Customer Reviews

Meetings With Morrissey (Omnibus Press)

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Meetings with Morrissey is an account of a series of interviews with Morrissey over a 25 year period conducted by former NME man Len Brown. Not alone, Brown spent the early eighties frustrated and depressed by the state of the country and the music it was producing. That was until September 1983 when he first saw The Smiths and his despair at the re-election of Mrs Thatcher and the accompanying celebration of all things crass had a soundtrack, and a voice. Consequently, this book is more social history than biography. There are other books which focus in on the split between Morrissey and Marr and the endless (and pointless) speculation on Morrisey's sexuality and it is to this books credit that it does neither. Instead, it offers an analysis of not just why The Smiths were a great band but from whence came that searing critique which lifts The Smiths work out of the annals of pop music and places it alongside other great works of art. That critique was Morrissey's. While everybody else seemed to be saying `this is brilliant', Morrissey expressed an emotional language that I didn't have to say what I really thought and felt, `this is awful'. By revisiting the interviews he conducted with Morrissey, Brown is able to shed light on the key influences upon Morrissey. The chapter on Oscar Wilde is brilliant and gets closer than anything else to explaining the sense of sexual alienation and tragedy which underpin Morrissey's best work. However, this is just one aspect of the many and interconnected cultural stimulus that is explored to great effect. From soap opera characters to French cinema Brown creates a work that is insightful on a much deeper level than simply 'what happened where'.

Whilst an illuminating insight of itself, it is the personal and socio-political context of the period through which Brown weaves his insights into Morrissey's life and art which make this book such a tender and worthwhile exposition. Brown gives as much of himself as he does of Morrissey and in doing so brings the reader into intimate contact with something of themselves. Beautifully written and thoroughly researched, somehow, it really did say something about my life.

Very highly recommended, especially for those interested in the musical and literary references in Morrissey's songs. Great interviews, many photos - and very well written!

Much as I enjoyed Johnny Rogan's well-researched "Morrissey and Marr: The Severed Alliance," there was one very important voice missing from the pages of that book: Steven Patrick Morrissey's. Len Brown's excellent work gives us Morrissey in all his wondrously complicated splendor, and it's impossible to put down.

If you love Morrissey as much as I do, I don't have to say anything else to you. Read this book! Now!

This is an excellent book with actual interviews with Morrissey. I even enjoyed the part where he actually dyed his hair gold at the age of 13 and it turned purple. He was sent home from school. The photos were quite good including one with Moz sitting in a car smiling in one and staring at the camera and looking funny in the other. Most of it details what the author was doing at the time. I bought this book because he actually spoke with Morrissey. A great chapter detailing Oscar Wilde's influence on Morrissey's lyrics. I recommend the Morrissey in Conversation book by Paul A. Woods.

I loved this book... and I hate these kinds of books. It was great that it was written by someone that has fondness for the subject and gets the nuances. Lots of insights into the milestones of the band and Morrissey's solo career. Great context and detail to past interviews and quotes. I relived that warm, nostalgia all over again.

The book devotes almost as much mention of playwright Oscar Wilde as it does the protagonist. It is unsurprising, as Wilde is Morrissey's biggest influence both professionally and personally.

This book is a great read as it details Morrissey's professional life in The Smiths and after. There are some details of why the group disbanded. Consider this rather colourful quote from Morrissey:" I'd rather eat my own testicles than reform The Smiths. And that's saying something as a vegetarian."

There are some parallels between Morrissey and Wilde. Like his idol, Morrissey chose self exile when he lost a lawsuit brought upon him by former drummer Mike Joyce. In 1895, Oscar Wilde had to flee England as he lost a court case against the Marquess of Queensberry.

Meetings With Morrissey has a tendency to repeat stuff mentioned in earlier chapters. Like a certain singer who is barred from the courts.

Like many authorised biographies, it is sadly lacking in uncovering the personal side of the subject. Bonus features includes a section on Morrissey's favourite people, some known to the public and others a little more obscure. I'm not really sure if this information is useful, unless it is detailed in the book their influence on Morrissey. (I'm sure they all did, but it is not possible to list them all). The section Sing Your Life lists the essential Smiths/Morrissey compositions.

A must for fans.