Morrissey: I couldn't stand simplicity...

What’s on the mind of a singer-composer whose works are titled Meat Is Murder (1985), Viva Hate (1988), Kill Uncle (1991), Maladjusted (1997) and Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006)?

Perhaps the following exclusive e-mail interview with Morrissey, who is set to perform in Manila on May 13 at the World Trade Center, will provide us a glimpse.

Born Steven Patrick Morrissey on May 22, 1959, in Lanchester, England, he’s the former frontman of The Smiths, an alternative rock band of the ’80s. He’s famous for his baritone style, unique haircut and energy-charged performances. In 1982, Morrissey met Johnny Marr with whom he formed a partnership. Together, they were known as The Smiths, one of the most influential bands of that era. After collaborating on four albums, the duo broke up in 1987 and Morrissey went solo and released 10 albums between 1988 and 2009.

His advocacy as a vegetarian and champion of animal rights is clearly defined in his songs. He’s also a staunch supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which honored him with the Linda McCartney Memorial Award at the group’s 25th anniversary gala in 2005.

In the meantime, let’s go inside Morrissey’s mind.

You’re practically a self-made man. How did you get to where you are now?

“Endurance. In the tough 1960s Manchester of my childhood, everyone assumed that no one else would ever like him, which was usually a safe assumption. I didn’t grow up expecting any help or assistance from anyone.  And not a surfboard in sight.”

What kind of upbringing did you have?

“The family members were all very finely-tailored flesh. That is, very good-looking.  Irish, of course, in Central Manchester. I was raised in a square of houses where, at one point, four of the houses were occupied by members of the family. So there were quite a lot of us, and naturally we were poor, and naturally every day was full of drama.”

You have Oscar Wilde, James Dean, Dusty Springfield, Sandy Shaw, Marianne Faithful and Billy Fury as role models. What do you like about them…what did you learn from them?

“I don’t think Dusty was ever on my list. James Dean was visual art to me — every photograph an incredible study. Oscar Wilde was the first pop star. He changed everything about the written word, and he enjoyed life so much that the British judiciary felt that he must be destroyed. So they killed him. As a child I was drawn very early to immense personal tragedy. I loved anyone at all who found life impossible to live. I couldn’t stand simplicity, and I thought most people got married and had kids only due to an astounding lack of imagination.”

What kind of music appeals to you?

“I am primarily interested in the singing voice. It reveals everything about a person, doesn’t it? Nasty people have nasty voices, and loving people have loving voices.  When someone sings, you can clearly assess whether or not he is kind or considerate, or whether he’s the opposite. Singing is a bit like being naked — there’s nowhere to hide. As soon as someone starts to sing, something different happens to his face, to his mouth, to his eyes, to the way he stands. I’m constantly on the look-out for that singer who will rip me to shreds. Emotionally, of course. Not literally.”

You’ve been a vegetarian since you were 11. Does that mean you haven’t tasted any meat?

“That’s exactly what it means. My nephews are 28 and 21 and they have never tasted animal flesh. It took me a long time to give up eggs, but I managed it. It’s all a moral question, and whether you approve or disapprove of cruelty. It has nothing to do with food since there are an abundance of alternatives to eating death. I’ll admit that animal flesh was probably all people could eat in 1207, but there’s no excuse or reason in 2012. Meat is violence and horror and death and cruelty and... why put all of that inside your body?”

Tell us something about your advocacy as an animal-rights protector-supporter. 

“I think we have so much to learn from the animal kingdom. Instead, they are shot and gassed and farmed and eaten, and only humans do this to them! Animals don’t start wars or destroy the planet or create cancers or pollute or over-populate.  Humans, by comparison, are a mess. You can also tell so much about a person by their treatment of animals. A woman in a fur-coat might as well carry a sign saying ‘I am an idiot.’ How women — and it’s usually women — can wear fur, whilst knowing how it’s manufactured, is absolutely bewildering to me. The human race is rarely humane.”

What can we find in the 660-page autobiography that you’re putting out soon? How’s your book about James Dean?

“When I was 19, I wrote an essay on James Dean called James Dead is not Dean, which was unfortunately published as a very slim book, but re-titled James Dean is not Dead. Very, very, very embarrassing for me. I curl up and die whenever I think of it. Rightly so.”

You’re performing in Manila on May 13. What have you heard about the Philippines…what can we expect from your concert?

“I recall very vintage newsreels of the singer Matt Monro in Manilla, with thousands of people coming to hear him sing and bringing him gifts. I feel absolutely certain this won’t happen to me! The concert is usually quite a whirlwind...very loudly emotive and full of strength. You won’t leave feeling you’ve seen nothing.”

(Morrissey Live in Manila, set for May 13 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, is presented by Little Asia with special thanks to Music Management International and FILSCAP. Media Partners are The Philippine Star and Mellow 94.7. Ticket prices are VIP P5,799 [reserved seating] and Titanium P3,710 [free seating], plus applicable service charge. Call TicketWorld at 891-9999. Or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.)

What’s up?

• Could it be true that the ABS-CBN noontime show It’s Showtime! will soon be axed, unable as it is to beat the long-time favorite unbeatable Eat, Bulaga! of GMA in the ratings game? It’s turning out that the presence of Vice Ganda as host is not really a crowd-drawer, especially not amidst rumors that he’s giving show director Bobet Vidanes headaches for not following director’s instructions. According to Funfare’s Bohol Avenue VDPA (Very Deep Penetration Agent), being planned as Showtime replacement is a show to be hosted by Richard Gomez, Joey Marquez and John Estrada to be called Palibhasa Tanghali (a throwback to the long-defunct ABS-CBN sitcom Palibhasa Lalake, also starring the three guys).

• TV5 has just acquired the rights to Miss World-Philippines. Guessed who is being eyed to host the event set for June — the beauty-contest-friendly Paolo Bediones (who’s said to be keeping his shaky fingers crossed)? Nope! It will be new Kapatid Derek Ramsay with former Miss World Second Princess Ruffa Gutierrez. Last Sunday’s Bb. Pilipinas pageant, an exclusive ABS-CBN franchise, was supposed to include Derek as host but since he has signed up with TV5, Xian Lim was tapped as his replacement.

• All members of High School Batch 1992 of St. Bridget School, Quezon City, are invited to the first reunion on Sunday, April 22, at the SBS compound on Katipunan St. corner Aurora Blvd., Quezon City. Theme is “Bridging the Bridgetines: 20 Years After.” For more information, contact Mary Ann Antonio at 0917-2026333, Japan Pascual-Sta. Maria at 0920-9082279 or Christina Mendez at 0917-3236737.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)