          This interview was just like any other... very mediocre.

                          “How do you feel about interviews? I mean, 20 years of them.

                          M: Well a lot of them are quite peculiar, but occasionally I think its worth it for the moments when you feel that the person you're talking to really does understand you.”

                          Give me one example of how she understands him? Get into his head, reporter! Ask him if he is Still Ill or something?? Ask him about other solo artists. Popa Roach, Eminem? This woman is out of her wits!

                          Jeez what a wasted opportunity.
                          MozRulez -- Thursday August 29 2002, @08:13AM (#38115)
                          (User #5805 Info)
                          This is just a thought but..... (Score:1)
                          if Morrissey were to become a mormon, does that mean he would have to marry himself seven times?
                          Jim Rome -- Thursday August 29 2002, @10:30AM (#38138)
                          (User #720 Info | http://www.jimrome.com/ )
                          ...and how?
                          Journalism 101 (Score:1)

                          Although I find the interview somewhat lacking in creative punch (i.e.inventive...persuasive...original...
                          questions), I did find it refreshing to see someone treat Moz with the proper amount of respect. He is an icon...probably among the last of the true ones. Can a new record be far behind? Also has he raised the possibility of releasing his upcoming on the internet???
                          You are the true Outsider...
                          eventhorizon2 -- Saturday August 31 2002, @06:21PM (#38426)
                          (User #959 Info | http://www.latimes.com/ )
                          "Another case of unrequited love in which I, as ever, take the leading part."
                            hmm... (Score:1)
                            i agree with the fact that she respects him etc, blah blah blah. but i have a collection of morrissey interviews over the years, and the most interesting interviews are when the interviewer knows what he's like, coy and sarky etc, and kind of challenges moz, his answers are always more interesting then. when they just suck up and pander to him like this interviewer does it's so crap! i mean, you can respct someone but also be critical and not be all submissive with him. i'm sure he'll get too big for his boots sooner or later.
                            lily -- Sunday September 01 2002, @10:07AM (#38496)
                            (User #771 Info)
                            • Perspective by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday September 01 2002, @10:19AM
                              How can someone so old, say words so bright? (Score:1)
                              *SIGH* How can ANYONE own so much wisdom and yet stay so darn funny?! Oh I forgot, he's got no wisdom nor any kind of humour....just pure integrity....well, that's not so bad after all..
                              mozzergirl -- Monday September 02 2002, @12:28AM (#38554)
                              (User #2801 Info)
                              Will you put your arms around me, I won't tell anybody
                                The best part... (Score:1)
                                "Well, all I ever had and all I ever continue to have is integrity—I have absolutely nothing else. And most people who are successful have everything else except integrity. But I love having it this way. I feel the way it happened for me was the right way, and it was a meaningful way and it's a way that continues to make sense. And there's never been any deception at all. Believe me, that's very difficult to maintain. Because the pressure within the music industry is to ignore integrity, ignore your heart."

                                How many famous people can make such a claim - and actually be telling the truth? None that I can think of...but dear boy Morrissey. And in response to his last words: at the end of every performance I've attended, I think to myself, "it was too short; I can't wait until he returns!"
                                J. Razor -- Tuesday September 03 2002, @07:58AM (#38723)
                                (User #724 Info)
                                I'm Alone


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