When ageing Smiths fans like me sing along to ‘This Charming Man’, their second, breakthrough 1983 single – and the song that ruined our lives – we fondly imagine ourselves achieving some kind of crude approximation of his famous vocals, after all these years of study and devotion. Trying to… Read More »This Disarming Man: Morrissey’s Smiths Solo
Morrissey appeared this week on The Late, Late Show With James Corden, giving a bravura, if clap-happy, performance of his new single, a cover version of ‘Back On The Chain Gang’. Originally released in 1982 by The Pretenders, written and sung by the indomitable Chrissie Hynde, I’ve always liked this… Read More »Back On The Chain Gang
I recently got around to watching the video for ‘Spent the Day In Bed’, Morrissey’s first single from his new Low in High School album. Since writing Saint Morrissey – which was something akin to an exorcism – I’ve taken a somewhat more leisurely approach to the Stretford Bard’s output.… Read More »Morrissey & David Hoyle Spent The Day in Bed
I wrote an essay for Rolling Stone celebrating the 30th anniversary of the demise of The Smiths, explaining why we’re really lucky that they split in 1987 There’s nothing quite like realizing that it’s three entire decades since the most perfectly beautiful, perfectly worded, perfectly pitched, and perfectly-quiffed relationship you ever had… Read More »The Smiths Are Dead – Long Live The Smiths!
Read the interview on A Shaded View