Today's Music News

NME v Morrissey

Magazine interview causes a stir

28 Nov 07 - Morrissey and his management team have threatened NME Magazine with legal action today. It follows an article published in the music magazine this week which accuses The Smiths man of using “inflammatory” language centred on the issue of immigration in Britain.

Morrissey’s team heard about the possible damaging nature of the feature in an anonymous tip-off in October. In response, NME editor Conor McNicholas reportedly said on 29 October they were just “rumours and untruths” and that Morrissey’s words were “benign when argued in isolation.”

The NME journalist that carried out the interview, namely Tim Jonze, has personally written to Mozza’s representative Merck Mercuriadis denying that the comments had anything to do with him. The credits for the piece read: Interview: Tim Jonze / Words: NME.

According to true-to-you.net, Jonze, who also writes for The Guardian, said:

“I should mention that for reasons I'll probably never understand, NME have rewritten the Moz piece. I had a read and virtually none of it is my words or beliefs so I've asked for my name to be taken off it. Just so you know when you read it.”

Merck claims that upon receiving this, he immediately wrote to NME Editor Conor McNicholas, who allegedly replied after three days.

In response, McNicholas claims that the comments in the piece are “fair and balanced”, and writes: “Obviously no-one is accusing Morrissey of racism - that would be mad given what Morrissey says - but we do say that the language Morrissey uses is very unhelpful at a time of great tensions.”

You can read the solicitors letter issued to the NME – just click on the link below.

Adrian Larkin

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Comments so far

Mark, Macclesfield
Culture is something that is ever evolving. There is no single 'British culture' that needs to be preserved. Whether or not Morrissey's comments were taken out of context, or misquoted, I don't know. However, if he did say what he was quoted as saying, he needs to be aware of how that will be interpreted. Apparently the Sun has come out in support of his comments, with a diatribe about immigrants coming over here, taking our jobs etc etc. It is also interesting that a tax exile who lives in Italy should feel qualified to comment on British culture.

Frank/London
I'm surprised that anyone cares what Morrissey or NME think anymore !

S Gibson, Dudley
What ridiculous nonsense.

Megan, Swansea
The NME did this to Moz before, they were too thick to see that he was being ironic not racist but then their 'principles' went out of the window when he had his big come back a few years ago. They were all over him like a rash! Music magazines used to be important and worth looking forward to but in the age of internet and digital tv NME has had to adapt to become a gossip rag for indie kids who need someone to tell them what to like.

Alfonso Bonso/Turin
Unhelpful at a time of great tensions. What tensions?

Tom Salford
The truth is that nobody cares what the nme thinks about politics anymore; especially its dwindling readership.Morrissey is just stating what is obvious to anyone and is not suggesting building any concentration camps. Well done to Moz for not letting the PC thought police get away with it.

Steven
The truth hurts !

London
Celebrating a culture, and preferring to preserve it has nothing to do with racism.When we go to Italy and find the culture wonderful and hope it remains as it is we don't think this is racist.Why can't the English preserve their culture? Why are we so happy to surrender it?

Joe Riders, Oxford
This is a ridiculous story. More PC madness. Anybody with any common sense would interpret Morrissey's comments as pure observation. He has commented ( allegedly ) on something which is a talking point at the moment for obvious reasons. Either people are incredibly stupid or incredibly bored.

Russell Brooks Durham
The NME have done this before to Morrissey, and are just trying to sell magazines, however they have no right to cut and paste his words to make a story. I hope the NME are taken to task over this. As always with British artist they are drageed through the mud, and set up in other countries where they are respected, and it is only to our loss.

Jay/London
The NME is nothing more than a student fanzine. Their whole argument is based on naive political views and total misunderstanding. They have picked a pointless fight with the wrong person. I hope they get sent to the headmasters office and repremanded. Morrissey is clearly not a racist for heaven sake!

Danno, Sunny Shropshire
the NME are no more truthfull or reliable, or balance, or representive of any rationality than a tabloid.

Thomas, Belfast
Who do you back here? A terrible indie pop magazine or a boring dull nobody?