That's all I wanna know really. If there are any stories about the creative process (The Smiths only) that would be interesting too.
I got the feeling he rather avoided talking about Morrissey, at least in any detail, for whatever reason. He does talk a lot about Andy Berry and various other friends and acquaintances he had in the early days. Even other elements of his life, like meeting Angie or his children being born - it's there but it's very much surface detail, over and done within a couple of pages. Perhaps he is holding back because he doesn't want to ruffle any feathers, or wants some things to remain private - who knows. But you come away from it not knowing much more than you did before.
This would be pretty much my take on it too.
Maybe Johnny just isn't the kind of person to dwell on his feelings too much (not ideal for an autobiography), but he doesn't really seem to dig deep and get too emotional about most periods of his life. He factually describes what went on, rather than giving much real insider insight.
One example that immediately hit me yesterday was a moment when Johnny talks about how the band inspired hate and love in equal measure. You feel that there must be an anecdote coming up but, instead, nothing. He skips over lots of things very quickly and then dwells on certain trivial points more than he should imo.
Well he said he wanted to focus on the positive so maybe that only amounts to a few pages. Could have also just wanted his bio to focus on himself and not his story filtered through his relationship to morrissey. He probably gets enough of that as it is. I guess Andy or Joyce are next if the trend holds. Probably get more dirt from them if anywhere. Has street ever written a bio. Bet he's got a bunch of stories and he seems like a really sweet guy and with the people he's worked with I could imagine a lot of stories. Morrissey and the smiths, suede, the cranberries, the promise ring, Pete Doherty, blur, massive attack, the ordinary boys, Stephen duff. I'd read that
Would you say it's still worth buying. Have you read any of the other parts yet and is it the same approach regarding them as well
I would say that it is worth buying, but I am a big fan of Johnny.
It is the same approach behind the rest of his career, but those stories have been told a little less. He basically devotes a chapter or two to each of his later projects.
There is a chapter about The Healers, for example, and he mentions his hopes for that band but I was disappointed that he didn't really talk about whether he was disappointed with the album not selling or how he found the experience of playing as a support act to disinterested crowds. I really wish that the publisher/editor had forced him to dig a bit deeper.
i feel the same way. I feel like a huge part of his relationship with moz has very dark and negative moments. At least, in the last years it became sort of a toxic relationship
For a fan, it seems like a no-brainer to me. I'd pay a fiver at a train station for a 5-page interview with Morrissey or Johnny, so why on earth would I not pay twice that for a 450-page hardback book by one of them?
But I also agree with the emerging consensus. Johnny is no great literary stylist (not that there's any reason he should be) and what you are getting is a fairly dry account of his life, without much in the way of anecdotes or digressions to liven things up. There's also not much new about The Smiths, except the odd detail here and there. But, if you haven't read the other books about The Smiths, maybe that won't bother you. I feel like the part of the book that is about The Smiths is a bit hemmed-in by Johnny being a bit too cautious about criticising Morrissey, even indirectly. I wouldn't necessarily have wanted him to give it with both barrels, but he's been more frank in interviews in the past, so it's not like the downsides of working with Morrissey are a secret. In particular, there are a few people who got a bit burnt through working with the band, and some of them also got pretty nasty treatment in Morrissey's book, which Johnny must be aware of. Although Johnny is generally nice enough about everyone, it would have been a good thing if he had offered a bit of redress by praising certain people a bit more, or at least acknowledging that they got a raw deal.
It's far from a bad book, but I think it's fair to say that Johnny hasn't knocked this one out of the park. On the other hand, it's probably the most reliable account of The Smiths there is, given that the only other key eyewitness to have told his story is not always the most trustworthy.
I actually got more out of the post-Smiths stuff in the book, even though i wouldn't have bought it for that. Maybe that's because most of it was new to me, or maybe because Johnny's writing gets a bit freer once he knows that an army of journalists is not going to be raking over everything he says.
For a fan, it seems like a no-brainer to me. I'd pay a fiver at a train station for a 5-page interview with Morrissey or Johnny, so why on earth would I not pay twice that for a 450-page hardback book by one of them?
But I also agree with the emerging consensus. Johnny is no great literary stylist (not that there's any reason he should be) and what you are getting is a fairly dry account of his life, without much in the way of anecdotes or digressions to liven things up. There's also not much new about The Smiths, except the odd detail here and there. But, if you haven't read the other books about The Smiths, maybe that won't bother you. I feel like the part of the book that is about The Smiths is a bit hemmed-in by Johnny being a bit too cautious about criticising Morrissey, even indirectly. I wouldn't necessarily have wanted him to give it with both barrels, but he's been more frank in interviews in the past, so it's not like the downsides of working with Morrissey are a secret. In particular, there are a few people who got a bit burnt through working with the band, and some of them also got pretty nasty treatment in Morrissey's book, which Johnny must be aware of. Although Johnny is generally nice enough about everyone, it would have been a good thing if he had offered a bit of redress by praising certain people a bit more, or at least acknowledging that they got a raw deal.
It's far from a bad book, but I think it's fair to say that Johnny hasn't knocked this one out of the park. On the other hand, it's probably the most reliable account of The Smiths there is, given that the only other key eyewitness to have told his story is not always the most trustworthy.
I actually got more out of the post-Smiths stuff in the book, even though i wouldn't have bought it for that. Maybe that's because most of it was new to me, or maybe because Johnny's writing gets a bit freer once he knows that an army of journalists is not going to be raking over everything he says.
That's true, but it seems like Johnny didn't really want to criticize anyone. For example, even Craig Gannon's departure from the band is essentially described in the vaguest, 'things didn't work out' terms.
Possibly, but I guess we now have accounts from all four members in various forms (Mike and Andy having told their story via DVD a few years ago). I would say that Morrissey's account was emotionally accurate at least in that you do get to know his genuine feelings looking back now. I think emotional honesty is the one thing sometimes missing from Johnny's book.
Wasn't he kinda bummed about that kink biography being full of arguments between the members. Think he thought it kinda tarnished the legacy of the band. Might be more concerned with his own bands legacy rather than just being nice to individuals