maybe it's time to pack it in

[suzanne]

it was lurking for a while. then, the rumors popped out saying "he has a deal!"

and all cheered, but given the reality of the situation that it's more than likely pranksters putting out the word that there are demos and so on, it truly made me realize something:

that within the space of 18 months, the only visible effort morrissey has made towards his career was the DVD signing.

I know any braniac could come up with that, but then, it's also 18 months since the end of the tour and nearly 4 years since the end of his record contract with Mercury.

It's obvious he's had the free time to take a look. He's had more than enough time to decide who is interested in him. And He's had plenty of time to figure out what sort of deals they are willing to offer him. And i've come to the startling conclusion that if Morrissey hasn't liked what people are offering him, he never will.

I mean, i could be proven wrong and he may have a large party tomorrow and yelling "surprise!" but I seriously doubt it.

I think all of these calls and pleas we make for him to go back in the studio are falling on deaf ears. well, not necessarily deaf, but unresponsive.

this has been happening a lot more recently when they complain "look at the quality of this news! Morrissey, please go back into the studio!"

The thing is, I don't think he's going back. I dont care what he says in the interviews he gives as actions speak louder than words.

What it means is that some darkhorse label will have to have their label head roll out of bed tomorrow, read the paper and say, "oh wow! I didn't know he didn't have a deal! Let's whip out the checkbook!"

It reminds me of the episode of saturday night live when they were asking people where they were when JFK died and they yelled, "Oh my God! He's dead?!?!?!?"

Let's face facts. There are many unknown bands who form and were already signed to more than one label in that space of time. It's like time is at a stand still.

And the David Alice comparisons are funny because I own the book that Andrew Morton wrote a long time ago, and one part I remember well was their discussion of the royals. How they were relics and lived as if it were still 100 years ago because they saw no point in keeping up with the times. That's how I see Morrissey. He lives as if it's perpetually 1991, where his fans fall all over him just by lifting an eyebrow in their direction and he could get what he wanted out of labels because their ethic was a bit different back then. They WOULD pay money for some guy that didn't generate large record sales just for having the prestige of having someone like him on their label to attract more artists.

But it's no longer that way. When he was let go from Mercury in 1998 for poor album sales, that should have been his wake up call. Now all artists are faced with having to meet the bottom line of the label. Which, if you think about it, makes sense in some way now that it's run by the stock market as if he were to be taken by another label who had the older style ethic, their investors might think the label head is crazy, sell off their stock, and once again, he would be on yet another label which has folded.

He's not being singled out, that's for damn sure, as there are many other people who were on all of these labels who have gone back to work at the Gap and nobody has even looked at them since that fateful day.

And i hate to be the bearer of bad news, but let's face it. he doesn't like the climate. he hasn't made any change to his list of demands. and he has made no steps to release his materials via alternative sources. I seriously don't think we will be seeing any more albums out of him.

 

[melonfarmer]

::Smacks you across the face::

 

[suzanne]

go ahead

there is no other way I can say it without being blunt. if I could figure out another way, I would now be a very successful sales person making tens of thousands more a year than at my current job, rather than the friendless, spineless, nobody who writes it, so you'll have to accept my abilities to not paraphrase it any better for what they are worth.

I think his tour in '99 had more of a "goodbye" feel to it than anything. I'm not saying he hasn't tried looking for a label. I'm just saying that his overriding desire is not great enough to wallow in the mire of belonging to a label these days.

 

[Violeta]

I can kind of see what you're saying, but...

> it was lurking for a while. then, the rumors popped out saying
> "he has a deal!"

> and all cheered, but given the reality of the situation that
> it's more than likely pranksters putting out the word that there
> are demos and so on, it truly made me realize something:

> that within the space of 18 months, the only visible effort
> morrissey has made towards his career was the DVD signing.

> I know any braniac could come up with that, but then, it's also
> 18 months since the end of the tour and nearly 4 years since the
> end of his record contract with Mercury.

> It's obvious he's had the free time to take a look. He's had
> more than enough time to decide who is interested in him. And
> He's had plenty of time to figure out what sort of deals they
> are willing to offer him. And i've come to the startling
> conclusion that if Morrissey hasn't liked what people are
> offering him, he never will.

> I mean, i could be proven wrong and he may have a large party
> tomorrow and yelling "surprise!" but I seriously doubt
> it.

> I think all of these calls and pleas we make for him to go back
> in the studio are falling on deaf ears. well, not necessarily
> deaf, but unresponsive.

> this has been happening a lot more recently when they complain
> "look at the quality of this news! Morrissey, please go
> back into the studio!"

> The thing is, I don't think he's going back. I dont care what he
> says in the interviews he gives as actions speak louder than
> words.

> What it means is that some darkhorse label will have to have
> their label head roll out of bed tomorrow, read the paper and
> say, "oh wow! I didn't know he didn't have a deal! Let's
> whip out the checkbook!"

> It reminds me of the episode of saturday night live when they
> were asking people where they were when JFK died and they
> yelled, "Oh my God! He's dead?!?!?!?"

> Let's face facts. There are many unknown bands who form and were
> already signed to more than one label in that space of time.
> It's like time is at a stand still.

> And the David Alice comparisons are funny because I own the book
> that Andrew Morton wrote a long time ago, and one part I
> remember well was their discussion of the royals. How they were
> relics and lived as if it were still 100 years ago because they
> saw no point in keeping up with the times. That's how I see
> Morrissey. He lives as if it's perpetually 1991, where his fans
> fall all over him just by lifting an eyebrow in their direction
> and he could get what he wanted out of labels because their
> ethic was a bit different back then. They WOULD pay money for
> some guy that didn't generate large record sales just for having
> the prestige of having someone like him on their label to
> attract more artists.

> But it's no longer that way. When he was let go from Mercury in
> 1998 for poor album sales, that should have been his wake up
> call. Now all artists are faced with having to meet the bottom
> line of the label. Which, if you think about it, makes sense in
> some way now that it's run by the stock market as if he were to
> be taken by another label who had the older style ethic, their
> investors might think the label head is crazy, sell off their
> stock, and once again, he would be on yet another label which
> has folded.

> He's not being singled out, that's for damn sure, as there are
> many other people who were on all of these labels who have gone
> back to work at the Gap and nobody has even looked at them since
> that fateful day.

> And i hate to be the bearer of bad news, but let's face it. he
> doesn't like the climate. he hasn't made any change to his list
> of demands. and he has made no steps to release his materials
> via alternative sources. I seriously don't think we will be
> seeing any more albums out of him.

well, time is indeed a funny little thing. Who knows what tomorrow holds. I like to remain open and hopeful. Four years seems like a long time when said out loud, but time just careens on by and suddenly you realise that you've got things you've been meaning to do, yet other things just get in the way. Maybe there will be a way for him to release something himself rather than going through a label. He might not be interested in the independent ones since it could be like taking a step backwards for him. I don't know, that's just my guess. At any rate, I'm sure something will happen one day, even if that day is way off in the future.

 

[El Matador Mareado]

Maybe he got smart

Maybe he's found out that life can be more than pleasing a bunch of selfish, simpering look-alike leeches. All I see on this site is ingratitude for the great music he's made. I think it would serve us all right if we never heard another peep from him and he turned out to be just a man after all. I hope he turns into an actor or something. Or a postal worker.

 

[suzanne]

Re: Maybe he got smart

> Maybe he's found out that life can be more than pleasing a bunch
> of selfish, simpering look-alike leeches. All I see on this site
> is ingratitude for the great music he's made. I think it would
> serve us all right if we never heard another peep from him and
> he turned out to be just a man after all. I hope he turns into
> an actor or something. Or a postal worker.

ingratitude?

hardly.

you dont think it makes me mad that he would waste a talent that he has farting around Dublin after piddling around LA? Even if he got a so-so deal, it would take him no time to build up his career and make the demands he wants as contracts are not set in stone. you can always renegotiate. IF the success of his tour this time around isn't an indicator that he can do it.....but he does that much, and then lets it dwindle downward again. Sure, it may be "taking a break" and "4 years is not so long" in real time, but it IS in the world of music.

Tell me, where are the spice girls? Soul Asylum? The Gin Blossoms? Cherry Poppin' Daddies? Squirrel Nut Zippers? And that was only a couple of years ago. And now, it's like they never existed. That's how fast everything moves.

 

[giant]

Re: Maybe he got smart

> Suzzane, did you ever stop to think, it is your impatience(like it is all of ours) for the pleasure of new writing from the mind of a genius, that prompts you to dismiss the man already? Come Now, dont be ridicolous, I think Morrissy has waranted(due to his past achievements) to be able to take some time between records. Lets face it if U2 can make a new albumn every 5-7 years and have it hailed as "artistic achievement" well, then Steven is allowed to take as long as wants and doesnt it seem absurd to even question the mans creativity when he has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is one of the worlds most precious witness's

ingratitude?

> hardly.

> you dont think it makes me mad that he would waste a talent that
> he has farting around Dublin after piddling around LA? Even if
> he got a so-so deal, it would take him no time to build up his
> career and make the demands he wants as contracts are not set in
> stone. you can always renegotiate. IF the success of his tour
> this time around isn't an indicator that he can do it.....but he
> does that much, and then lets it dwindle downward again. Sure,
> it may be "taking a break" and "4 years is not so
> long" in real time, but it IS in the world of music.

> Tell me, where are the spice girls? Soul Asylum? The Gin
> Blossoms? Cherry Poppin' Daddies? Squirrel Nut Zippers? And that
> was only a couple of years ago. And now, it's like they never
> existed. That's how fast everything moves.

 

[Hated For Hating]

> Once again Suzanne, you are right. But then again that man made me wait 5 years to see him in concert after missing the Your Arsenal tour. I would have done anything for that guy (excluding sexual favors) from '93 to '96, now I'm just hoping for some new material to be released independently and for the return of John Squire to the music scene.

 

[Hated For Hating]

Above subject should read; Suzanne's right and where's John Squire?

 

[Hated For Hating]

Suzanne is a Lovely name.

> ingratitude?

> hardly.

> you dont think it makes me mad that he would waste a talent that
> he has farting around Dublin after piddling around LA? Even if
> he got a so-so deal, it would take him no time to build up his
> career and make the demands he wants as contracts are not set in
> stone. you can always renegotiate. IF the success of his tour
> this time around isn't an indicator that he can do it.....but he
> does that much, and then lets it dwindle downward again. Sure,
> it may be "taking a break" and "4 years is not so
> long" in real time, but it IS in the world of music.

> Tell me, where are the spice girls? Soul Asylum? The Gin
> Blossoms? Cherry Poppin' Daddies? Squirrel Nut Zippers? And that
> was only a couple of years ago. And now, it's like they never
> existed. That's how fast everything moves.

A couple of years ago(maybe more), I spent a bit of time reading and responding to the various discussion topics for an extended period[months perhaps, there was a fellow named Davenport (who was quite irritating) participating frequently at the time], anyway you and your comments always stood out and were always very intelligent. I liked reading your insights and am happy to see that you are still in confines of Morrissey-solo and still passionate about Morrissey and music. Me personally, I had to take a few years sabbatical from the Morrissey scene and this stupid internet.

 

[Sir Mix-a-lot]

Well, I would of done sexual favours, too.

 

[Master of Disaster]

The End

He would tell us. I have that faith.

If he has already decided (maybe he hasn't) he will when he does.

 

[jeane]

I don't need a house that's a showplace...

There has always been one question in my mind that surrounds this topic. When was it, a couple of years ago, that he was offered a deal but turned it down for financial reasons? Now, obviously this could be all balderdash, but if he was turning deals down because he wasn't offered enough money then what does this say? My thoughts are that either he's having financial trouble in which money from a deal becomes an issue OR the money is worth more than releasing new material (or there's the possibility that he was going to be screwed by the record company).

I always thought he was reasonably well off. In the interview in 1999 with Sean Hughes on GLR he indicated that he suffered from a type of "working class" guilt and made mention that Kirk Douglas fears of dying poor. Is this the same with him? Does the money play an important role with him now? Gucci doesn't come cheap, unless he knows of a factory outlet...whatever happened to the young man that wore ladies blouses and oversized jackets from Op Shops? Is he still there? Or have the layers of Prada suffocated him?

I wouldn't like to think so, in fact, I actually don't believe so, considering that he did tour in 1999 in numerous venues that wouldn't have been highly profitable and in addition to what Wendy Wu was saying about losing money during a signing in New York. However, it does raise in interesting point, is it just the cash he is after or does integrity come at a higher price?

> it was lurking for a while. then, the rumors popped out saying
> "he has a deal!"

> and all cheered, but given the reality of the situation that
> it's more than likely pranksters putting out the word that there
> are demos and so on, it truly made me realize something:

> that within the space of 18 months, the only visible effort
> morrissey has made towards his career was the DVD signing.

> I know any braniac could come up with that, but then, it's also
> 18 months since the end of the tour and nearly 4 years since the
> end of his record contract with Mercury.

> It's obvious he's had the free time to take a look. He's had
> more than enough time to decide who is interested in him. And
> He's had plenty of time to figure out what sort of deals they
> are willing to offer him. And i've come to the startling
> conclusion that if Morrissey hasn't liked what people are
> offering him, he never will.

> I mean, i could be proven wrong and he may have a large party
> tomorrow and yelling "surprise!" but I seriously doubt
> it.

> I think all of these calls and pleas we make for him to go back
> in the studio are falling on deaf ears. well, not necessarily
> deaf, but unresponsive.

> this has been happening a lot more recently when they complain
> "look at the quality of this news! Morrissey, please go
> back into the studio!"

> The thing is, I don't think he's going back. I dont care what he
> says in the interviews he gives as actions speak louder than
> words.

> What it means is that some darkhorse label will have to have
> their label head roll out of bed tomorrow, read the paper and
> say, "oh wow! I didn't know he didn't have a deal! Let's
> whip out the checkbook!"

> It reminds me of the episode of saturday night live when they
> were asking people where they were when JFK died and they
> yelled, "Oh my God! He's dead?!?!?!?"

> Let's face facts. There are many unknown bands who form and were
> already signed to more than one label in that space of time.
> It's like time is at a stand still.

> And the David Alice comparisons are funny because I own the book
> that Andrew Morton wrote a long time ago, and one part I
> remember well was their discussion of the royals. How they were
> relics and lived as if it were still 100 years ago because they
> saw no point in keeping up with the times. That's how I see
> Morrissey. He lives as if it's perpetually 1991, where his fans
> fall all over him just by lifting an eyebrow in their direction
> and he could get what he wanted out of labels because their
> ethic was a bit different back then. They WOULD pay money for
> some guy that didn't generate large record sales just for having
> the prestige of having someone like him on their label to
> attract more artists.

> But it's no longer that way. When he was let go from Mercury in
> 1998 for poor album sales, that should have been his wake up
> call. Now all artists are faced with having to meet the bottom
> line of the label. Which, if you think about it, makes sense in
> some way now that it's run by the stock market as if he were to
> be taken by another label who had the older style ethic, their
> investors might think the label head is crazy, sell off their
> stock, and once again, he would be on yet another label which
> has folded.

> He's not being singled out, that's for damn sure, as there are
> many other people who were on all of these labels who have gone
> back to work at the Gap and nobody has even looked at them since
> that fateful day.

> And i hate to be the bearer of bad news, but let's face it. he
> doesn't like the climate. he hasn't made any change to his list
> of demands. and he has made no steps to release his materials
> via alternative sources. I seriously don't think we will be
> seeing any more albums out of him.

 

[Laura]

He DID do the Smith's songs...he tried in '97, but succeeded in '99. Send-off?

 

[Laura]

Ummm, do you READ the majority of the messages???

> Maybe he's found out that life can be more than pleasing a bunch
> of selfish, simpering look-alike leeches. All I see on this site
> is ingratitude for the great music he's made. (???????)

Yeah, there are SOME few odd ones, and some smart ones, who say what they feel about certain situations, and maybe it ocassionally involves a negative message about the music or whatever...but for the MOST part, all I see are positive well-wishers who only are asking for something they expect out of someone who has provided great tunes to listen to since 1980.

Helllllooooooo......

Laura

 

[Laura]

BUTTT, don't you remember:

> ingratitude?

> hardly.

> you dont think it makes me mad that he would waste a talent that
> he has farting around Dublin after piddling around LA? Even if
> he got a so-so deal, it would take him no time to build up his
> career and make the demands he wants as contracts are not set in
> stone. you can always renegotiate. IF the success of his tour
> this time around isn't an indicator that he can do it.....but he
> does that much, and then lets it dwindle downward again. Sure,
> it may be "taking a break" and "4 years is not so
> long" in real time, but it IS in the world of music.

> Tell me, where are the spice girls? Soul Asylum? The Gin
> Blossoms? Cherry Poppin' Daddies? Squirrel Nut Zippers? And that
> was only a couple of years ago. And now, it's like they never
> existed. That's how fast everything moves.

Kate Bush, Bjork, The Sundays, Echo and the Bunneymen (who made it through reformation and all); Need I go on?

I have FAR less experience than most of you here, but lets not forget the MAIN point, which was the RUMOR of a new signing and possible recording going on, whilst he trapses around Dublin, for cryin' out loud.

Seriously, who cares. The real point should be why, why, WHY do we all continue to COME here after sooo fuc*kin' long?

Laura

 

[suzanne]

Re: I don't need a house that's a showplace...

> There has always been one question in my mind that surrounds
> this topic. When was it, a couple of years ago, that he was
> offered a deal but turned it down for financial reasons? Now,
> obviously this could be all balderdash, but if he was turning
> deals down because he wasn't offered enough money then what does
> this say? My thoughts are that either he's having financial
> trouble in which money from a deal becomes an issue OR the money
> is worth more than releasing new material (or there's the
> possibility that he was going to be screwed by the record
> company).

> I always thought he was reasonably well off. In the interview in
> 1999 with Sean Hughes on GLR he indicated that he suffered from
> a type of "working class" guilt and made mention that
> Kirk Douglas fears of dying poor. Is this the same with him?
> Does the money play an important role with him now? Gucci
> doesn't come cheap, unless he knows of a factory
> outlet...whatever happened to the young man that wore ladies
> blouses and oversized jackets from Op Shops? Is he still there?
> Or have the layers of Prada suffocated him?

> I wouldn't like to think so, in fact, I actually don't believe
> so, considering that he did tour in 1999 in numerous venues that
> wouldn't have been highly profitable and in addition to what
> Wendy Wu was saying about losing money during a signing in New
> York. However, it does raise in interesting point, is it just
> the cash he is after or does integrity come at a higher price?

I think it lies somewhere in between.

It's like when you've been a very dependable employee with specialized skills at a company for many years. You expect to be paid more than the new kid on the block. After all, what you gave to the company is worth something to them monetarily.

But around the late 1990's I know that about 500 artists lost their deal in the same year Morrissey did. He said he already wanted to leave anyway because they wouldn't let him release "sorrow will come in the end" in the UK. So, I think also part of it is that he's demanding that he has complete control over the content of what he wants on his albums. Which he would probably win that concession if he were willing to go for a smaller label, but obviously, they can't give him the money and prestige he wants, so he's stuck.

As far as the signing in NYC is concerned....I dunno. He may have visited some friends, or done something else to make the trip worthwhile, so I wouldn't feel too bad. Remember that his opening band Sack had to pay him $10,000 for the privilege of opening for him, and I think had also paid their way to go to the SXSW music fest in austin last year, and they are a tiny band from Dublin. Paying money to do things to get your name in lights is a part of the biz. But most of the time,your label would pick up the tab. I'm not sure who suggested a signing in NYC, but Reprise obviously didn't force him to go or they would have paid, so it was his choice.

Palare told me that Houston had been on that list for a brief amount of time as he supposedly contacted a record store in the area, but was obviously dropped for reasons unknown.

Anyhow, paying the money to go doesn't obviously buy you the blind love of everyone in attendance. Look at all of his opening bands in the past. They've all taken brutal beatings by his audience.

But it reminds me of the "I can't wait til you have kids of your own" talk you get from your parents. I remember reading some reviews he wrote for the music mags in britain where he obviously didn't mind writing something scathing about what were once his all time favorite bands. Of course, I'm sure they read his reviews and thought, "oh, that little prick! He has no idea....."

 

[jeane]

Re: I don't need a house that's a showplace...

> It's like when you've been a very dependable employee with
> specialized skills at a company for many years. You expect to be
> paid more than the new kid on the block. After all, what you
> gave to the company is worth something to them monetarily.

Sure, you expect it but are very rarely given what you expect. It's a way corporations screw the little man. I support the corporation whole-heartedly in that. It may sound cruel but the majority of people let the company drive them into the ground, allow the company to dictate how you will live your life and when. And when you've reached a retirement age, you're given a gold plated watch and shoved out the back door. Not happy with that situation, many people just swallow it down, not wanting to think and make the commitment to get out of such a predicament. They get what they ask for. Does Morrissey get what he asks for? Hmm, maybe...

> But around the late 1990's I know that about 500 artists lost
> their deal in the same year Morrissey did. He said he already
> wanted to leave anyway because they wouldn't let him release
> "sorrow will come in the end" in the UK. So, I think
> also part of it is that he's demanding that he has complete
> control over the content of what he wants on his albums. Which
> he would probably win that concession if he were willing to go
> for a smaller label, but obviously, they can't give him the
> money and prestige he wants, so he's stuck.

Is he stuck? I don't believe anyone is stuck, it just means you have to change your way of thinking to get yourself out of the situation you've found yourself in. I would hate him or anyone to think that they are so weak that they cannot determine their future. This is my question; does the prestige and money mean so much to him? From the kid that used to shlep around the tiny lanes of Manchester did money and prestige mean more than saying what you had to say? What really is prestige? Today's news being tomorrow's fish and chip wrapper and all that. What? Does he want an entourage of 50 and fresh hand cooked Salt and Vinegar crisps in every dressing room? Sounds like something Britney Spears and J-Lo would demand.

> As far as the signing in NYC is concerned....I dunno. He may
> have visited some friends, or done something else to make the
> trip worthwhile, so I wouldn't feel too bad. Remember that his
> opening band Sack had to pay him $10,000 for the privilege of
> opening for him, and I think had also paid their way to go to
> the SXSW music fest in austin last year, and they are a tiny
> band from Dublin. Paying money to do things to get your name in
> lights is a part of the biz. But most of the time,your label
> would pick up the tab. I'm not sure who suggested a signing in
> NYC, but Reprise obviously didn't force him to go or they would
> have paid, so it was his choice.

I think it just illustrates that making money couldn't have been in the forefront of his mind when deciding to go. That concentrating on a strong fan base (which obviously means something to him) and trying to compound on that strength by making an appearance does have some importance. Does this play a role when deciding on a label (any label)? This doesn't mean that he should race out and sign up to any old label for fear of losing his fans but remember that line about the urgency of life? The longer he waits the harder it will be to get what he wants.

> Palare told me that Houston had been on that list for a brief
> amount of time as he supposedly contacted a record store in the
> area, but was obviously dropped for reasons unknown.

> Anyhow, paying the money to go doesn't obviously buy you the
> blind love of everyone in attendance. Look at all of his opening
> bands in the past. They've all taken brutal beatings by his
> audience.

Does he want blind love? Loud love? It's very nice but it's a little cheap.

> But it reminds me of the "I can't wait til you have kids of
> your own" talk you get from your parents. I remember
> reading some reviews he wrote for the music mags in britain
> where he obviously didn't mind writing something scathing about
> what were once his all time favorite bands. Of course, I'm sure
> they read his reviews and thought, "oh, that little prick!
> He has no idea....."

Of course, Suzanne, all this could be quite supportive of what you brought up, maybe he really is hanging his gold lame shirt up after all...

 

[celibate]

> it was lurking for a while. then, the rumors popped out saying
> "he has a deal!"

> and all cheered, but given the reality of the situation that
> it's more than likely pranksters putting out the word that there
> are demos and so on, it truly made me realize something:

> that within the space of 18 months, the only visible effort
> morrissey has made towards his career was the DVD signing.

> I know any braniac could come up with that, but then, it's also
> 18 months since the end of the tour and nearly 4 years since the
> end of his record contract with Mercury.

> It's obvious he's had the free time to take a look. He's had
> more than enough time to decide who is interested in him. And
> He's had plenty of time to figure out what sort of deals they
> are willing to offer him. And i've come to the startling
> conclusion that if Morrissey hasn't liked what people are
> offering him, he never will.

> I mean, i could be proven wrong and he may have a large party
> tomorrow and yelling "surprise!" but I seriously doubt
> it.

> I think all of these calls and pleas we make for him to go back
> in the studio are falling on deaf ears. well, not necessarily
> deaf, but unresponsive.

> this has been happening a lot more recently when they complain
> "look at the quality of this news! Morrissey, please go
> back into the studio!"

> The thing is, I don't think he's going back. I dont care what he
> says in the interviews he gives as actions speak louder than
> words.

> What it means is that some darkhorse label will have to have
> their label head roll out of bed tomorrow, read the paper and
> say, "oh wow! I didn't know he didn't have a deal! Let's
> whip out the checkbook!"

> It reminds me of the episode of saturday night live when they
> were asking people where they were when JFK died and they
> yelled, "Oh my God! He's dead?!?!?!?"

> Let's face facts. There are many unknown bands who form and were
> already signed to more than one label in that space of time.
> It's like time is at a stand still.

> And the David Alice comparisons are funny because I own the book
> that Andrew Morton wrote a long time ago, and one part I
> remember well was their discussion of the royals. How they were
> relics and lived as if it were still 100 years ago because they
> saw no point in keeping up with the times. That's how I see
> Morrissey. He lives as if it's perpetually 1991, where his fans
> fall all over him just by lifting an eyebrow in their direction
> and he could get what he wanted out of labels because their
> ethic was a bit different back then. They WOULD pay money for
> some guy that didn't generate large record sales just for having
> the prestige of having someone like him on their label to
> attract more artists.

> But it's no longer that way. When he was let go from Mercury in
> 1998 for poor album sales, that should have been his wake up
> call. Now all artists are faced with having to meet the bottom
> line of the label. Which, if you think about it, makes sense in
> some way now that it's run by the stock market as if he were to
> be taken by another label who had the older style ethic, their
> investors might think the label head is crazy, sell off their
> stock, and once again, he would be on yet another label which
> has folded.

> He's not being singled out, that's for damn sure, as there are
> many other people who were on all of these labels who have gone
> back to work at the Gap and nobody has even looked at them since
> that fateful day.

> And i hate to be the bearer of bad news, but let's face it. he
> doesn't like the climate. he hasn't made any change to his list
> of demands. and he has made no steps to release his materials
> via alternative sources. I seriously don't think we will be
> seeing any more albums out of him.

Exactly my thoughts.

It's sad but true

 

[suzanne]

Re: I don't need a house that's a showplace...

> Sure, you expect it but are very rarely given what you expect.
> It's a way corporations screw the little man. I support the
> corporation whole-heartedly in that. It may sound cruel but the
> majority of people let the company drive them into the ground,
> allow the company to dictate how you will live your life and
> when. And when you've reached a retirement age, you're given a
> gold plated watch and shoved out the back door. Not happy with
> that situation, many people just swallow it down, not wanting to
> think and make the commitment to get out of such a predicament.
> They get what they ask for. Does Morrissey get what he asks for?
> Hmm, maybe...

but it is a social system. not everyone is skilled in thinking for themselves, and even fewer have the creativity to deal with the plate that is offered to them. And many people worry about where a steady source of income will come from, and this is their best answer.

And let's be honest. he's used to the British work ethic vs. the American one, not that theirs is worse because I would prefer theirs because they don't guilt you into doing unnecessary work, and their health care system doesn't make older workers a liability to companies and so on.

The competetion being in a band is incredible. I keep thinking of the people who are his age, still turning up at music conferences with their demos in hopes that some producer who produced some garage bands in Peoria might take a listen as nobody will even give them the time of day.

But honestly, I think that before his last tour, things got out of hand. Between Your Arsenal and Maladjusted, his only tour was the Bowie fiasco. He did very few interviews. And his last few singles disappeared from the charts, And because he let things slide, people started asking, "is he alive?", assumed that he was retired since they never saw his face, and didn't look too hard in the store to see if he had anything new. and now, he probably sees where he is at, sees that he will have to work to get back to where he was, and is probably feeling a bit insulted by the idea.

Which, you can argue talent all you want, but it's like campaigning for the presidency. They can't vote for you if they don't know if you're there or what your platform is.

> Is he stuck? I don't believe anyone is stuck, it just means you
> have to change your way of thinking to get yourself out of the
> situation you've found yourself in. I would hate him or anyone
> to think that they are so weak that they cannot determine their
> future. This is my question; does the prestige and money mean so
> much to him? From the kid that used to shlep around the tiny
> lanes of Manchester did money and prestige mean more than saying
> what you had to say? What really is prestige? Today's news being
> tomorrow's fish and chip wrapper and all that. What? Does he
> want an entourage of 50 and fresh hand cooked Salt and Vinegar
> crisps in every dressing room? Sounds like something Britney
> Spears and J-Lo would demand.

maybe, but I just think that he doesn't want to admit publicly that he would rather be hanging out at the Cat and fiddle every night of the week than recording. Not that it's bad because it's his choice, and maybe making macaroni art gives him more fulfillment these days, but I think it's much easier in his mind to fend off unwanted questions and keep his options open by responding in the affirmative.

as i said, i could be dead wrong. they may be all holed up in a secret hideaway, recording this top secret album that they are going to spring at any second, which will make everything i've said look silly and pointless, but i'm laboring off of what I do know, and the only thing I do know are the bits i can visibly see.

which i find kinda silly that i'm apologizing for not be a telepath or being connected to any insiders who are willing to include me in the circle of knowledge, but i have to do it anyway to keep my bases covered, prefacing what I say by asking people to take it in the context of which it's written.

i think my point is that I think that after all this time, people using Morrissey's lack of presence as an excuse to complain about the news that is posted is just really pointless. THese same complaints were written a year ago and you see that within a year, nothing is changed, I know as I have written several, and it's sorta like writing to santa claus. which, he may be dwelling in the state of domestic bliss, and sorry, thrill and Laura, I don't think the next album would be about either of you, but don't worry, it won't be about me either, so we're even.

And so, since he's happy as things stand, I think there is a certain point that we need to let go. Take things in stride a bit. "all things must pass" or whatever chant that suits your needs. Don't dwell in anger that things aren't happening the way we want for a man that isn't, at least, showing his level of distraught in a manner that will achieve what you hope for.

> I think it just illustrates that making money couldn't have been
> in the forefront of his mind when deciding to go. That
> concentrating on a strong fan base (which obviously means
> something to him) and trying to compound on that strength by
> making an appearance does have some importance. Does this play a
> role when deciding on a label (any label)? This doesn't mean
> that he should race out and sign up to any old label for fear of
> losing his fans but remember that line about the urgency of
> life? The longer he waits the harder it will be to get what he
> wants.

> Does he want blind love? Loud love? It's very nice but it's a
> little cheap.

> Of course, Suzanne, all this could be quite supportive of what
> you brought up, maybe he really is hanging his gold lame shirt
> up after all...