Morrissey Publicly Dispels Racism Accusations, Blasts NME

By: Mozzer | in: Music |

Morrissey

By way of the written word, Morrissey lays the smackdown on New Musical Express and Tim Jonze in response to the anti-immigrant slant contained in his recent interview in the magazine. And yes, a lawsuit has been filed.

All of two sentences declare his stance on the implied racism in the NME interview: “I abhor racism and oppression or cruelty of any kind and will not let this pass without being absolutely clear and emphatic with regard to what my position is. Racism is beyond common sense and I believe it has no place in our society.”

What follows afterward is a fierce -and oftentimes hilarious- condemnation of the “new” NME, its staff, and editorial mistreatment.

Here are some selected quotes from the post:

“It is on the backs of writers such as Morley, Burchill, Kent and Shaar Murray that the ‘new’ NME hitches its mule-cart. But the stalled views of the ‘new’ NME sag, and readers have been driven away by a magazine with no insides.”

“Strangely enough, my own name is the only one featured in the ‘new’ NME that links their present with the NME’s distant past…”

“I do not mean to be rude to Tim Jonze, but when I first caught sight of him I assumed that someone had brought their child along to the interview. The runny nose told the whole story.”

Basically, the real Mozzer acknowledges NME’s vaunted history and cleverly illustrates that the NME of the past is not the NME of the present. He then issues a warning to others who may deal with NME in the future: ” Here is proof that the ‘new’ NME will twist and pervert the views of any singer or musician who’d dare step into the interview ring. To such artists, I wish them well, but I would advise you to bring your lawyer along to the interview.”

Here’s a scan of the NME article that started it all

Read Morrissey’s response in the Guardian

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Posted on December 5, 2007

Comments

7 Responses to “Morrissey Publicly Dispels Racism Accusations, Blasts NME”

Charbarred on December 5th, 2007 2:30 am

It’s a shame that people of his caliber have to speak to a rag like NME in the first place.
Everyone knows that since the 90’s the NME has become no more than a glorified teenage gossip magazine. All they do is hype up bands that will be forgotten in a couple of months and talk about clothes and hair.
The sad thing is that the only people still reading this second rate crap are little kids who don’t even know who Morrissey is or what he’s about.

DThompson on December 5th, 2007 2:57 am

So, should I not give interviews to the NME of the present, which is the new NME, or the NME of the future, which is the new NME, but newer? However, giving an interview to the NME of the past is OK, as long as it’s not the NEW NME of the very recent past, but, rather the OLD NME of the quite distant long ago past, which was, I can only assume, at one point in the past, the new NME?
Please respond, because I just got an e-mail from NME (the new one… I think)and they want an interview.

Charbarred on December 5th, 2007 4:23 am

Well, just bear in mind that you are giving a NEW kind of interview and not the OLD style interview where you’d assume that what you say will be properly quoted. As it is the new NME the questions will be shorter and any answer you give that surpasses 2 sentences will be cropped in order to make more space for a photo of your latest hair cut.

Itax on December 5th, 2007 10:04 am

While it is true that NME is now primarily used in zoo’s for large mammal tampons, I still hate Morrissey. Maybe if he cures death I’ll come around.

DThompson on December 5th, 2007 12:42 pm

Jeez, only four stars? I thought that comment was pretty witty.

Charbarred on December 5th, 2007 2:15 pm

It was witty but when compared to Itax’s cure for death thing…well…you know, you can’t always win…
I mean, if everyone always got 5 stars, where would we be? Knee deep in “comment communism” maybe…what would drive you to outdo yourself every time?
I thought so…now please award me my 5 stars and move on…

mozzer on December 5th, 2007 8:41 pm

Damn,Itax. You comments are pure comedic gold.

Dthompson, the new old NME of future’s past is the one you gotta look out for. I thought it was common knowledge by now. Oh wait, this is 2007, it’ll be common knowledge 5 years from now. my bad.