"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...uammar-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...uammar-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.

[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