A bore? BB has not released anything compelling since "Sexuality." Write another song about being a daddy. And I write as a Billy Bragg fan.

You are the insignificant bore.... Piss of you twat.... your opinion is hardly worth considering.... Viva Moz..... Long live Morrisseym the king, no better yet GOD!

"I can't help feeling there's a certain wilfulness in talking to the NME and bringing these things up"

Billy definitely has a point.
I love both (Moz and Billy), and Billy is a wonderful person who also genuinely cares about people and he wouldn't say these things just for the sake of it - the subject of "Englishness" is very close to his heart and I recommend everyone pick up his book on the subject; it's a compelling read.

Also, from his tour diary last year: http://www.newstatesman.com/200603270002

"I couldn't resist going along to see Morrissey at a packed Austin Music Hall. He played a blinder, mixing songs from his new album with half a dozen Smiths standards. Singing along to "Still Ill", I felt 17 again - which is odd, because I was in my late twenties when the Smiths were at their peak. He closed with a stomping version of "How Soon Is Now?". Eat your heart out, David Cameron."

--April

I love Billy Bragg.Got all his records.Seen him live,but Billy mate ,Morrissey's not a bore.Far from it.

Is as muddled on his politics as Morrissey is.

I wish people would quit comparing Morrissey with his former self. Especially his former Smiths persona. "Charming", "English" and other such language wouldn't have the same appeal if it wasn't for Moz. He's taught generations how to speak and think. I'm glad he has changed. Shows that he is not too concerned with what other people expect of him and more focused on his art and the future. And YES, England is not the same. And neither is any other western, developed power nation. So, just let it go and adapt. I live in America and as you all well know, this place is a shell of what is was just from 8 years ago. Times are a changin'.

Billy Bragg read the article in the magazine and I guarantee has no idea about Morrissey's refute...

So, good job, Billy...read an interview in a magazine that is nothing more than a practical joke and completely discount what you know about Morrissey. Billy Bragg is like the typical dirty liberal who believes everything the liberal press tells him--there's nothing of individual investigation.

I agree with the earlier post...you haven't produced shit since Sexuality, which was over 15 years ago! Why don't you and Michael Stipe go get lost together and forever...

I'm glad someone relevant is finally weighing in on the situation.

Who the F#*K is this guy anyway? Seriously. I really have no idea why he gets his own paragraph on this site. Who the f*#k is he?

Ugh, whatever. Don't tell me - I'm over it.

To Know One

Billy Bragg is an English National Treasure, who bravely took on the Right-Wing readership of The Daily Telegraph' concerning what it means to be English.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=BL OGDETAIL&grid=F11&blog=yourview&xml=/news/2007/04/ 19/ublview19b.xml

Having argued a very persuasive 'vision' he then had to face venomous attacks from anonymous cowards in the reader comments following his article. Cowards who ridiculously and fatuously accused him of being part of 'white-flight' from London because he had the temerity to move to rural Dorset to raise his children. Mr Bragg defended himself ferociously against any such mis-interpretation of his actions and comments. I'm not sure whether he had to threaten or take legal action in any forum against this malicious assertion.

On his web-site he conducts many stimulating and challenging discussions on Immigration, Racism & Multi-Culturalism.
I live in The Malvern Hills and I too would take action against any such 'mis-interpretation' of my decision to leave London. House-prices? Collapsing schools and health care? The need to be nearer to my dying parents? Certainly? But 'white-flight'? Because I'm a 'subliminal racist'? Say it, and I'll see you in court.

So, what's the difference? He has opinions. I have opinions. Morrissey has opinions. The question is whether our opinions are required to be legal under English Law or whether they have to submit to some, supposed, P.C Orthodoxy.
I don't think Billy Bragg is a bore. But I don't see what it adds to the current debate to call Morrissey a 'bore' for taking vigorous action to defend his reputation, just as, you, Billy Bragg have done.
Also, in a previous post (Dear Mr Morrissey, Part 2 Wednesday December 05 2007, @05:35PM)I stated: Trevor Phillips (who used to be) Head of the Commission for Racial Equality stated the following:

"The prejudices we have can no longer be described in simple black and white terms. Sixty-one per cent of white Britons think we have too many immigrants; but so do 54 per cent of ethnic minorities." He added legislation to combat "sensational" tabloid reporting of race issues was among measures needed to improve integration”
27th November 2006 Daily Mail.

But I forgot to mention: Mr Phillips is not White. He is a British-Born Citizen (of Colour) with an cultural heritage from Guyana, in South America, which is part of The British Commonwealth.

http://www.100greatblackbritons.com/bios/trevor_ph illips.html

Billy: Is he, also, 'a bore'?

2) 'The Independent' article referenced states:

"Is Morrissey a racist? That's the question that has troubled his fans since he gave an outspoken interview to the 'NME'."
and, also:
"Many of his overwhelmingly liberal and left-wing legions of his fans are questioning whether their hero, a committed vegetarian of ambiguous sexuality and avowed celibacy, has crossed the line that separates mere eccentricity from dangerous provocation."

I wasn't aware of any reliable, 'independent' polls having been done on this topic by any Market Research company. Where did Ciar Byrne get her information to make these assertions? How 'many'? What percentage? And how many of them are actually 'fans' or 'agent provocateurs'?

Sincerely Yours
Mr Andrew G Mooney

.......but he needs to shut the fuck up.

This coming from one of the worst singer song writers in popular music. Jesus, that voice is terrible, and his proselytizing is even more unbearable.

His irrational, adolescent political views are a bore. So, pot meet kettle.

Anyone who favors Bragg, or his ridiculously poor music is a sad twat. The Wilco collaboration was a success, but that had far less to do with him as a competent artist.

Anything someone say's are inflammatory,
Or have we been whispering sweet nothings
in bed?

... Morrissey is not a bore but a junkie for the controversy. and it may get boring sometime.

I don't know enough about Billy Bragg in order to comment on his character, or his motivation, but it seems like he has just waded into this debate in order to voice his opinion that the Morrissey of today isn't the Morrissey of yesteryear. Maybe he was just approached in order to lend credence to a piece of journalism that wasn't entirely without slant. I thought The Independent was supposed to be apolitical, but in many ways putting "Is Morrissey a racist?" on their front page and applying selective song lyrics and 'attributed' quotes in the article, smacks of muddying the water somewhat. And the line, 'has troubled his fans' is rather presumptuous; did she ask any of us? We were troubled by the press reaction, doubtless, but by Morrissey's comments? No way. My conviction about his unprejudiced beliefs remained steadfast and I'm sure most people here felt the same.

If I'm brutally honest, I did think that the way Morrissey expressed himself in the offending interview was rather clumsy and he didn't think on about how fond the media is in taking one's words out of context. Thus, his one off the cuff example about accents in London has been repeated ad infinitum throughout the papers as the coup de grace of the interview and it does make him sound rather clueless and conservative (with a small 'c') on the issue of immigration. However, my immediate reaction to this was that the NME had cut and chopped his answers down; this was obvious for all to see by the use of dots to indicate unfinished sentences. As a writer and an oft interviewed subject, Bragg should be more sympathetic of the fact that the NME (although not having started out the interview with an agenda) aquired a pretty major 'angle' during the editing process. Also, if Billy had read just a paragraph of the statement released yesterday he would be doffing his cap to the Morrissey of old, whose eloquence, sense of humour and focus has never wavered since the 80's, probably not since birth.

To be perfectly frank Billy, you're not very relevant these days in the music business. Upon the release of your book I had both my manager (in his 50's) and several staff (in their 20's) asking who you were. It seems you are known only by those of a certain age or a certain musical bent. I'm sure your book was very good and it had reasonable sales, and as a left leaning liberal I have time for your passionate socialist views but, in all honesty, don't you think that in calling Morrissey a bore (can a bore really create this much of a stir in the press?) you may just have revealed a jealous streak? After 25 years Moz is still reveared as an icon, still hitting number one with his albums and still able to inspire his fans to frenzied and often dangerous acts of devotion at gigs. Meanwhile, you're back to playing the Barnsley Miner's Welfare.

..."it's Political Correctness gone mad"??? If not, there it is! :D

I cannot believe he made those comments.....Billy are you sure? Billy Bragg is the nationalist, NOT Morrissey.

He's been anything but a bore this year, and only in the most unfortunate of ways.

I like Billy Bragg. He is right.
Moz has lost the plot, Jumped the Shark,
Overwith.

Let me get this right. You're speaking as a Smiths fan. The "old" Morrissey (would that be Morrissey of the Smiths?) would consider being a bore worse than being racist. Is that where you stand?

I think Billy Bragg put out one good song with Wilco. Why does he or anyone think his opinion matters?

I don't see how Morrissey can be a bore when there is all this fuss. It's pretty obvious people are perpetually fascinated by the man. Everything he does and says is studied in minute detail for significance. All I can say is, I'd hate to have to live that life. It would have sent me crazy after five years, let alone 25. I'm sure this is the main reason he doesn't (officially) live in England.

I think Billy, like most of us, is just getting exhausted with Morrissey's speak-before-thinking way of existing. It's tiring, very terribly tiring. Morrissey thinks he's far more clever and informed than he really is, or ever was for that matter.

He says that nastiness isn't wit, yet feels compelled to tell us about this journalist's runny nose and insecure, "girlish giggle". He seemingly got a kick out of this young man's adoration for him, and apparent nervousness around him. Nastiness isn't wit? Then why, Mr. Morrissey, even bring up his runny nose in the first place? ...and tell me, Morrissey, if you viciously call into question that particular fan's fawning over you, do you do the same with the thousands who've tossed their chubby bodies onto stage to touch you over the last two decades? Do you mock them as they fatten your wallet ( and belly ) fat boy? Your words are very telling.

* Note: Me calling Morrissey fat boy is okay, as he rather is, and I've walked into the restroom and heard him as he attempted to suck in his hairy chest, to button up his trousers.

Morrissey, Morrissey, Morrissey... shame on you!

Am I the only one who finds it odd that he's always being "cornered" or "mis-quoted"? No other pop singer in the history of music plays this card as often as Morrissey. At some point one has to wonder... either Morrissey is the most unlucky person on the planet (despite his millions) or, come to terms with the truth and see that Morrissey is, and always has been, a fucking asshole.

Sullen (can't remember my password)

I love Moz for his music only.He says many things I don't agree with ,but I don't care. Seems like many of you are now scared to death he cant be all things to all people. Too bad.

and was just giving his opinion about what he thought of another gay english singer. that is all

Has young William nothing else to rant about, labour are in Power so William is longing for the day to come sooner when the Tories are back and he can re-establish himself as a whining goverment hating whinger/song writer. Until that day William please crawl back into your crevice and do not reappear until we are all deaf and blind..............William it was really nothing (Sorry I just couldn't resist that one).

Andie Birmingham.

"Pop stars thicker than pig shitetc etc"..Think Mr Bragg has always carved a niche for himself in the "order of things".Think for yourself B Bragg if you can..

Is he supposed to be a 'friend' of Morrissey? Is this how he knows what the 'old' Morrissey would think? It's very annoying when people who don't know the man make claims about how he 'used to be'.

"And I say that as a Smiths fan". It's also very annoying that most people don't see Morrissey as ever being anything OTHER than the singer of The Smiths. With the way people talk, you would think the only album he ever put out was "The Queen Is Dead" (overrated by the way)!

Do I think he's foolish to say these things? Yes I do.

Do i think you're deluded to say such things Bill?
Braggy's been banging on about immigration and race issues ever since he rode into the limelight, on the back of the Smiths tour and several covers of their songs i might add, maybe he's jealous of the attention morrissey gets, i dont know and i genuinely admire billy bragg but sometimes his political agenda trips him up. His comments are based on the naive presumption that the nme has reported factually and accurately so please bill wind your lovely neck in.

Pot...kettle...black...

That's all I have to say

hairbrushedandparted

Do the author of the Independent article actually now that the "England for the english" lines is in quotations? And has he or she ever heard the song? Quite foolish to use that as an argument since it's a completely non-racist song and a truly brilliant one.

...I had the realization that Morrissey is a good example of a smart person who is not well educated.

left wing = good

right wing = evil

If life were this simple...

you can say things about morrissey
but a bore- he is not1

Firstly, if you're going to slag off Billy Bragg by saying he's done nothing of note since 'Sexuality', you should shut the hell up. He's had two Grammy nominations since then!

Everyone's allowed to have opinions. Moz has his opinions on immigration (which I agreed with by the way) & Billy has his opinions on Moz. If you don't think Morrissey is a bore, just wait til this has dragged on for a month or two. You'll be plenty bored by the end of it. I don't think he's a bore, he just likes an argument but it's just going to go on & on.

You should read The Progressive Patriot by the way. If for no other reason than the opinions on nationalism contained in it are just as controversial as anything Moz has said. Though at least he's come out with songs that tackle racism head on. No-one heard them cos he doesn't sell many records any more but at least they're there!

Perhaps Moz should just for once let his music do the talking. Instead of more songs about killing stepfathers or sweetie pies, he should make a song that's actually about something important.

In all this Billy defending, I nearly missed something.
Morrissey was actually right in what he was trying to say. It's alright for NME writers sitting in 'All Bar One' in Hoxton or some other flash London suburb to say, 'Oh he's a racist' but they should come to Manchester for a while & they'd soon see things a different way.
There was a cartoon in the Metro newspaper today. A man sat in the job centre & the job centre person was saying, 'Have you tried speaking in a Polish accent?' Is that racist too? Or is it true? Fifty eight Eastern European agency staff at my place of work would suggest it's the latter.

One more bit of Billy defending. It's not like he just decided to make a statement. A journo asked a question, he gave an answer. What's wrong with that?

Dubbed 'The Rolling Stones of The Sahara' Tinariwen played at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin tonight. Before they came on during the intermission after the guest slot, I detected Morrissey’s voice over the airwaves, in the Smiths’ song ‘Ask’!

Tinariwen is an African band who supported the Rolling Stones at Slane this year. Influenced by John Lee Hooker and Bob Marley, their music is a fusion of Tuareg desert music, R n B and blues. The band has a really colourful history, with some of the members having spent time as gun-toting nomadic desert tribesmen fighting with Colonel Ghadaffi against the government of Mali. Rousing soulful stuff!