"Morrissey compares the Queen to Muammar Gaddafi"

[Neil McCauley]

"Morrissey has used the Queen's state visit to Ireland to launch a new attack on the monarchy, likening her position to that of Muammar Gaddafi. In an article for Irish magazine Hot Press, the singer wrote: "The very existence of the Queen and her now enormous family ... is entirely against any notion of democracy, and is against freedom of speech. For a broad historical view of what the Queen is and how she 'rules', examine Gaddafi or Mubarak, and see if you can spot any difference."

Hmm. And yet he seems such a nice young man!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/18/morrissey-compares-queen-muammar-gaddafi

[WAD62]

"Morrissey has used the Queen's state visit to Ireland to launch a new attack on the monarchy, likening her position to that of Muammar Gaddafi. In an article for Irish magazine Hot Press, the singer wrote: "The very existence of the Queen and her now enormous family ... is entirely against any notion of democracy, and is against freedom of speech. For a broad historical view of what the Queen is and how she 'rules', examine Gaddafi or Mubarak, and see if you can spot any difference."

Hmm. And yet he seems such a nice young man!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/may/18/morrissey-compares-queen-muammar-gaddafi

Firstly I'm not a royalist, and I'm not about to comment on the content of Morrissey's ststement.

Why people should think that a person's status within the musical industry, or musical talent for that matter, gives them an insight into social and political matters is quite beyond me.

I usually shy away from interest in the musician as a person, all I want is the music, invariably when you do find out about them, or meet them in some instances, it leads to disappointment. There are exceptions of course, but it's rare to find people with talent in more than field IMHO ;)

[Macca]

I usually shy away from interest in the musician as a person, all I want is the music, invariably when you do find out about them, or meet them in some instances, it leads to disappointment. There are exceptions of course, but it's rare to find people with talent in more than field IMHO ;)

Yes it is invariably the case that no matter how brilliant the music the artist as a person turns out to have feet of clay. In this case the music was shite as well so really there is nothing down for him, poor lad. :lol:

[John]

He does like to do up his arse from time to time

[prestonchipfryer]

He does like to do up his arse from time to time

Not quite far enough. What a +*?!

[Jac Hawk]

I would go along with Will, I'm no royalist either, you have to wonder why they (famous people) come out with crap like this, most of the time it's a way of keeping in the public eye in my opinion

[RochaCullen]

I think there are two sides to this: yes, it is infuriating that some people who are famous for singing or acting feel they now have a right to pass comment on some of lifes more complicated issues; on the other hand the media are more and more pusuing "celebrity" opinion as a means of pushing their product.

I am sure if the interview with morrisey was examined, you would find the comment about the queen was a throwaway comment, but one the editor of the guardian chose to focus on.

[Jac Hawk]

I think there are two sides to this: yes, it is infuriating that some people who are famous for singing or acting feel they now have a right to pass comment on some of lifes more complicated issues; on the other hand the media are more and more pusuing "celebrity" opinion as a means of pushing their product.

I am sure if the interview with morrisey was examined, you would find the comment about the queen was a throwaway comment, but one the editor of the guardian chose to focus on.

Maybe, but he should have realised what he was saying in that case, to be honest i would be surprised if he didn't know exactly what he was saying, he's never been one to shy away from controversial subjects especially the royals, so why would it be different this time

[WAD62]

I don't have a problem with Morrissey having an opinion, and expressing it, it's just that we live in these horrible times of the 'cult of celeb', where their fame in a different area somehow provides them with some greater insight into a completely divorced subject...

...Aparently the smiths are now reforming with Jeremy Paxman as the lead singer (complete with flowers down his kecks), and Morrissey is going on to head up newsnight in return ;)

[Jac Hawk]

I don't have a problem with Morrissey having an opinion, and expressing it, it's just that we live in these horrible times of the 'cult of celeb', where their fame in a different area somehow provides them with some greater insight into a completely divorced subject...

...Aparently the smiths are now reforming with Jeremy Paxman as the lead singer (complete with flowers down his kecks), and Morrissey is going on to head up newsnight in return ;)

Should be interesting then ;)

[nat8808]

I am sure if the interview with morrisey was examined, you would find the comment about the queen was a throwaway comment, but one the editor of the guardian chose to focus on.

Definately! Did you see their headline when they interviewed him a couple of months previously? They contrived a scenario by asking him a particular question (can't remember what about) then picked his response deliberately - and also out of context so that that hid the contrivation - and splashed it all over the headlines just to grab themselves a load of attention to what was actually quite a regular interview..

The thing is he, more than most musicians, does not see why people should actually be interested in anything other than his music either (that's what he says)..

I guess it is then up to us to ask ourselves why we are 'interested' and why it should rile any one of us.. One individual in the world.

The way the Guardian works it though is a case of "Miss! Miss! Stephen just said F%@# ! "

Still, I would rather read such things that make me think than thousands of empty articles about who made some rich girl's wedding dress!

[RochaCullen]

Just read the following article in the independent:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-secret-of-adeles-success-no-festivals-tweeting-ndash-or-selling-out-2288168.html

I don't have any of Adele's music, although I did hear her sing on Jools's show not so long ago. But her take on things has impressed me massively.

I enjoy concerts and I enjoy gigs, but have no time for big festivals or stadium gigs. Waste of money in my point of view. Last big gig I went to was in the O2 and I wished I'd spent the £120 on some CDs instead. Still my reasons for not liking big gigs might be a little different than adele's.

What's most impressive is that she recognises the inherent problems with "Lady Gaga-style ubiquity".

[nat8808]

Just read the following article in the independent:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/the-secret-of-adeles-success-no-festivals-tweeting-ndash-or-selling-out-2288168.html

I don't have any of Adele's music, although I did hear her sing on Jools's show not so long ago. But her take on things has impressed me massively.

I enjoy concerts and I enjoy gigs, but have no time for big festivals or stadium gigs. Waste of money in my point of view. Last big gig I went to was in the O2 and I wished I'd spent the £120 on some CDs instead. Still my reasons for not liking big gigs might be a little different than adele's.

What's most impressive is that she recognises the inherent problems with "Lady Gaga-style ubiquity".

Certainly going off topic now, but I really enjoy festivals. Not necessarily for the music for it's own sake, but for the atmosphere and variety of music (dependant on the festival of course..) and for just being able to sit outside, relaxing, with some band playing live and original music for you - good when they're unpopular and have no crowd in the way in the middle of the day. Always aurally enjoyable whether or not you actually like the music (that's not a contradiction for me).

Still, I can understand avoidance of over popular and crowded big festivals and stadium gigs are much less enjoyable than seing the same band on Jules Holland with a good hifi.

[Joe]

Morrissey is comedy gold! Like Lou Reed, he's mostly on the wind-up in interviews

[Alex_UK]

Morrissey is comedy gold! Like Lou Reed, he's mostly on the wind-up in interviews

Good grief - welcome back Joe - thought you'd been abducted by aliens. ;)

[John]

What Joe not an Alien;)
Nice to have you back