November 5, 1999

Dear Howie,

Hope you're not missing Ilene too much?

I thought you might like to know that "SACK" have supported me on this European tour, and are going down fantastically well. They will also be with me at the following US dates, and are well worthy of your inspection.

11/12 San Francisco, CA - Maritime Hall
12/12 Fresno, CA - Rainbow Ballroom
14/12 San Diego, CA - Cox Coliseum
15-16/12 Los Angeles, CA - Palladium
18/12 Ventura, CA - Ventura Theater
19-20/12 Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues

Best Wishes,

Morrissey

To see this story with its related links on the News Unlimited site, go to http://www.newsunlimited.co.uk

Random views

What Morrissey fans are watching on television
Sin Pattenden

Tuesday November 16 1999
The Guardian

Sam Reynolds: "I've got about 250 Smiths and Morrissey videos and that's really all I watch on the television. I think Morrissey should have his own game show or something, so he can be on more often. Or he could be in Baywatch."

Mark Taylor: "Emmerdale. To me, it has to be the best soap. I've always enjoyed it, since I was a kid. I like Mandy Dingle, because I think she's a really talented actress. She looks a lot like my sister. My television exploded a few months ago. I think someone dropped something down the back of it."

Poppy Long: "I like football. Any sport, boxing, wrestling and that sort of thing are good too. We've got cable and I'm a sports fanatic so I watch television all night. I'm an insomniac so that helps bring my consumption up. And I'm addicted to Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. I've rung up but they haven't called me in yet. I really hate that Chris Tarrant though, I think he's a berk. He tries to outwit the contestants and make them really scared but he's just a sad man. A very rich, sad man. I used to be pathetic and watch Brookside and Corrie because Morrissey said he liked them, but then I thought sod that, and watched what I wanted."

Vince Vincent: "I like Brookside, especially if Shaun Duggan's writing the episode, because he gets Morrissey quotes in, and Oscar Wilde references and that's really funny."

Sheila Guthrie: "I haven't watched television for about four years now. I got sick of it. The last thing I remember was the repeats of the Likely Lads. I liked Thelma's dresses, she was a good woman. I think I identified with her. Why did I stop watching TV? I got sick of the adverts, that was the main one. That woman shouting "BOOODDYYYYYFOOORRRM!" and that sort of thing. General disillusionment. That might have been the time I drank a bottle of vodka and took a packet of Prozac."

Sin Pattenden spoke to fans at the Morrissey gig, Forum, Kentish Town, London

I just received an e-mail from Goldenvoice and it said:

Morrissey Fans!: Do you want to see a 3rd date at the Palladium?? Let us know at: [email protected]

Morrissey, London Kentish Town Forum

Gig Played: Sat 13 Nov 1999

Twelve years into his increasingly irrelevant solo career and currently without a record deal, the one-time Smiths singer now resides in California – the rest-home for forgotten British stars, as his idol Wilde once decreed.

Much of his dwindling fanbase is American these days, yet his first British shows in two years are sold out regardless, the crowds comprising many ageing Smiths die-hards, their comedy quiffs still in evidence if receding a tad.

The laddish sector of the audience (an element of any Moz gig as predictable as the many stage invasions) herald the show with a chorus of 'Morrissey, Morrisey, Morissey' to the tune of 'Ere we go…' terrace chant. Yet the ensuing performance suggests the goalposts of pop were moved many years ago fro El Mobo.

Flanked by his usual band of plodding rent-a-mechanics, Moz whips his mic-lead manfully through a one-hour set taking in most of his albums ('Kill Uncle' is wisely ignored), a couple of b-sides (including the excellent 'Hairdresser On Fire'), and three crowd-pleasing Smiths numbers – though the track selection curiously leans towards the obscure.

A request for the single 'Ouija Board Ouija Board' is curtly dismissed: "It's the first time I've ever had a request for that – and it will be completely ignored," he smirks, in a set that includes a few solo A-sides. Moreover, his lack of solo chart action is obviously amusing for the ever-arch Moz, who after playing 'November Spawned A Monster', announces: "That one failed to make it onto 'Now That's What I Call Music 30' – but I survived".

Highlights include the single 'Sonny'. 'Break Up The Family' and the gorgeous 'Now My Heart Is Full', yet the Smiths tracks unsurprisingly receive the biggest cheers. The formerly sprightly 'Is It Really So Strange?' is ruined by pedestrian guitar work, while the one-song encore of 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me' is similarly so-so.

Closing track 'Meat Is Murder', mind , proves Moz still holds his political beliefs dear. Suggesting that fox hunting will never be banned in Britain; "You're naïve if you think Prince William will be denied his right to kill". The ageing activist repeatedly intones the mantra, "The slave trade; the Holocaust; the meat industry" – reminiscent of some barmy old schoolmistress lecturing an ever-diminishing class of pupils, many of whom have long since played truant, settled down in suburbia, or deferred to Newfangled Dance Music Comprehensive.

Still, it's nice to see that in some ways at least, the ever contrary Miss Haversham Of Pop hasn't really changed, as we peer briefly into the latest chapter of The Secret Diary Of Stephen Morrissey Aged 40 and ¾: The Wilderness Years. Sure, his hit-making potential may have dried up long ago, but his wit and vocal prowess remain intact. And hey, at least he hasn't been reduced to playing in an 80s nostalgia package at Wembley alongside Lloyd Cole and Edwyn Collins.

Stephen Eastwood

Hero's return

David Cheal reviews Morrissey at the Forum, NW4

'GOOD evening, and welcome to sing-along-a-Mozza." Thus began the third of four nights in north London midway through the latest UK tour by Morrissey, the former Smiths singer who, contrary to convention, is doing the circuit even though he doesn't have an album to promote (he doesn't even have a recording contract). Ten out of 10 for breaking out of the tired old album-tour-album-tour treadmill. But did Morrissey deliver the festival of popular song promised by his opening gambit?

Not really. Like an extreme version of the curate's egg, it was really very well done in parts, while in others it was barely even warmed up. The chief problem was that the momentum that built from the show's brisk and rather exciting opening minutes (highlights of which included a sparkling rendition of The Boy Racer) was allowed to dissipate; the tempo slowed, the moment was gone. Also, there was something rather lacklustre about Morrissey's performance. He seemed bored.

And the songs? Anyone who went along hoping for a hatful of Smiths hits will have been disappointed. Meat Is Murder made a rare appearance, presaged by a speech about chopping off the heads of the Royal Family (big cheers for that one), but chiefly the material was drawn from Morrissey's solo albums. This, in itself, was not necessarily a bad thing. As himself rather than as a Smith, Morrissey has recorded some good songs - and to remind us, he sang lovely renditions of Now My Heart Is Full and Alma Matters. But these were sporadic eruptions of pleasure in a show that ran out of fizz.

The same could not be said of the crowd. Like sperm swarming frantically around an egg, the most devoted fans positioned themselves at the front of the stage, jostling and wriggling, desperate to reach their ultimate goal: the man with the quiff and the admirably smooth torso. Bouncers were on hand to thwart the invaders, but it was hard to see why they went to such efforts to do so - none of those who squeezed past the cordon meant Morrissey any harm, they wanted only to kiss his hand and give him a cuddle. Clearly, he's still a hero to some. Nevertheless, this was the performance of a man who has long since begun the slow descent from the peak of his powers.

Touring until Dec 6.

Last Saturday night, November 13th, Channel 4 presented a 3 hour show announcing the results of their Millennium Music Poll. The poll, in association with HMV and Classic FM, was the largest music poll ever taken in the UK with over 1/2 million people voting.

The first results announced on the show were the Top 20 Best Band's Of The Millennium. To my utter surprise The Smiths were number 20, not only that but they showed quite a long clip of The Smiths in concert playing 'Bigmouth Strikes Again'. Now, of all the bands announced only 3 had footage shown, The Smiths (no. 20), The Stone Roses (no. 13) and The Beatles (no. 1). Believe it or not a few boy bands and teen stars including The Backstreet Boys (no.19) actually beat The Smiths, which a lot of the presenters seemed embarrassed about. Which could have been why they emphasized the genuinely good bands by showing footage of them.

I thought it was a great result, considering that overall the poll was overly mainstream and current, with most people picking today's popular bands over bands past. So, maybe England hasn't forgotten The Smiths or Morrissey?

Morrissey/The Smiths tribute act Sweet and Tender Hooligans will be appearing at E9 in El Paso TX and The Golden West in Albuquerque NM

Friday November 19th
E9
511 Western St.
El Paso TX (all ages)
915-544-8736

Saturday November 20th
Golden West
620 Central Southwest
Albuquerque NM (21 and over)

The band will perform a set of Morrissey and The Smiths tunes and are always happy to take requests.