Morrissey Marr The Severed Alliance

Morrissey & Marr: The Severed Alliance is among the most successful – and controversial – rock biographies ever published. Having denounced the book and called for the death of its author Johnny Rogan, Morrissey later did a U-turn and cited it as evidence in the royalty-related court case brought by Smiths drummer Mike Joyce.Now, 20 years after it was first published, Rogan has returned to his definitive Smiths biography to produce a completely revised edition based on new information and new interviews to add to the almost 100 initially conducted over a four-year period. Widely acclaimed as one rock’s leading writers, Johnny Rogan now brings yet more insight and analysis to his best-selling book that revealed, for the first time, the true and unsanitised story of The Smiths – the most important group of their generation.

The classic Smiths biography Morrissey didn't want you to read, now updated

The definitive book about The Smiths, one of the most beloved, respected, and storied indie rock bands in music history. They were, their fans believe, the best band in the world. Hailing from Manchester, England, The Smiths--Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce--were critical and popular favorites throughout their mid-1980s heyday and beyond. To this day, due to their unforgettable songs and lyrics, they are considered one of the greatest British rock groups of all time--up there with the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, and the Clash. Tony Fletcher paints a vivid portrait of the fascinating personalities within the group: Morrissey, the witty, literate lead singer whose loner personality and complex lyrics made him an icon for teenagers who felt forlorn and forgotten; his songwriting partner Marr, the gregarious guitarist who became a rock god for a generation of indie kids; and the talented, good-looking rhythm section duo of bassist Rourke and drummer Joyce. Despite the band's tragic breakup at the height of their success, A Light That Never Goes Out is a celebration: the saga of four working-class kids from a northern English city who come together despite contrasting personalities, find a musical bond, inspire a fanatical following, and leave a legacy that changed the music world--and the lives of their fans.

A portrait of the contemporary music icon explores his enigmatic personality in light of the author's own fan obsession, tracing his rise as the front man of The Smiths in the 1980s through his solo career.

Morrissey is one of the most provocative, individual and controversial performers in popular music. From the formation of his Manchester band The Smiths in 1982, through to the imminent release of his 2008 solo album Years Of Refusal, his career has spanned 50 UK Top 40 singles and 20 UK Top 10 albums. Including previously unpublished encounters, Meetings with Morrissey gets behind the public image to tell Morrissey’s story in his own words and explore in fine detail the extraordinary subject matter of his songs. The book offers in-depth insight into the diverse artists Morrissey has celebrated, via lyrics or Smiths’ covers, including Patti Smith, Pat Phoenix, Billy Fury, Marc Bolan, James Dean and The New York Dolls. Above all, it focuses on Morrissey’s lifelong commitment to promoting the genius of Oscar Wilde. Len Brown, a former NME writer and television producer, has interviewed Morrissey more times than any journalist. He first saw The Smiths back in 1983 and became the first writer to interview the artist about the death of his band and the birth of his solo career in 1988.

An examination of Morrisey's work from the Smiths through his solo releases.

Johnny Rogan presents a comprehensive portrait of an endlessly complicated man, his music, and the place he comes from. Over the last five decades, Van Morrison's music has embraced rock, folk, blues, country and jazz, and he remains a hugely influential artist as well as a conundrum of a man.

One of the seminal groups of the Eighties, The Smiths' career was as brilliant as it was brief. Now, drawing on interviews with band members, producers, and colleagues, music journalist Simon Goddard presents a meticulous chronological survey of the group's musical evolution, from their first demos in 1982 to their final fractured studio session five years later. Investigating the stories behind the songs, and detailing every British TV and radio session, he also offers a unique analysis of each track's concert life. Granted unprecedented access to The Smiths' studio archives and to the private collection of outtakes and rehearsals retained by drummer Mike Joyce, the author lifts the lid on unreleased material as well as the lost songs and alternate versions that have remained closely guarded secrets until now.