Morrissey vs. the NME

[Stefinitely Maybe]

The NME is running a Morrissey interview as its front cover piece this week:



The interview has apparently been 'fabricated' by the NME, and suggests that Morrissey has racist views. The interviewer has removed his name from the piece, and Morrissey's people are now threatening legal action against the NME.

You can read all about it here.

Oh dear.

[fatbastard]

Sounds like their desperate to increase their subscriper base.

[captncrzy]

Ooohhhh......Don't mez with the Moz. He'll sing you swan songs till you DIE.

[sonofhal]

Anyone who still reads the NME probably doesn't know who Morrissey is.

[breakjaw]

Does he call anyone "nappy headed hoes?"Because he can get his job back if he does...

[shakermaker113]

why would you fabricate an interview with morrissey like that? they're mad. I hope they get sued and go out of buisness.

yes I know how unlikely that is. it was just a hope.

[wmgaretjax]

why would you fabricate an interview with morrissey like that? they're mad. I hope they get sued and go out of buisness.

yes I know how unlikely that is. it was just a hope.

sounds like it wasn't fabricated, merely spun in a way morrissey didn't appreciate. he has a history of being an absolute fucking toddler (ie, booting supports on last tour for making a joke about him), and while I can't stand NME, I imagine he was pretty well represented in the interview.

[TomAz]

interesting to see how the immigration conversation differs in the UK than it does in the US

[PassiveTheory]

I'm actually glad he booted Kristeen Young (who sounds like a horrid awful Bjork rip-off with half the creativity and twice the annoying pitch... and is ugly) off from the tour... And here I thought Morrissey used to have good opening band choices (James) sheesh...

Anyway, I find this new development all the more funny given that there was a time where NME stood, for some, for New Morrissey Express... Morrissey has a sketchy legal past, so chances are 50/50 that NME will pay, but yeah, they're a terrible magazine nowadays...

[wmgaretjax]

interesting to see how the immigration conversation differs in the UK than it does in the US

how so Tom?

[fatbastard]

I'm actually glad he booted Kristeen Young

People were imitating her billy goat yowl by the 5th song in. It was quite sad and hilarious at the same time. Perhaps this was his reasoning for booking her in the first place.

[mozabilly54]

People were imitating her billy goat yowl by the 5th song in. It was quite sad and hilarious at the same time. Perhaps this was his reasoning for booking her in the first place.

I hated Kristeen Young. Moz needed to have Girl In A Coma open for him the whole tour, not just the last few dates.

[TeamCoachellaHellYeah]

Morrisey a racist? HA!

[Bud Luster]

Im suprised Morrisey doesnt get his ass kicked way more. I bet he got it in bunches as a kid...

[arie117]

he is human and he needs to be loved...

[amyzzz]

Im suprised Morrisey doesnt get his ass kicked way more. I bet he got it in bunches as a kid...

I'm positive he got his ass kicked.

[summerkid]

God NME is such a rag.

[fatbastard]

I hated Kristeen Young. Moz needed to have Girl In A Coma open for him the whole tour, not just the last few dates.

Hey mozbilly54!!!

[PassiveTheory]

Im suprised Morrisey doesnt get his ass kicked way more. I bet he got it in bunches as a kid...

Not really, he used to be able to run fast as a kid, still you have to figure he must have gotten his face kicked in a few times if he wrote stuff like Rusholme Ruffians.

Also, Morrissey's done some dumb shit to perpetuate the idea that he's a racist; sporting the Union Jack flag at a concert, posing with skinheads, making comments about Top of the Pops only playing black artists, etc.

[Bud Luster]

Well, the union jack is just the brisitsh national flag so no biggie there. And all Morrisey fans look like skinheads to me, even the ones w/ long hair. He might be right about top of the pops, but I get where yous comin from.

[PassiveTheory]

From wikipedia:
A trigger for much of the criticism was Morrissey's performance at the first Madness Madstock! reunion concert at Finsbury Park, London, in 1992, in which he appeared on stage draped in the Union Flag, a symbol often associated with nationalism and hence with far right groups in Britain. As a backdrop for this performance, he chose a photograph of two female skinheads.

And on the new issue of NME itself:
In 2007 Morrissey was quoted as saying, "Britain's a terribly negative place. And it hammers people down and it pulls you back and it prevents you. Also, with the issue of immigration, it's very difficult because although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears." However, he called racism "silly" and "beyond reason". [30] Morrissey's lawyers are now pressing legal action against NME for publishing this interview and portraying him in this manner.[31]

[wmgaretjax]

So... the Union Flag is a big deal in that respect. Morrissey has to know the implications of walking on stage with something like that. Regardless of how else the symbol can be swung or interpreted, you are bound to be linked with the skinhead troupe. And while skinheads can be non-racist and swell people, you are setting yourself up for criticism if you throw imagery like that around. I don't give a fuck either way, but they guy clearly likes controversy. I think it's childish that once he stirs it up, he sends the lawyers in.

[TomAz]

the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears

that's a good thing, right?

[mozabilly54]

Hey mozbilly54!!!

Hi Fatbastard! Miss me?

[Bud Luster]

Are we talking about this flag? Really, it's not a big deal.

[PassiveTheory]

Are we talking about this flag? Really, it's not a big deal.

Okay, but seriously, I don't read much into it. However, wm, you hit it on the head; Moz loves controversy... I mean, fuck, he heard Johnny Rogan's title alone and cursed him to die in an M3 pileup... Morrissey is fond of talking out of his ass, and sometimes it's gets him in trouble (I know the Manic Street Preachers, of all people, have called him out on his shit and he backed down) but the guy has a fucking loyal fanbase, and they'll tolerate his shit endlessly and just chalk it up to Moz being Moz.

[Stefinitely Maybe]

Apparently Morrissey is now suing the NME.

[clarky123]

I bought this today and it looks like Tim Jonze brought the whole issue up again by asking if Morrisey would ever return to the UK. This started off as a good interview then suddenly turned into a mess.
If Jonze does not like the answers he might get, I would suggest he side-steps asking provocative questions. It now appears the boy has got in out his depth.
I hope Morrissey fuckin bankrupts them, personally.

[mozabilly54]

Apparently Morrissey is now suing the NME.

Morrissey to sue NME over story - BBC News

Excerpt:

The magazine criticized the former Smiths star for allegedly telling a reporter Britain had lost its identity due to high levels of immigration.

A deadline to print the retraction passed at 1300GMT.

His lawyers said they were now issuing legal proceedings for defamation on behalf of Morrissey against the NME and its editor Conor McNicholas.

In a statement, the singer's lawyers said: "The NME had until 1pm today to print a suitable apology to Morrissey. Their only response to this deadline was to say that they 'do not have time to respond to the allegations.'"
---
Keith Harris sends the link:

Morrissey insists on NME apology - BBC News

Excerpt:

...His lawyers said they would begin legal proceedings for defamation if the NME had not issued a retraction by 1300GMT.

The deadline passed without an apology from the publication.

Earlier, the NME released a statement which read: "We can confirm that Morrissey's legal representatives have been in contact with NME and pending the outcome of these discussions we won't be commenting any further."

...

Tim Jonze, the freelance journalist who interviewed Morrissey, told the BBC that he didn't approve of the singer's comments and had found them "offensive".

He said he had asked for his name to be removed from the article because it had been rewritten.

"I didn't want my name on something I hadn't written, even if some of it might have been similar to what I wrote originally," he said.

[Stefinitely Maybe]

If anybody hasnt read the article, you can do so, here:

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