... but a mildly interesting read nonetheless. I think Alain seems like a great guy. Most interesting bits?

That he co-wrote 'Life Is A Pigsty.

That he "doesn't know if he will be asked" to join Moz on tour. Interesting that, for whatever reason, the balance of power seems to have shifted considerably towards Jesse. Time will reveal all.

"my heart goes out to you...." is that is one of your favorite songs Alain. One of Morrissey's most overrated in my opinion. Filler and fluff

Thats sad..." if I get asked back. Im just happy to be back". Whats the deal Moz??? This guy is a nice fellow.

So Alain plays in Morrissey's band and writes songs for him over about a 15-year period (including the new album) and still doesn't know whether he will be "asked back" for the next tour? It's sort of depressing in way, that is, working with (for?) someone for that long and not being secure in your position. I guess one never knows where one stands in Morrissey's opinion.

On the one hand people want Morrissey to move on and find new inspiration - which he may have done - and on the other they begin whining about how ALain might not be the THIRD (!) guitarist on stage in 2006.

Morrissey does not need 3 guitar players on stage - get it morons?

Now I'm pleased Alain is around because I think he has a lot to offer in terms of song writing, but I also hope Jesse has helped galvanise a new direction for Morrissey. The art should come first.

Interesting that he's so proud of "the edges." I adore "sunny" but "edges" seems a bit lumpen and predictable.

broken

What Alain does. I really don't see how Alain being a nice guy has any relevance to his employment as a musician.

I'm not a massive fan of any of the songs he named as his favourites and if that's what his highs are then bring someone else in - I personally think those were his lows. Jesse seems to be a good enough guitarist but we'll have to see if he can write a tune too.

I think that fifteen years is maybe long enough for a working relationship to have run its course. I don't mind if he stays or goes, Morrissey has lost a better tunesmith in the past and still flourished.

Alan Whyte is history.

broken.

That was a tidy yet substantial interview. Alain has his own charisma and while he grafts for success with his own band, many of us will be wishing to see him playing with Morrissey too, at least from time to time, and anticipating "Life is a Pigsty".

I hope Torr won't mind if I butt in for a second to let people know that in the past week or so, a list of fan's tributes about YATQ songs has been uploaded on TrueToYou, bringing back some nice memories of initial impressions. There are one or two contributors who also post here. Also the Listener's section has some well-penned words and pics. Interruption of broadcast over! Back to Alain, who of course played such a big part in YATQ...

I always thought Southpaw would be incredible live! I can only hope the day happens.

What was that all about?!

I wish there was a follow-up.

Is the reason for Mr. Whyte's absence from the vast majority of the Quarry shows still an off-limits topic? Or has it already been revealed (and I missed it)? I get the vague impression from this Q&A that it may have been depression that kept him away (yes, that rhymed, i know). I hope He keeps both he and Mr. Tobias around. They're both excellent musicians, and nice people (which DOES matter).

I did not make it. But I liked the comments and Torr.

Next time perhaps. I'm about to move to Austin and, well, we shall see.

Ha ha...Austin-Bergstrom and Dallas/Fort Worth is texaho's new name.

She's got a Super 80 on her name. I am calling Gerard Aprey.

Hmm:

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What was the extent of your songwriting involvement on Moz's new album Ringleader of the Tormentors?

Well, I was glad to be asked back, and I worked hard.

With the arrival of Jesse Tobias, will you still be in Moz's touring band for '06?

I do not know if I will be asked.
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Oh, my, look how Morrissey makes his band members afraid to speak. Boz's online diaries are similar. Better say as little as possible so nothing annoys Morrissey. I bet they have to walk on egg shells around that fucker.

When someone asked Morrissey while he was promoting Quarry why he never talked about the band, Morrissey said he'd love to but no one asks. What a joke. He wants his band members to be silent and obedient lawnmower parts. It's all part of his sickness of only being able to handle people who are sycophants, like the woman running True To You.

Alain has written loads of excellent songs for Morrissey and he's still gotta be Morrissey's bitch, not saying more than he's oh-so eternally grateful to have been asked back, and he has no idea if he'll be on the tour but he's hoping he pleased the Master enough to be asked.

This is how Morrissey treats people.

With all that said, he's a great singer and his music is fantastic. But I would never wanna know him in real life. Save the songs and fuck the singers.

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Many fans love the song "Southpaw" from SG, did you ever try to convince Moz to play it live?

I did once, and I think he will decide to do it at some point as he likes to change stuff around.
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Since when does he like to "change stuff around"?
He performs virtually the same set every night on any given tour.

In the days of The Smiths Morrissey takes sole responsible, (and credit) for the lyrics. How comes nowadays he needs someone to help him write lyrics?!! He's supposed to be this masterful wordsmith yet he needs some virtually unknown to hold his hand and co-write songs. How can "Sunny" be about Jake if it is written by Alain (50%) surely he didn't have a relationship with him too? I think this sucks why is the album stated BY Morrissey when he only writes 50% of the songs and NONE of the music? It could just as easily be called "Ringleader Of The Tormentors" by Alain Whyte!

Wow you people are loads of fun !

I always thought it was incredibly obvious that Alain was probably tired of touring and thinking of forming his own band, so he left Morrissey's tour to do just that. Probably blew a fuse being forced into a Jobriath uniform shirt as well. He takes a leave of absence for 6 months or so, and then comes out with an album and a new band. That's exactly what he was doing with ALL his time off. Not having a breakdown or being sick. It takes a long time to produce an album and play it live with a band. I can't beleive all this speculation without any thinking involved whatsoever. He was probably having a mid-life crisis and thought... "I gots do me own thing stat, or nevah!" Then we got Red Lightning... Morrissey has seemed like a guy who would be increasingly restrictive to play for over the past few years, so I can't blame Alain for wanting to let loose a little. Compare how "Beethoven was Deaf" sounds like a real live band having fun to "Live at Earls Court" which sounds like a tired band trying to hit every note perfectly at the sacrifice of having any fun whatsoever. Hopefully the next round feels like a band again.

- Man of Vision

People, sorry for my ignorance, but what was Alain's real contribuition to Vauxall and I (best Moz album)? Which tunes did he write for that album? Do you think he's better or worse than Boz?

Alain wrote some absolute gems for the Quarry sessions. Fantastically melodic and varied pieces of music from the piano based melancholic beauty of Friday Mourning and Never Played Symphony to the euphoric upbeat geetar pop of First of the Gang and It’s Hard to Walk Tall plus loads of other fascinating songs (My Life is a Series, Daddy’s Voice). Truly, Alain was the real star of the Quarry campaign. J