Il y a de cela quelques années, j'avais lu un article relativement captivant sur la jeunesse de Morrissey dans un mensuel musical influent dont je tairai le nom. Complètement fasciné par la seule icône gaie respectée par la totalité des hétéros, je m'étais longuement attardé sur un paragraphe particulier où il était question de «centaines de lettres envoyées par le jeune Moz à plusieurs magazines musicaux» dans lesquelles il avouait son obsession pour les New York Dolls et sa fascination pour les Buzzcocks, et, surtout, où il n'arrêtait pas de chialer à propos de tous les groupes punk qui le faisaient chier. L'article insistait sur le fait que ces lettres laissaient entrevoir une maîtrise syntaxique étonnante de la part d'un adolescent, et, surtout, une propension déconcertante à toujours ressasser les mêmes affaires. Je suis tombé sur ces lettres il y a quelque temps. Mettons qu'il chiale vraiment bien.
Cette correspondance à sens unique a perduré pendant plusieurs longues années durant lesquelles Morrissey était président du fan-club anglais des New York Dolls. Elle commence en 1974, alors qu'il a 15 ans, et se termine en 1981, juste avant qu'il ne fonde The Smiths. On a choisi les meilleurs passages.
14 JUIN 1974, NME
« Today I bought the album of the year. I feel I can say this without expecting several letters saying I'm talking rubbish. The album is Kimono My House by Sparks. I bouth it on the strength of the single. Every track is brilliant, although I must name 'Equator', 'Complaints', 'Amateur Hour' and 'Here In Heaven' as the best tracks and in that order.
Steven Morrissey, 384 Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester. »
27 DÉCEMBRE 1975, SOUNDS
« The British public are very wary of new bands. Anything that aims to change the day-to-day routine of the rock world is carefully observed before admitted. What a shame the New York Dolls and Jobriath were a little too fond of their satins and silks because I am sure that they both had enough - and more, to please the media. After two albums, several European tours and a large amount of money spent on publicity, the Dolls are back on the streets of New York with the bands whose path was paved by the Dolls. It is often forgotten that the dolls were the beginning of a whole new music scene in America which has produced such rarities as Kiss, Aerosmith, The Tubes, Wayne County, the Dictators, and the current genius, Bruce Springsteen - names which wouldn't stop the show, but have been the topic of much enthusiastic journalism. Not to mention the truck loads of amateur bands which, as I pen this epistle, will no doubt be screeching away at unrecognisable chords after bathing in the latest brands of cosmetics.
6 SEPTEMBRE 1975, MELODY MAKER
«Aerosmith are one of those American dance-a-rama scenic bands with enough punch to see the Stones on pensions and enough make-up to last them through the winter. Their music is that of confused struggle, with vocalist Steven Tyler sounding as though he is using the microphone to brush his teeth. They are as original as a bar of soap and have as much to offer seventies rock as Ena Sharples. Aerosmith are just another street-corner rock'n'roll band, using notorious Zeppelin riffs in an effort to steal out love and devotion. But when one ruminates over the fact that 'Toys In The Attic' is the band's third album. Thanks, but not thanks Aerosmith. I'll stick with the New York Dolls for my rock'n'roll thrills.
STEVE MORRISSEY, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester. »
27 DÉCEMBRE 1975, SOUNDS
« The British public are very wary of new bands. Anything that aims to change the day-to-day routine of the rock world is carefully observed before admitted. What a shame the New York Dolls and Jobriath were a little too fond of their satins and silks because I am sure that they both had enough - and more, to please the media. After two albums, several European tours and a large amount of money spent on publicity, the Dolls are back on the streets of New York with the bands whose path was paved by the Dolls. It is often forgotten that the dolls were the beginning of a whole new music scene in America which has produced such rarities as Kiss, Aerosmith, The Tubes, Wayne County, the Dictators, and the current genius, Bruce Springsteen - names which wouldn't stop the show, but have been the topic of much enthusiastic journalism. Not to mention the truck loads of amateur bands which, as I pen this epistle, will no doubt be screeching away at unrecognisable chords after bathing in the latest brands of cosmetics.
Steve Morrissey, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester. »
18 JUIN 1976, NME
« I pen this epistle after witnessing the infamous Sex Pistols in concert at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall. The bumptious Pistols in jumble sale attire had those few that attended dancing in the aisles despite their discordant music and barely audible lyrics. The Pistols boast having no inspiration from the New York / Manhattan rock scene, yet their set includes, "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone", a number believed to be done almost to perfection by the Heartbreakers on any sleazy New York night and the Pistols' vocalist / exhibitionist Johnny Rotten's attitude and self-asserted 'love us or leave us' approach can be compared to both Iggy Pop and David JoHansen in their heyday. The Sex Pistols are very New York and it's nice to see that the British have produced a band capable of producing atmosphere created by The New York Dolls and their many imitators, even though it may be too late. I'd love to see the Pistols make it. Maybe they will be able to afford some clothes which don't look as though they've been slept in.
18 JUIN 1976, NME
« I pen this epistle after witnessing the infamous Sex Pistols in concert at the Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall. The bumptious Pistols in jumble sale attire had those few that attended dancing in the aisles despite their discordant music and barely audible lyrics. The Pistols boast having no inspiration from the New York / Manhattan rock scene, yet their set includes, "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone", a number believed to be done almost to perfection by the Heartbreakers on any sleazy New York night and the Pistols' vocalist / exhibitionist Johnny Rotten's attitude and self-asserted 'love us or leave us' approach can be compared to both Iggy Pop and David JoHansen in their heyday. The Sex Pistols are very New York and it's nice to see that the British have produced a band capable of producing atmosphere created by The New York Dolls and their many imitators, even though it may be too late. I'd love to see the Pistols make it. Maybe they will be able to afford some clothes which don't look as though they've been slept in.
STEVE MORRISSEY, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
21 JUILLET 1976, MELODY MAKER
« The Ramones are the latest bumptious band of degenerate no-talents whose most notable achievement to date is their ability to advance beyond the boundaries of New York City, and purely on the strength of a spate of convincing literature projecting the Ramones as God's gift to rock music. They have been greeted with instant adulation by an army of duped fans. Musically, they do not deal in subtlety or variation of any kind, their rule is to be as incompetent as possible. For a band believed to project the youth of America, New York - suburban life, anti-conformism, sex and struggle, or whatever, they fail miserably. And in the sober light of day their imperfections have a field day. (...). The New York Dolls and Patti Smith have proved that there is some life pumping away in the swamps and gutters of New York and they are the only acts which originated from the N.Y. club scene worthy of any praise. The Ramones have absolutely nothing to add that is of relevance or importance and should be rightly filed and forgotten.
Steve Morrissey, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
25 SEPTEMBRE 1976, SOUNDS
« Horses by Patti Smith has virtually no competition as the most exciting rock album of the year and it shows more potential than just about any other release in recent memory. There is no 'beat on the brat' nonsense. Patti is intriguing without being boring and every track is laced with her own brand of sardonic humour.
Steve Morrissey, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
11 NOVEMBRE 1976, MELODY MAKER
« The likes of the Sex Pistols have yet to prove that they are only worthy of a mention in a publication dealing solely with fashion, and if the music they deliver live is anything to go by, I think that their audacious lyrics and discordant music will not hold their heads above water when their followers tire of jumpers and safety pins. British punk rock is second to the New York equivalent, in that it does not possess the musical innovation. The New York Dolls, Patti Smith, The Ramones and Jobriath can withstand accusations of novelty value because, although a great deal of their act was based on image, they also had the musical professionalism and variation to suitably recompense for their image-conscious inclinations. However, although British punk bands are emerging by the truckload, even the most prominent are hardly worthy of serious musical acceptance.
STEVEN MORRISSEY, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
19 NOVEMBRE 1976, NME
« I thought it was terrific when David Johansen of the New York Dolls delivered such quips as: 'Who cares about music when one has such sense of drama?' and, 'We don't play too good but we can dance as bad as we want,' and 'We don't hold concerts - we throw parties!' and 'It doesn't bother us when people say that we can't play, when we met we actually couldn't,' etc, etc, but all these sweeping statements were launched in 1973, and when those same epigrams are repeated three years later by lesser mortals (ie Sex Pistols, Runaways, Ramones and Kiss), things begin to look synthetic. Methinks that The Dolls weren't the 'damp squid' that Nick Kent would have us to believe because if you look closely at the increasing number of British 'punk' bands emerging by the shipload, you will see in each one, a little bit of The Dolls. I think it's time that NME broke the office rules and had an article on the New York Dolls. You know it makes sense.
21 JUILLET 1976, MELODY MAKER
« The Ramones are the latest bumptious band of degenerate no-talents whose most notable achievement to date is their ability to advance beyond the boundaries of New York City, and purely on the strength of a spate of convincing literature projecting the Ramones as God's gift to rock music. They have been greeted with instant adulation by an army of duped fans. Musically, they do not deal in subtlety or variation of any kind, their rule is to be as incompetent as possible. For a band believed to project the youth of America, New York - suburban life, anti-conformism, sex and struggle, or whatever, they fail miserably. And in the sober light of day their imperfections have a field day. (...). The New York Dolls and Patti Smith have proved that there is some life pumping away in the swamps and gutters of New York and they are the only acts which originated from the N.Y. club scene worthy of any praise. The Ramones have absolutely nothing to add that is of relevance or importance and should be rightly filed and forgotten.
Steve Morrissey, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
25 SEPTEMBRE 1976, SOUNDS
« Horses by Patti Smith has virtually no competition as the most exciting rock album of the year and it shows more potential than just about any other release in recent memory. There is no 'beat on the brat' nonsense. Patti is intriguing without being boring and every track is laced with her own brand of sardonic humour.
Steve Morrissey, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
11 NOVEMBRE 1976, MELODY MAKER
« The likes of the Sex Pistols have yet to prove that they are only worthy of a mention in a publication dealing solely with fashion, and if the music they deliver live is anything to go by, I think that their audacious lyrics and discordant music will not hold their heads above water when their followers tire of jumpers and safety pins. British punk rock is second to the New York equivalent, in that it does not possess the musical innovation. The New York Dolls, Patti Smith, The Ramones and Jobriath can withstand accusations of novelty value because, although a great deal of their act was based on image, they also had the musical professionalism and variation to suitably recompense for their image-conscious inclinations. However, although British punk bands are emerging by the truckload, even the most prominent are hardly worthy of serious musical acceptance.
STEVEN MORRISSEY, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
19 NOVEMBRE 1976, NME
« I thought it was terrific when David Johansen of the New York Dolls delivered such quips as: 'Who cares about music when one has such sense of drama?' and, 'We don't play too good but we can dance as bad as we want,' and 'We don't hold concerts - we throw parties!' and 'It doesn't bother us when people say that we can't play, when we met we actually couldn't,' etc, etc, but all these sweeping statements were launched in 1973, and when those same epigrams are repeated three years later by lesser mortals (ie Sex Pistols, Runaways, Ramones and Kiss), things begin to look synthetic. Methinks that The Dolls weren't the 'damp squid' that Nick Kent would have us to believe because if you look closely at the increasing number of British 'punk' bands emerging by the shipload, you will see in each one, a little bit of The Dolls. I think it's time that NME broke the office rules and had an article on the New York Dolls. You know it makes sense.
Steven Morrissey. »
JUILLET 1977, KIDS STUFF #7
« Of the new bands, Warsaw, The Worst, The Drones and The Fall look the most likely to make any headway. Warsaw were formed some times ago by vocalist Ian Curtis and have performed alongside more prominent bands like The Heartbreakers. Although they offer little originality with Ian's offstage antics resembling one Iggy Pop, highliting (sic) their set is 'Another Kill' which is at least memorable, if slightly typical.
JUILLET 1977, KIDS STUFF #7
« Of the new bands, Warsaw, The Worst, The Drones and The Fall look the most likely to make any headway. Warsaw were formed some times ago by vocalist Ian Curtis and have performed alongside more prominent bands like The Heartbreakers. Although they offer little originality with Ian's offstage antics resembling one Iggy Pop, highliting (sic) their set is 'Another Kill' which is at least memorable, if slightly typical.
Steve Morrissey. »
4 OCTOBRE 1977, NME
« A mere further mention of punk rock would no doubt bring bellowing yawns from all quarters, as its five-minute stint at serious musical acceptance seems long overdue. The elements of punkitude are still apparent within my good degenerate self, however, and I have made the impertinence to inform the masses of a quartet infamously known as Buzzcocks who seem to fit so neatly into the punk category, yet have been eschewed from all chances of recognition. Buzzcocks differ only one way from their contemporaries: they possess a spark of originality (that was important once, remember?), and their music gives you the impression they spend longer than the customary ten minutes clutching the quill in preparation to write. Indubitably, Buzzcocks will hardly figure strongly - or even weakly - in the NME poll, and in these dark days when Patti Smith, Loudon Wainwright or even the New York Dolls fail to make an impact on Radio 1 DJs, common sense is therefore not so common. Both this letter and Buzzcocks themselves will probably be filed and forgotten. But for now, they are the best kick-ass rock band in the country. Go and see them first and then you may have the audacity to contradict me, you stupid sluts.
Steve Morrissey, Stretford, Manchester. »
JANVIER 1978, KIDS STUFF
« So you think you're cool cos you're on the dole and you think you're hip because you've got a swastika plashed across your torn tee shirt and you think you're tough because The Clash are Your band, well big deal! If you live in Manchester then I'm running with you, but if you're an out of towner, wipe the mascara out of your eyes 'cos London burned down with boredom and spark fly in downtown Manchester! And if you're not around to feel the beat, well that's just too bad babbeee! (...) Sure you've heard of Buzzcocks and you might have a Slaughter And The Dogs single, but ever since The Sex Pistols first venture into Mancunian territory in June '76, a new generation of home grown bands has emerged. Yeah, the story's the same and one band's good until you've seen the next. And suddenly The Hollies and Herman's Hermits won't fare too well the next time someone does a feature on Manchester Rock and Roll.
4 OCTOBRE 1977, NME
« A mere further mention of punk rock would no doubt bring bellowing yawns from all quarters, as its five-minute stint at serious musical acceptance seems long overdue. The elements of punkitude are still apparent within my good degenerate self, however, and I have made the impertinence to inform the masses of a quartet infamously known as Buzzcocks who seem to fit so neatly into the punk category, yet have been eschewed from all chances of recognition. Buzzcocks differ only one way from their contemporaries: they possess a spark of originality (that was important once, remember?), and their music gives you the impression they spend longer than the customary ten minutes clutching the quill in preparation to write. Indubitably, Buzzcocks will hardly figure strongly - or even weakly - in the NME poll, and in these dark days when Patti Smith, Loudon Wainwright or even the New York Dolls fail to make an impact on Radio 1 DJs, common sense is therefore not so common. Both this letter and Buzzcocks themselves will probably be filed and forgotten. But for now, they are the best kick-ass rock band in the country. Go and see them first and then you may have the audacity to contradict me, you stupid sluts.
Steve Morrissey, Stretford, Manchester. »
JANVIER 1978, KIDS STUFF
« So you think you're cool cos you're on the dole and you think you're hip because you've got a swastika plashed across your torn tee shirt and you think you're tough because The Clash are Your band, well big deal! If you live in Manchester then I'm running with you, but if you're an out of towner, wipe the mascara out of your eyes 'cos London burned down with boredom and spark fly in downtown Manchester! And if you're not around to feel the beat, well that's just too bad babbeee! (...) Sure you've heard of Buzzcocks and you might have a Slaughter And The Dogs single, but ever since The Sex Pistols first venture into Mancunian territory in June '76, a new generation of home grown bands has emerged. Yeah, the story's the same and one band's good until you've seen the next. And suddenly The Hollies and Herman's Hermits won't fare too well the next time someone does a feature on Manchester Rock and Roll.
Steve Morrissey, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
30 JUIN 1979, SOUNDS
« The Cramps are worth their weight in gold for making the Police seem like a great big sloppy bowl of mush. The Police, hardly dabbling in degrees of the unexpected, presented a farcical imitation of their Rock Goes To College thing - several people clapped, but then, I suppose someone has to. The Cramps were enough to restore faith in the most spiritless. They have it all, and their drummer is the most compelling in rock history. Back to the Cramps or perish. It is written.
30 JUIN 1979, SOUNDS
« The Cramps are worth their weight in gold for making the Police seem like a great big sloppy bowl of mush. The Police, hardly dabbling in degrees of the unexpected, presented a farcical imitation of their Rock Goes To College thing - several people clapped, but then, I suppose someone has to. The Cramps were enough to restore faith in the most spiritless. They have it all, and their drummer is the most compelling in rock history. Back to the Cramps or perish. It is written.
Steve Morrissey, Kings Road, Stretford, Manchester »
22 JUIN 1981, MELODY MAKER
« Would we have known that this was the much promoted American Independence Day Special if not for the minuscule moth-eaten US flag shoddily propped above the stage? And they didn't even bother to iron it... The ceremony began with Telephone from France, whose strange collection of songs never rose above the level of intense mediocrity. TV Smith's Explorer's look uninteresting, but are not without merit. Towards the end of their set, Smith (who hasn't changed his clothes since 1977) proclaims: "Someday it will all make sense". Where would England be without such visionaries? Which brings us to Iggy. Dear Iggy! Always there when we... don't quite need him. Opening with 'Search And Destroy', Iggy's out to squeeze a bit more mileage out of the ol' legend. Everyone screams so loudly. In fact that they probably didn't hear Iggy's dire vocals, and the doleful heavy metal bash coming from his new band - a notably faceless crop of Egyptian mummies. Iggy's taut torso is not on display tonight, but he proves his credentials by indulging in his tiresomely cute King Kong antics as he slowly climbs up the amps to squeals of delight. King Kong? Little Ig looks as fearsome as a well-laundered Klondike Annie. This year Iggy models the jaded gigolo look, a style for which the voice must always be out of tune, it seems. The new Iggy is really into crowd participation and insists that every song ends with a running 'la-la-la'. One would imagine that the next step for him would be the Golden Garter or, better still, retirement.
Steve Morrissey. »
Steve Morrissey. »
22 AOÛT 1981, RECORD MIRROR
« Depeche Mode may not be the most remarkably boring group ever to walk the face of the earth, but they're certainly in the running. Their sophisticated nonsense succeeds only in emphasising just how hilariously unimaginative they really are. At once we recognise four coiffured Barry White's (a nauseating version); "can't get enough of your love" they profess too dull to be even boring. They ressurect every murderouly monotous cliche known to modern man, and "New Life" looms as nothing more than a bland jelly-baby. Still the man from 'Jackie' was impressed, knowing that, at least, these boys have nice hair... and the conveyor belt moves along. Ludus, plainly wishing they were elsewhere, hammered out a passionate set to an audience possibly hand-picked for their tone deafness. But Ludus like to wallow in other people's depravities and therefore their music offers everything to everyone. Linder was born singing and has more imagination than Depeche Mode could ever hope for. Still Depeche Mode get the Jackie spread. No justice!
Steve Morrissey. »
Pas fou ( mais si quand même ) le vieux. J'ai trois albums de Morissey qui pourrissent sur mes étagères, je ne les ai jamais écoutés, j'ai l'goût là.
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Juste une question, est ce que l'autoportrait, et le combo de couleur doivent être sur une page 40x40 ou d'autres formats sont acceptés?
Merci!
A+
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