02/23/2006
Morrissey Hauled in by the Feds
The U.S. and British governments are taking the John Lennon approach to former Smiths frontman Morrissey, the singer has revealed:
"The FBI and the Special Branch have investigated me and I've been interviewed and taped and so forth. They were trying to determine if I was a threat to the government, and similarly in England. But it didn't take them very long to realise that I'm not. I don't belong to any political groups, I don't really say anything unless I'm asked directly and I don't even demonstrate in public. I always assume that so-called authoritarian figures just assume that pop/rock music is slightly insane and an untouchable platform for the working classes to stand up and say something noticeable. My view is that neither England or America are democratic societies. You can't really speak your mind and if you do you're investigated."
Aging British melancholic pop stars have always been a grave threat to the security of America...
Morrissey's new album, Ringleader of the Tormentors, is set for release on April 4th.
Posted 1:03 PM EST by Andy Towle in Current Affairs, Music | Permalink
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Ya know...let's have an independent mainstream media report corroborate his story and I'll be angry, but I really doubt that our government wasted it's time.
Posted by: Mitch | Feb 23, 2006 1:26:52 PM
I bet they brought him in just so they could have a close-up look of his adorable face.
Mitch, your comment is creepy.
Posted by: Jason | Feb 23, 2006 1:31:02 PM
I see nothing unusual in what Morrissey is describing, with more and more shit that this administration is doing without regard to laws or common sense. By the way, I heard the new album and it's probably his best in years.
Posted by: Gabriel | Feb 23, 2006 2:13:57 PM
My inner Grammar Queen shouts "its", not "it's".
Posted by: Liam | Feb 23, 2006 3:03:31 PM
I don't think he is a threat, his music is good, he loves animals and he may even have predicted the death of Princess Diana ! in his album "the queen is dead" there is an amazing website about it I will post address here if anyone is interested
Posted by: steve | Feb 23, 2006 3:08:02 PM
I'm sure the authorities in England already has Moz on some list for his comments after that evil hag Thatcher was almost blown to bits by the IRA: "The only tragedy of the Briton bombing is that it didn't succeed".
Well, that, and the great song "Margaret on the Guillitone".
Posted by: Henry Holland | Feb 23, 2006 5:02:42 PM
They can't get OSB so they go after Morrissey? This Country is headed into the toilet so damn fast it's not even funny...
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Feb 23, 2006 6:36:21 PM
Why Jason? The man can't even be clear about his sexuality and we're supposed to take him at face value that he's been investigated with no independent proof?
Posted by: Mitch | Feb 24, 2006 1:28:32 AM
What's "independent mainstream media"? Isn't that kind of an oxymoron?
Not that I disagree... a little more substantial evidence might be nice. But I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. Our government has wasted time and resources on other similar things.
Posted by: Brian | Feb 24, 2006 9:14:27 AM
Liam slap your inner grammar queen. She's wrong. "...it is probably his best in years." = "...it's probably his best in years."
Posted by: JT Stout | Feb 24, 2006 9:32:46 AM
Perhaps the government was watching because of this...as well they should. I'm a huge fan of Morrissey, and the Smiths, but this is where you're supposed to say, "Oh, no, I don't condone violence."
Morrissey supports animal rights violence
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1986256,00.html
Posted by: stebbins | Feb 24, 2006 10:56:00 AM
Tony Visconti the producer is the real genius behind all of these projects like Marcy or Bowie, I love 'all the gays of my life I owe you' from DB's REALITY..but I all I could say to Marcy is that in the early 70's I saw eight to ten live Jobriath shows in Memphis at Godfather's Pub and it actually WAS THAT GREAT, I wish Morrissey had been there with me when we were 'flash kids cause' gay sex was sweet, romantic and hardcore sexy..
Posted by: john-eric hill moptopmouse@yahoo.com | Feb 24, 2006 11:05:39 AM
The Morrissey quote comes originally from an (independent mainstream media-)NME interview this week.
Posted by: Darren | Feb 24, 2006 3:27:02 PM