• Oporto, Portugal Retrospective - Oct. 29 1999 - scans and captions by Helena.
• Lisbon, Portugal Retrospective - Oct. 30 1999 - scans and captions by Helena
• Morrissey in Portugal - press - scans by Helena

** Reminder - the Morrissey Party in Oporto Portugal is happening this Friday - March 3. (website)

And here's a rumor regarding Portugal, anonymously sent a couple months ago:

...One thing I neglected to mention Morrissey is said to be looking to move away from Los Angeles and possibly to Portugal.

Again who knows if this is accurate or just something being kicked around. All that was said was something like "Morrissey spent some time in Portugal and loved it there and is having somebody look for a place for him to buy."

Morrissey

Proclaiming "I'm sick, I'm dull, I'm plain. Hello," the Sultan of Sensitivity, Morrissey, began the first of two sold-out gigs at the 9:30 club Sunday night with "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side." The English singer certainly had the audience on his, as evidenced by the steady stream of flowers and books thrust at him.

Morrissey ("Moz" to his legions) may not have been cracking wise about being ill, as he looked tired and distracted. He poured what energy he could muster into a smartly selected 75-minute career overview.

A competent backing quartet, led by guitarists Boz Boorer and Alain Whyte, expanded the model Moz established with Smiths partner Johnny Marr to include a hint of glam and rockabilly, and never overshadowed their leader. Early standouts such as "Hairdresser on Fire" and "November Spawned a Monster" were mixed with the somewhat more recent compositions "The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils" and "Now My Heart Is Full." The Smiths songbook was consulted for the post-adolescent hypersensitivity classics "Half a Person," "Is It Really So Strange?" and the still-powerful "Meat I Murder."

Morrissey seemed most concerned with simply surviving the set, and only during the final numbers, "I Can Have Both" and "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me," did the performance rise above the ordinary. An encore of "Shoplifters of the World Unite" was the evening's highlight, moving several fans to leap onstage and embrace their hero. The late-set rally proved that when he's feeling up to it, the singular Englishman is still Moz def.

--Patrick Foster

Thought a few of you might find this interesting. Morrissey gets a reference in the new Nerf Herder album.. on track "For You" they say..."I'd be depressed like Morrissey". The new Nerf Herder album will be in stores on March 7.

Here in Italy 9th March 2000 there will be a Smiths tribute night at PADOVA. With Music, video, memorabilia, me and my fanzine (Speedway) and an exclusive live set from NORTHPOLE, a great italian band... all details in the flyer...