Update: 09/03 20:46 GMT:
Interview is online, links from Dave2006 (posted in the forums in the previous thread):
Morrissey interview: Big mouth strikes again - by Simon Armitage, The Guardian
For 30 years, poet Simon Armitage's admiration for Morrissey has bordered on the obsessive. But could his love survive an encounter with the famously sharp-tongued singer-songwriter?
Also:
Morrissey reignites racism row by calling Chinese a 'subspecies' - by Alexandra Topping, The Guardian (includes additional statement from Morrissey)
Remark came in attack on animal welfare in China, with singer having faced repeated criticism on race comments
---
Kewpie sends the link to the thread in the forums started by Vic Strangeways (via
Morrissey reddit) detailing the forthcoming interview and photos in The Guardian Weekend (Sep. 4):
Morrissey on Guardian
Update: 09/03 17:33 GMT:
preview pic replaced by clearer pic posted in the Guardian Twitter feed (sistasheila posted in the forum thread, credit to
quiffaas site):
---
Posted in the thread by Sim Tappertit:
The Guardian's Kath Viner has been tweeting about the interview. She says "He has some sparkling lines - with one appalling exception."
She won't elaborate what that "appalling" comment is. The fact the headline is "Bigmouth Strikes Again" is now making me a bit worried. Wasn't that the NME headline a few years ago when THAT interview came out?
Scan (Score:1)
(User #7815 Info)
Here we go again... (Score:0)
The appalling comment (Score:1, Informative)
Re:The appalling comment (Score:2, Interesting)
The apologists in the media will bend over backwards to give the benefit of the doubt to the worst scum this world has to offer, just to avoid the label of racist.
Morrissey was giving an opinion about the atrocities in China. Anyone that happens to be Chinese that agrees with him would obviously know that he's not putting the entire Chinese race under that umbrella.
There's a strange protectionism going on these days where people feel they need to be outraged for another culture. It's such a waste of time.
(User #197 Info | http://myspace.com/thenewslave)
Parent
Re:The appalling comment (Score:3, Funny)
http://www.stormfront.org/forum/t738797/
(User #23034 Info)
Parent
yes! meow (Score:1)
(User #401 Info | http://www.omgmyblog.com/)
Erm..... (Score:0)
katy perry (Score:0)
"i love animals, they taste great"
What a handsome fellow! (Score:1, Funny)
Yawn (Score:1)
(User #13749 Info | http://somedizzywhore.com/)
Look what the cat dragged in! (Score:2, Funny)
(User #12673 Info)
Some pics from this article... (Score:4, Informative)
http://i51.tinypic.com/wbclq8.jpg
Main pic...
http://i55.tinypic.com/24lnggm.jpg
Moz cuddling cat...
http://i52.tinypic.com/1z4wrcx.jpg
Interview online now... (Score:0)
Also... http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/sep/03/morrissey-china-subspecies-racism [guardian.co.uk]
Re:And there's more (Score:2, Informative)
(User #12673 Info)
Parent
Tim Jonze... (Score:0, Informative)
Genius photo! (Score:0)
Chinese animal activists (Score:1)
I think the poor Chinese are very supply-and-demand orientated. They might catch on quicker than other countries to better treatment of animals when given the chance, but the recent record isn't impressive.
Meanwhile, the flippant assumption that Filipino slave girls are willing narcotic trays incarnate? Hello?!
(User #12673 Info)
Re:Chinese animal activists (Score:2, Interesting)
Understanding the pressures of such a large country to compete internally and with the rest of the world partly helps to explain the anomaly. It's all rather poignant considering the past noble culture of the country in this respect, a history which nevertheless offers great hope:
"China was a major center of Buddhism and the founding state of Taoism, two nature-oriented philosophies that promote vegetarianism and low-impact living.
However, the situation in modern China is quite different.
In recent history many Chinese people were too poor to afford meat, and today they have grown up and/or had children of their own.
Back with a vengeance, they are almost literally munching on any little critter they can get their hands on.
This explains the lack of overt vegetarianism and the quizzical looks you may garner when you finally get your message across..." - http://www.vegetarian-china.info/#history [vegetarian-china.info]
(User #12673 Info)
Parent
Just have a look at this....... (Score:1, Informative)
silly season (Score:1)
(User #19486 Info)
Dial a cliche (Score:1)
(User #15707 Info)
Superb . . . (Score:1)
It is beautiful.
Je t'aime Morrissey . . .
IX
(User #22795 Info)
Please explain (Score:0)
I'm glad somebody's speaking out.
I Love You Morrissey (Score:1)
Again
And I Love him
With Love, with Kate, with Sebastien, and with BrummieBoy
(User #12664 Info | http://www.morrissey-solo.com/)
All You Need is Me-ow (Score:1)
"If anyone has seen the horrific and unwatchable footage of the Chinese cat and dog trade – animals skinned alive – then they could not possibly argue in favour of China as a caring nation. There are no animal protection laws in China and this results in the worst animal abuse and cruelty on the planet. It is indefensible."
When will the media understand that Morrissey will not back down in his defense of animals.
Ever.
(User #11277 Info)
Bizarre and offensive (Score:0)
Re:Bizarre and offensive (Score:2, Insightful)
His game is a highly calculated one, and words are never "lightly thrown" in his case...
(User #22903 Info)
Parent
Band and fans (Score:1)
Aw! So there is still a particular band, and we're always on his mind. ; )
(User #12673 Info)
What? (Score:1)
(User #23540 Info)
Mongolian Beef (Score:0)
Fanta: Not Suitable For Vegetarians (Score:2, Funny)
Seriously Morrissey, just go into retirement and take your reissued with a tacky badge singles and albums with you. Your whining, offensive diatribes and most of all your increasingly racist Little Englander bile is all so utterly boring and tiresomely now predictable.
You remind me more and more of Brigitte Bardot who died a bitter and twisted fascist reactionary who cared more about animals than human beings.
Guardian Exclusive (Score:0)
Wish it was my pussy - sigh
Mrs Slocombe
The whole comment in context (Score:1)
The whole Guardian article is not about this at all, but since there is so much discussion about the latter part of the statement (esp. in the forums), the full actual statement by Moz should be brought to light, imho:
"Did you see the thing on the news about their treatment of animals and animal welfare? Absolutely horrific. You can't help but feel that the Chinese are a subspecies."
I place the responsibility of Moz's statement on the BBC because it's quite obvious many (not just Moz) would have thought or said the same thing after watching that program. There was no other part of the newstory that gave balance, which would have been proper journalism. China is also a vast producer of fake, synthetic 'pleather' made of man-made materials (which is usually cheaper than so-labeled "genuine leather"). One has to wonder why this was not also addressed if it took into consideration its viewers who would look upon the different ethnicity and nationality of the abusers and instantly identify "them, never me." That is the power of media.
With the omission of balance, though more shocking and compelling, you do take away viewers' choice to make their own minds up over the full situation more critically. I'm quite surprised, actually, given the BBC is usually more thorough than American primetime news. It's quite disappointing.
China itself being a police state, the government there (who also control media) would unfortunately never allow such a negative thing to air to its own people, who would be absolutely horrified. They are not given the opportunity to even be aware much less say, "Did you see the thing on the news..." If it did, would the millions of Chinese vegetarian buddhists be able to stop it? Probably unfortunately not. What would stop it is for consumers throughout the world to stop supporting the fur and leather trade, wherever it is (does leather and fur only come from China? Really now) and wherever it goes (frankly, the local mall of all of us, unless we live in an isolated vegetarian commune).
Imho, addressing the fur/leather industry directly as non-consumers would be more effective than expecting animal protection laws to materialize there (when Chinese women don't even have reproductive rights over their own bodies, organs are taken from prison inmates, etc. etc.). It's a different reality there, and there's a reason why so many leave or at least want to. The average caring person in China is kept ignorant about certain things and has learned by force to deal with other imposed circumstances. There has undeniably been an economic tradeoff for their compliance. That is capitalism, which we can and do affect.
Something pro-active might be to let fashion/toy business owners/clerks know that you prefer buying synthetic or cotton-made clothing and toys and that you don't think it's really in style anymore to wear real fur or leather (and perhaps not sanitary for any toys to include real fur or leather). And put your stinkiest face on when you say "leather" or "fur." There really are goods that are not shipping anymore, just due to the poor economy, so if there's ever a time this would have an impact, it would be now.
That's just a suggestion that I think would more properly address the situation than equating Moz's statement (including his most recent shared in the forums, p.12, Thank you, Voodoo Doll) to racist views against Chinese as a people and comparing ourselves and our beliefs/biased views with that.
That said (whew!)... the article was quite a delight to read, imho. I agree with Mozmic Dancer, the bit about M's heart for his band and fans is really nice and Armitage really missed the mark by not sharing quotes from that.
A good chuckle from these parts:
Armitage: "While trying not
(User #2891 Info)
This is the Morrissey I know and love... (Score:0)
(User #14697 Info)
Good to see new interview but.... (Score:1)
Perceived racist comments - Madstock NME 2007 etc etc..
Refusal to allow photos to be published - Record Mirror 1987 ( mind you is it any wonder if he was wearing gold trainers and red polo shirt!)
Comments on how he like singers for standing alone in spotlight and also not wanting to live with anyone
Rather see him in media than not and he will be sorely missed when he packs all this in. Must be saving all good stuff for his autobiography which he keeps saying is nearly done
New bits picked up - lives in Switzerland some of time - love of band/fans
(User #23490 Info)
Moz you twat you did it again! (Score:1, Funny)
To say the least... (Score:2, Funny)
No matter what Chinese eat, whether it is dogs, cats, cows, horses, snakes, sharks, monkeys, Tony Blairs, Rocco Siffredis... there is basically a good reason to it it: HUNGER. It is one of the most populated country in the whole world, and it's been chronically subject to starvation for centuries,, and this is how they develop a cuisine that included that many ingredients, including some insects... as well as the 1st gastronomy in the world.
Something that ignorant fools such as Morrissey, who never had anything but the issues of the rich to deal with - depression, neurosis, the luxury to chose your food and your hairstyle, is unable to grasp. Because even when you were poorly sitting in your bedrom in Stretford, you were probably richer than most Chinese, now.
Cats or dogs are animals. We are human. If you are a meat eating human, you are entitled to eat any animals you encounter. Some might find it violent or horrific, some may just find it good. Period.
So Morrissey, stop judging people from your five-star hotel. I met you once in Roma at the Hotel de Russie. That's where you belong now, and you are clueless about what happens in the gutter of the world.
Retired Whore
Silly comment... (Score:0)
Appalling subspecies? (Score:0)
Why are we even debating this? (Score:0)
Two Go In, One Comes Out (Score:3, Insightful)
"Then he [Morrissey] gives a little bow, a modified version of the one I've seen him give about a thousand times on stage, one foot forward and the other behind, head low, eyes to the floor. It's a bit like being greeted by a matador: the gesture of respect is genuine, but we all know what happens to the bull."
That about sums up the game here. We all enter the ring with Morrissey, and only a few lucky persons come out unscathed.
Of course everyone is going to talk about his unfortunate comment regarding the entire population of China. It is both defensible and indefensible. On the one hand, whenever I see anything like the horrific, brutal, unbearable torture of living creatures in the YouTube clips, the first thing that comes to mind is that no human could do this to another living creature; it is inhumane to say the least and (I'd like to think) inhuman as well. This goes for people of all nationalities: I don't care where you're from, if you're torturing animals you're a monster completely lacking compassion or mercy who should not be walking upright. Full stop.
Where Morrissey made his mistake was in his usual hyperbolic language, but he has said more than once that he feels he must overstate his case to get his point across. Unfortunately, people are focusing on his words rather than the horrific practices to which he is trying to draw attention.
As for the rest of it, the interview made me laugh out loud and feel rather alienated in equal measure - something Morrissey has been increasingly good at. He lacks the easy charm of yesteryear, but he certainly hasn't lost his ability to baffle.
I agree with several posters above - why not print Morrissey's comments about his fans? This is not only a bit of an unnecessary tease, it is leaving out an important part of the picture. Morrissey reserves the best part of himself for his audience; leaving out these comments is only giving us part of the picture.
Actually, I think the most callous thing that Morrissey said was "Two r's and two s's." That's completely uncalled for.
(User #14203 Info)
Cat comments (Score:3, Interesting)
(User #18669 Info)
Too funny (Score:0)
The idea of SPM taking on factory work in order to purchase some Hannah Montana merchandise is too funny for words.
Re:Hopes & expectations, black holes & rev (Score:2, Interesting)
"We're all lonely, but I'd rather be lonely by myself than with a long list of duties and obligations. I think that's why people kill themselves, really. Or at least that's why they think, 'Thank heaven for death.' "
Mental 'gristle', from a man who's known to have been hugely generous to his next of kin, He's mentioned the distractions and demands of potential in-laws before. Its' often true that a lot of time can be spent trying to please other people only for no one to be really satisfied with the results. In this he is heir to a long line of advocates of civil disobedience, from Buddha and Jesus, through to HD Thoreau http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html [eserver.org] , Wilde, King.
On the other hand, I do remember boxes arriving at Christmas from aunts in California full of wonderful toys, without which our childhood would have been poorer. As children grow up, in my experience, it's much harder to get it right and unless you know them very well, prepare for ridicule in response to your gifting efforts! So I think ultimately it's a question of priorities, like when you're flying in an airplane - put on your own safety belt first, and then choose what you can or want to do regarding the needs of other people?
(User #12673 Info)
Parent
meat is murder (Score:2, Funny)
(User #23672 Info)
Something is scratching my skull. (Score:0)
sooo mr. waters and mr. morrissey (Score:0)
(User #23307 Info)
Hard to defend (Score:1, Insightful)
Disgusted (but not of Tunbridge Wells) (Score:2, Insightful)
However, having just read Simon Armitage's article and Alexandra Topping's comments in the Guardian I am disgusted with the press once again. It is a typical example of how someone's comments are distorted in order to create some sort of controversy.
Ms Topping please note Morrissey doesn't call the Chinese a 'subspecies' he says 'you can't help but FEEL that the Chinese are a subspecies" which is something quite different. People may say this is a question of semantics but it it is rather important when you are denigrating someone in public . Furthermore the Chinese do have an appalling record with regard to both animal and human rights . Furthermore, they are one of the world's greatest polluters. Of course noone is allowed to criticise the Chinese - not because that would be deemed racist - but because they are bank rolling the West.
As for Simon Armitage if he did think 'at the time it was a dangerous thing to say' why include this quote in his article at all? If he is the big fan he purports himself to be why not protect his hero from from himself and exclude it from his article entirely ? Obviously his job as a scummy journalist takes precedence over his duty as a loyal fan.
Having read his interview it strikes me that the whole episode smacks of revenge a) because Morrissey hates the photographs they had taken together and 'has insisted they will never see the light of day" or b) because Morrissey's eyebrows lifted and fell, uncomprehendingly when he was slipped a Scaremongers CD. Either way Armitage's action is despicable
Rant over
(User #18669 Info)
pics (Score:1)
they don't seem from 16 years ago
so it was Jake Owen, the boxer bodyguard he
was a while sorta 'close' in the 90's
[1993-1996, thereabouts]
not much news, more a promo for his upcoming re-released work
hope the single will do good though
(User #220 Info)
Words, just words (Score:2, Interesting)
(User #6984 Info)
Great take on this... (Score:0)
I wonder how the owner of this site feels? (Score:0)
Shocking! (Score:1, Funny)
What have the Chinese ever given us? (Score:0)
Morrissey's Right (Score:0)
The Chinese treatment of animals and the environment makes me f'ing sick.
I don't care what kind of soppy liberal fag Morrissey is, he's right about this one.