Linder: Morrissey's BFF

Morrissey interviews Linder Sterling aka Linder in the March 2010 issue of Interview magazine. The former frontwoman of '70s art punk act, Ludus, who's also made a career as a visual artist and performance artist, chats about how she and Moz first met, the influences and meanings behind her art, the sexuality found in her many collages, and more.

"I grew up with pop, and pop will die as you and I die—if not before. When I was young, everything was neat and tidy, except for me. I have never felt clean inside, and I never felt beautiful." — Linder

Quite an interesting and peculiar read. You can see how she and Morrissey bounce off one another. Her photography book on Morrissey, the now out-of-print Morrissey Shot, is quite incredible.

Did you know that the Smiths song "I Won't Share You" is about Linder? L-L-l-oooove.

Moz-Stitch

My dear friend Briana received this little gem from her former roommate Maria. And like me, Briana is a loyal Morrissey fan. When we first met we bonded over our love for the Moz. How cool is this? So freakin' cool!



UPDATE: Maria got her cross-stitch idea from this fantastic Morrissey art-centric blog, Draw Morrissey. THIS IS SO GREAT!

Morrissey also just issued a video for "Ganglord," which is by far the most killer track on his latest B-sides collection, Swords. Have a look.

Morrissey's 'Swords'

Morrissey's forthcoming rarities collection, the 18-track Swords, will finally see the light of day in the UK October 26. The collection features b-sides from his most recent albums, including this year's Years of Refusal, as well as a bonus disc entitled, Live From Warsaw 2009.

Swords tracklisting:

1. Good Looking Man About Town
2. Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice
3. If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look At Me
4. Ganglord
5. My Dearest Love
6. The Never-Played Symphonies
7. Sweetie-Pie
8. Christian Dior
9. Shame Is the Name
10. Munich Air Disaster 1958
11. I Knew I Was Next
12. It's Hard to Walk Tall When You're Small
13. Teenage Dad On His Estate
14. Children In Pieces
15. Friday Mourning
16. "My Life Is a Succession of People Saying Goodbye
17. Drive-In Saturday
18. Because Of My Poor Education


Live From Warsaw 2009:
1. Black Cloud
2. I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
3. I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
4. Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself
5. One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
6. You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby
7. Life Is a Pigsty
8. I'm OK By Myself

The Always Cool Chrissie Hynde

I LOVE Chrissie Hynde (and the Pretenders, of course). She is the epitome of cool. Her attitude, her swaggering guitar riffs, the hair and the eyeliner, all of it, she's just cool.

She and the band are still plugging along, for she, longtime drummer Martin Chambers, guitarist James Walbourne, bassist Nick Wilkinson, and steel guitarist Eric Heywood are currently touring the U.S. (alongside Cat Power and Juliette Lewis) in support of their latest album, 2008's Break Up the Concrete.

Recently, Chrissie sat down with the The Guardian for a pretty entertaining Q&A. She namechecks Morrissey, too. After all, she's covered "Everyday Is Like Sunday" in years past and added backing vocals to Morrissey's 1991 single "My Love Life." Anyhow, read on for more.

When were you happiest?
A couple of hours ago: I got a text message to meet someone later.

What is your most treasured possession?
I love my guitars, but I'm not married to them. Maybe some photographs of my daughters when they were little.

What do you owe your parents?
I owe them because I had to get really far away to do what I wanted to do so they wouldn't disapprove, and that worked out really well for me.

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?
James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon. I'd like to say sorry to them that the rock'n'roll lifestyle, which I certainly was a part of, didn't work out so good for them.

Which living person do you most despise, and why?
I can't feel like that about human beings. I love people – all of them – even the ones I hate!

What is the worst job you've done?
When I was working as a waitress when I was 17, and they mainly had steak on the menu. That's the great shame of my working life.

If you could go back in time, where would you go?
I'd go back to London about 150 years ago. I'd snoop around the buildings and all through the West End. I think about it every day. I just want to hear horses' hooves and see that street life, pre-technology.

What song would you like played at your funeral?
"Sing Your Life" by Morrissey.

The Importance of Being Morrissey

Whoa! Morrissey-solo announced today that Mozipedia: The Encyclopedia of Morrissey and The Smiths will hit bookstores across the UK come Thursday, July 23 via Ebury Press. Simon Goddard, a regular contributor to Q Magazine, wrote the in-depth 544-page biographical sketch of the pop artist I've frequently swooned over here at mackenzieland.

NME hailed Goddard as 'the Smiths authority' for his 2002 book, The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life, which was also the only Smiths book to be well-received by guitarist Johnny Marr.

Synposis courtesy of Waterstone's:

Steven Patrick Morrissey is one of the most original and controversial voices in the history of popular music. With The Smiths, he led the most influential British guitar group of the 1980s, his enigmatic wit and style defining a generation. As a solo artist, he has continued to broach subjects no other singer would dare. Worshipped by some, vilified by others, Morrissey is a unique rock and roll creation. The 300,000 words of "Mozipedia" make this the most intimate and in-depth biographical portrait of the man and his music yet. Bringing together every song, album, collaborator, key location, every hero, book, film and record to have influenced his art, it is the summation of years of meticulous research. Morrissey authority Simon Goddard has interviewed almost everybody of any importance, making "Mozipedia" the last word on Morrissey and The Smiths.

Rawk Plate

Hey yooooou guuuuuuys! Check out the radness that is Dang Lorang. They're the ones responsible for creating that awesome piece of art with my beloved Morrissey's face. A BIG thanks again to my dear friend Corey, who got me the plate as a pre-wedding gift. SO AWESOME!

The New York City-based craft collective -- made up of friends Lauriana and Angela -- offers plenty of fun crafty goodies. After all, the opening page exclaims that Dang Lorang is a place for plates, pillows, parasols and all things peachy. Um yeah, pretty cool.

"We're both crafters that focus on the same theme: bands and artists we love," says Lauriana. "We didn't know that fact about each other for a while, but one day I saw a concert T-shirt pillow that Angela made and she told me all about her other band pillows. I told her about the plates I made. So, we teamed up and here we are. It feels like we run a little indie record shop, out of our cramped New York City apartments."

While Angela is the master seamstress behind such rad vintage pillows, featuring the likes of AC/DC, Slayer and Whitney Houston just to name a few, Lauriana is the artist responsible for putting Morrissey, David Bowie, Joan Jett, and Joe Strummer's face (and more!) on a plate. But where did this Morrissey idea come from?

"I started making decoupage plates for my sister, who is a Morrissey lifer as well," Lauriana explains. "She is a mother of five and let's nothing stand in the way of her obsession, not even her husband. The first was a tryptic series of her favorite Smiths albums that I gave her as a thank you for being her plus one to the Apollo show [in 2004]."

"I thought that as the years went on I would make a new plate for on her birthday of the Mozzer in various repose to add to her collection," she adds. "When I was preparing for the craft fair, I wanted to try to update the plate into something a bit more mature. Hence the yellow plate."

Dang Lorang does do custom plate orders and most start at $20 for small ones, but nothing is over $30. The hardest plate to create so far?

"The hardest one is actually a decoupage plate I'm currently working on featuring Nick Cave on a unicorn," Lauriana says. "But as far as painting goes, Dusty Springfield. She ended up looking like Celine Dion."

These plates are safe for looking, not eating. Joe Strummer says so.

A Note From Morrissey

Yesterday, the lovely folks at It's Morrissey's World passed along a note from the Mozzer, who informed fans that his tour in support of Years of Refusal has finally resumed. Morrissey recently canceled a host of gig overseas at a doctor's request to rest his voice. Want to know more? Read on ... and look closely for some new album info.

We Will Resume

I am very pleased to confirm that we will resume at Luxembourg this coming Friday (5 June), absorbed and collected. I have been reconstructed by a Wiltshire hospital and I am as close to good health as I'm likely to get.

I apologize to everyone caught up in the to-ing and fro-ing, but the disappointment of postponement is less than the disappointment of hearing me sing on one engine.

I should stress that nothing has been canceled. The four London concerts are repositioned in July, and both Birmingham and the Royal Albert Hall are October fixtures. I've endured a titanic struggle against an intolerable virus lately, and although Hull, Hartlepool and Manchester were nights that comprised a whole life, the physical limits were reached. False notes crush the soul.

Besides Luxembourg and beyond, I am excited about the October release of Swords, which is an 18-track compilation of b-side of singles from the last three albums. This will be a Polydor release.

Thanks to everyone who bought 'Years of Refusal'. We were the number one seller in the UK for the week of release, but, as with 'You Are The Quarry' and 'Your Arsenal', we were booted off the number one spot on the last hour of the final day. We cried.

I would like to point out that some passable creature is using my name and sending sharply chiseled replies to people via Twitter, MySpace and Facebook. This person is not me. Not enough happens in my life that I would wish to share it with others. I do not scan these sites - or whatever they are - so I can only hope that whoever is posing as me is at least worth talking to. Beware of false imitations.

Thanks for reading these unvarnished facts, and thanks for giving us some greatly enjoyable nights on the Refusal tour.

Absolutely Yours,
Morrissey


.... ooooh, Swords is forthcoming. I'm giddy!

Heeeelarious!

Illustrator Natalie Dee is great! I absolutely love her bit on Morrissey entitled "Don't Invite Morrissey to Your Birthday Party."

Steven Patrick Morrissey Turns 50

Happy (Unhappy?) Birthday to my favorite handsome devil, Morrissey, who turns the big 5-0 today. Tonight, he'll celebrate with a few special gigs in England, including one at the Manchester Apollo.

Mozzer to NME on growing old: “Age shouldn't affect you. You're either marvelous or you're boring, regardless of your age.

In the NYC, there are a bunch of shindigs going on to honor the former Smiths frontman, including The Music Slut's Trash party at The Studio in Webster Hall. Also, Kaki King is playing a special set at Glasslands in Brooklyn. Bodega Girls, the Stationary Set, and Beta Beta are also slated to perform.

Also, to commemorate Morrissey's big birthday The Music Slut has issued the digital LP, TMS Hearts Moz. This 19-song set features Morrissey or Smiths covers from the likes of digital LP features artists like Chris Garneau, Exit Clov, The Glass, Laura Palmer, Mixel Pixel, Pattern Is Movement, Sharon Van Etten, and more. Each afternoon at 4pm, TMS debuts a new mp3 for free download and will continue to do so through May 28th. Hot stuff!

Click here to send the Mozzer some birthday wishes.

Moz Pop Art

Boing Boing (via Popurls) is a beautiful thing. Over the weekend I stumbled upon this lovely bit of Morrissey-inspired pop art, Derek Erdman's piece entitle "FORTUNATE TEENS PARTY WITH MORRISSEY, 1994"



Here's Erdman's hilarious spin on the painting ... only meant for comic relief. It's not a true story. I mean, c'mon, you can't see Morrissey actually doing THAT?

"There is a seldom told story that Morrissey's tour bus broke down in small town Ohio in the autumn of 1994. A full day was necessary for the repairs to be completed and Morrissey and his band delighted local teenaged fans by stopping by a house party to drink beer and smoke marijuana. 'It was the time of my life,' remarks Tamara Marshall, who was hosting the party. 'My parents were out of town and I was told not to have a party, but once Morrissey showed up I knew I wasn't going to be a secret for long.' When asked what she remembered most about Morrissey's visit, Tamara answered, 'He didn't like Rolling Rock beer'."

Heeelarious! Dontcha love it?

Head on the Door

Morrissey's video for second single, "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" was release today via MySpace. The clip captures Moz & Co. playing live at the BBC Radio 2 concert in London in February. Lookin' good Solomon Walker!

Morrissey -Something Is Squeezing My Skull


Again, "Someone Is Squeezing My Skull," the second single from Moz's Years of Refusal LP, is out Monday in the U.K.

LOVE Josh Modell's geek obsession bit on the Mozzer at the Onion's A.V. Club, too. Catch Morrissey do "Sing Your Life" on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.

He Knows I'd Love To ...

Ah yes, another Morrissey book for those loyal fans out there. This time, author Dickie Felton captures 30 real-life chance meetings between the adored one and his forever adoring fans in his book, The Day I Met Morrissey, out May 11th via Bootle Bruiser Books. If you don't know already, there are no fans like Morrissey fans. To say they worship him is pretty much an understatement. Last month, while attending the Webster Hall show, my friend Briana and I were laughing how we're still as mad for the Moz now as we were as teenagers. The closest I've ever come to meeting Morrissey was when he and security scurried past the merch table after the Webster Hall show. In 1997, when catching former Smiths frontman at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, my old college roommate and I chased Spencer Cobrin and Johnny Bridgewood across the street to their hotel. They seemed to have enjoyed that. We just said hi.

Maybe one day? HA!

In other related Morrissey news, "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" will be the second single from his latest LP, Years of Refusal. Out April 27th in the UK, live versions of "This Charming Man, "Best Friend on the Payroll" and "I Keep Mine Hidden" are also included. Click here to order.

Fandom Happiness

I've never been a Mountain Goats fan simply because I've never taken the time. I have friends who adore the band and hang on frontman John Darnielle's every word. I suppose I've never bothered because I've only ever been involved with Morrissey. I guess I've felt removed from my younger peers who love the guy so much, too. But I was moved by New York magazine's amazing article on Darnielle's most sensitive and loyal fans.

In Stephen Rodrick's article, "God & Worshipper: A Rock & Roll Love Story, of Sorts", the reader gets to know the charmingly sweet Stephen Wesley, probably the world's most fervent Mountains Goats fan. I like him immediately.

He squeals with such joy when he finally gets to see the Mountain Goats live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg; at Morrissey's March 26th show at Carnegie Hall, my 8th Mozzer gig in 10 years, I screamed like I'd never screamed before as Moz descended the famous stage in a tux. I get this fan-love thing ... I do.

Wesley also did his fan duty by ordering two copies of the limited vinyl release for Satanic Messiah EP last fall. He'd already purchased the digital version, but ordering two separate copies from both 4AD's label site and another indie-record vendor, well that's true love.

When Morrissey issued the first single from his latest LP, Years of Refusal, I was just as fanatical as Wesley. I ordered two different copies for the "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" single so I could have the two B-sides. I also ordered the 12" for the naked sleeve shot, which I blogged about a few months back. When I caught Morrissey at Webster Hall in late March, I also purchased a numbered and signed copy of Years of Refusal. I already own it on CD, too. See? Wesley knows about this.

With all this fandom aside, you learn about the trying life of John Darnielle. He was beaten by his alcoholic step-dad, but learned to love Randy Newman from him as well. He's been writing since 7th grade and is obssesed with Joan Didion's work (just like me). He was raised Catholic. He battled heroin. He worked as a psychiatric nurse after high school. And he's a music geek just like any of us. Honestly, he seems like a decent guy. I like that.

When Wesley finally met Darnielle, you learn that the two have much more in common than you'd like to think a fan and a rock star might have, but it's incredibly endearing. Rodrick guided me into Darnielle's creative world, one that I tried to ignore for so long, and it was Wesley who helped me understand why people appreciate this John Darnielle guy and worship the sound of the Mountain Goats.

I guess it's high time I spent some time with the Mountain Goats.

Famous International Playboy

Ok, I've been hesistant to discuss the much-talked about naked Morrissey photo for a couple of days now. News flash for those who haven't Facebooked me or texted me with the news (haha), Morrissey and the rest of his band are nearly nude on the inner-sleeve of the Mozzer's forthcoming single, "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris." Of course, the Moz and the band's unmentionables are covered by aptly-placed seven-inch vinyl records.

It's not because I'm worried about what my Dad might say (thanks for always reading my blog, Dad) when he sees the post or how the Sultan will scowl at the photo above. The gasps, the shrieks, the wtfs surrounding this photo ... it's entertaining, sure. But really, why is this such a big deal?

The Guardian criticizes the photo as "ghastly." "The decline of Morrissey's sleeve imagery has only been equalled [sic] by his similarly appalling taste in denim over the past decade. Where once he wore synch-stitched Levi's, he seems to have been working his way through a dizzying wardrobe of boot-cut monstrosities when promoting his past four albums."

Really?

For me, it's Morrissey. He's still my favorite favorite. I get what he's doing here ... let the man make fun of himself. Let him have a little fun, period. The dude's outgrown his signature moping, but he'll never stop mocking the press or the naysayers. I especially love him for that. Sure, if was 16, I'd be a giddy fangirl about this photo. And I suppose I'll be a fangirl for Morrissey for the rest of my life. But c'mon. This photo is that big of a deal? Let's not make it more than it is. Red Hot Chili Peppers? Psssh.

Morrissey has remained an original. He's timeless. The artwork for his solo singles might not exactly match the flawless brilliance of former Smiths singles, but as he's always done, Morrissey does what he wants. Thank goodness for that.

"I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" is released February 9th, while Morrissey's tenth studio LP, Years of Refusal, drops February 17th.

Do You Like Rock & Roll Music?

Forgive me ... I'm a little behind on this blog thing. Anyhow, the annual Village Voice Pazz & Jop Critics Poll came out last week. Here's what ruled my ears in 2008.



The year in music is already shaping up nicely for 2009. Franz Ferdinand's third LP, Tonight, dropped today, while Morrissey's Years of Refusal follows February 17th and U2's long-awaited studio effort, No Line on the Horizon, is released March 3rd. More good stuff from M. Ward, Neko Case ... the list goes on and on.

BUT! Can someone please explain Animal Collective to me?

I want a new Doves album. It's been nearly four years since Some Cities. But word on the street is that their fourth album is finished. New tracks will be debuted in their native UK in mid-March, and first single "Kingdom of Rust" is slated for a March 30th release.

My Love Life

2009 is shaping up to be a good year ... so far ... my dear favorite Morrissey will release his tenth studio album, Years of Refusal, February 17th on Attack/Lost Highway. Lost Highway, what? Hey, as long as he keeps releasing good, solid albums, I'm happy. Anyhow, Years of Refusal marks the Mozzer's follow up to 2006’s Ringleader of the Tormentors, which is, by the way, incredibly underrated. "Life Is a Pigsty" is epic.

Produced by the late Jerry Finn, who also joined Moz for 2004's You Are the Quarry, produced the dozen-song effort. Sadly, it also marked his last project. Finn suffered a cerebral hemorrhage last July and passed away a month later at the age of 39.

The oh-so charming "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris," is the LP's first single. English guitar legend Jeff Beck also performs on track "Black Cloud."

Years of Refusal:
1. Something Is Squeezing My Skull
2. Mama Lay Softly On the Riverbed
3. Black Cloud
4. I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris
5. All You Need Is Me
6. When Last I Spoke to Carol
7. That's How People Grow Up
8. One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
9. It's Not Your Birthday Anymore
10. You Were Good In Your Time
11. Sorry Doesn't Help
12. I'm OK By Myself

Special Edition DVD:
1. Wrestle with Russell
2. That's How People Grow Up (Performed on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
3. All You Need is Me (Performed on Later with Jools Holland)
4. All You Need is Me (Video)

Look at THAT cover!

Good Looking Man About Town

Ah yes, it's today ... the 49th birthday of Morrissey, my favorite star. Still a charming man (heh), the former Smiths frontman is readying the release of "All You Need is Me," the second single -- out June 2nd according to morrissey-solo -- from his latest Greatest Hits collection. Mozzer, you don't look too shabby.

Mozadjusted

Paint a Vulgar Picture, my friends ... Morrissey gets sketched.



Check out Etchasketchist's Flickr page for more sketchy badassery. Amy Winehouse, NY Giants QB Eli Manning, Herbie Hancock, and Eliot Spitzer are just a few who also receive some lineographic love.

Don't forget, Morrissey's long-awaited booty shot in his Greatest Hits album drops via Decca today! Is your head on the bar yet?

Thanks Briana!

If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look at Me: Morrissey Photo Exhibit

If you're a Moz fan-for-life like myself, you know that there's nothing like a Morrissey fan. They're ultimately devoted, passionately and madly in love with Steven Patrick Morrissey, aka Morrissey--the man who's best known for making moping around a thing of style. NYC-based photographer, Ryan McGinley, knows this quite well. He spent the last two years following Moz's maniacal fan base across the US, the UK, and Mexico. His photo exhibition, Irregular Regulars, debuted at Team Gallery, (83 Grand Street, between Wooster & Green, 6-8, NYC) last Thursday, and is scheduled to run through the 10th of February.

Thanks to Morrissey-Solo for the heads up!
*Photo credit: Untitled (Morrissey 17), 2006, color photograph, 14 x 9 inches.

MacKenzieLand: Top 10 Albums of 2006

1. White Whale – WWI
[Featuring members of the Get Up Kids, Butterglory, The Higher Burning Fire, and Boys Life, the Lawrence, KS quintet is everything indie rock is searching for.]


2. The Twilight Singers - Powder Burns
[Yeah he's sober now, but Greg Dulli still kills.]


3. Joanna Newsom – Ys
[I tried to ignore her, but Newsom is lovely.]


4. Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites
[Gorgeous sonic goodness that'll make Lush fans squeal.]


5. Tap Tap – Lanzafame
[Reading, England's answer to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.]


6. Morrissey - Ringleader of the Tormentors
[Just one listen to "Life Is a Pigsty" and you'll understand why this Moz album rules.]


7. Band of Horses - Everything All the Time
[A Sub Pop gem featuring former members of Carissa's Wierd.]


8. Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - The Dust of Retreat
[A New York City scape lush in poetry and romance. Thank you Richard Edwards.]


9. Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics
[Lady is a vamp. 'Nuff said.]


10. I Love You but I've Chosen Darkness - Fear Is on Our Side
[Sounds like early '90s synth rock without the kitsch. Second coming of 24 Gone?]


Honorable mentions:
Ellen Allien & Apparat - Orchestra of Bubbles
Isobel Campbell - Milk White Sheets
Russian Circles - Enter
The Long Winters - Putting The Days To Bed
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
Nelly Furtado - Loose
Elbow - Leaders of the Free World
Black Heart Procession - The Spell
Deftones – Saturday Night Wrist
Jim Noir – Tower of Love
Dani Siciliano - Slappers
Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade
The Rosewood Thieves - From the Decker House EP
The Walkmen - Pussy Cats

Morrissey Just Wants to See the Boy Happy

"I Just Want To See The Boy Happy," the fourth single from Morrissey's 2006 stunner, Ringleader of the Tormentors, hit the U.K. yesterday. The new single is available on Maxi CD, limited edition gatefold 7" vinyl, limited edition picture disc 7" vinyl, AND digital download (via iTunes). All formats will feature previously unreleased b-sides, including live recordings. Live versions of "Speedway" and "Late Night, Maudlin Street?" KILLER!

The U.K. Maxi CD single:
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
Sweetie-Pie
I Want The One I Can't Have (recorded live at The Royal Albert Hall 2002)
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy (enhanced video)

The U.K. limited edition gatefold 7" vinyl single:
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
Speedway (recorded live at The Royal Albert Hall 2002)

The U.K. limited edition picture disc 7" vinyl single:
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
Late Night, Maudlin Street (recorded live at The Royal Albert Hall 2002)

MP3: Sweetie Pie Thanks Torr!

Because It's November