Still surprising, 10 years after "Autobiography" was published, that Joe Moss's exit from The Smiths hasn't gotten more scrutiny. Even on Substack, Haslam and Moss's son are actually more respectful and sparing than they need to be. Morrissey's own account of the 'sinister plot' to oust him from the band so Joe could become the front-man is pure crackpot paranoia, proof positive his talent for self-sabotage is unparalleled in the history of rock and roll. When you consider that Johnny loved Joe as a father figure, and Morrissey apparently blamed Johnny, Mike and Andy for going along with the 'plot', the band's acrimonious break-up was a fait accompli as early as 1984. Moss's forced departure could have and maybe should have ended The Smiths.
Thankfully for the rest of us, Johnny knew he had a special songwriting partner. Or maybe, like a lot of 21-year olds, his callow youth made him emotionally bulletproof. In any case it's stunning The Smiths survived as long as they did.