Morrissey in Conversation (1987)

30-minute long Morrissey interview by Muriel Gray. The interview was a promotion for The Smiths' last album "Strangeways, Here We Come", (20 November 1987)

[@frederick909]

"The only time I leave the house is to buy food." Truer words have never been spoken

[@smayplacebo2435]

This is when I fell in love with Morrissey! 😄

[@frederick909]

@@smayplacebo2435 Awww! I fell in love when I first saw him perform The Boy With The Thorn in His Side with The Smiths

[@jimvim3497]

Moz Predicted CV-19 ? Smiths is my RX

[@arricammarques1955]

Pre-pandemic self preservation.

[@arricammarques1955]

@@angelicaryans8819 Gives Jake his shopping list.

[@friendlybaby1]

Without a doubt the best interview of Morrissey I've ever seen, where he seems genuinely relaxed and to enjoy Muriel's company

[@courtneytaylor9006]

friendlybaby1 Also the Jonathan Ross interview I really enjoyed but yes, most relaxed & non pained. Absolutely.

[@dazpearce2096]

@@courtneytaylor9006 really good fun and chilled out, love this...

[@wavelengthrecords-1]

This is the most natural I've ever seen Morrissey. And I've watched a lot of stuff over 30 years.

[@aves8964]

He seems anxious.

[@wavelengthrecords-1]

@James Richards I'll look for it. Thanks.

[@theboywithathorninhisside.4179]

Unless you're being Ironic. Marr had basically un/officially Contractley already left. YOUR COMMENT WAS KINDA HILARIOUS. Marr only stayed mere months following that particular year. Because of the threat of being Sued.

[@theboywithathorninhisside.4179]

@@aves8964 Totally agree. As U could say.. 'I KNOW IT'S OVER' .

[@serena1812]

The way he speaks is so captivating.

[@dbfhorses]

Hilarious, particularly right at the end where they're discussing WTF he does in his house.. Lol. A naturally amusing guy with a great sense of fun about ridiculousness of self and of life.

[@decaffeinatedafrican5997]

Probably the best person to ever interview Morrissey.

[@jamesadcock5235]

Yes he is totally relaxed and himself

[@DarthChungus-xl9jj]

Fantastic job 11/10

[@rapunzelmane9592]

Very good interview. Interesting being questioned on his sexuality and celibacy (from 07:55). Lots of nervous laughter. At 10:21 he mysteriously murmurs: "No it's something else....".

[@MattRobson1]

his winky is too big

[@arricammarques1955]

@@MattRobson1 Futility of human relationships

[@malinasplund9532]

His also a lot more comfortable when his getting interviewed by a woman

[@maisiebriggs1253]

See I do wonder if the reason he gets so giggly when she mentions girls in her gorgeous accent is bc, despite popular belief, he’s actually straight - morriseys such a mystery I doubt we’ll ever know…I definitely ship the two of them though!

[@leahflower9924]

@@MattRobson1 hmm never heard of that being a problem ? 🤔

[@jherod2024]

Blushingly states “I want to die” 😂 @30:45

[@katelynncolburn9457]

Soo adorable

[@bluesbulletin]

This is a great interview. Morrissey reached-out to grab my hand at a concert in my 20s...and oddly enough it seemed quite intentional. @23:47 The way he explains how he viewed his favorite entertainers when he was young explains a lot about why he would.

[@melissadetorrice5998]

He reached out and grabbed my hand at the “meet somebody who really loves you” lyric and he held it before turning back to continue the song - felt intentional to me too. ♥️ I’ll never forget that.

[@andyharrier]

I love Morrissey and if I was not balding I swear to God I would have Morrissey hair

[@kaisersoze508]

I'm so glad he does these they're great to listen to - very sensitive lol crazy this is not like me to enjoy some guy talking delicately about music ahaha fuck it I give in , coolest dude best music

[@kenpudsey6435]

this was a good interview,he seemed to really enjoy talking to Muriel Gray,the only time he shifted uncomfortably in his seat,is when she asked him "how long do you think the smiths will last?" to which he replied "I don't know" and as we know they disbanded that same year,a great shame,but followed by a brilliant,untouchable solo career,once again excellent rare footage of moz,superb!

[@sexobscura]

because of Linder Sterling

[@Wilantonjakov]

As a huge Smiths fan, I would never say Morrissey's solo career was 'brilliant'.

[@Jxmiecole]

Can you add a time stamp?

[@ravenknight1704]

@@Wilantonjakov a year late reply but anyway, I would definitely deem Morrissey's solo output, which has been very long and varied compared to the smiths, as brilliant on the whole. Morrissey's best solo work-albums like Vauxhall And I, Bona Drag, Viva Hate, Your Arsenal and many of his songs off and on his other solo albums easily reach the heights of The Smiths. Yes, there has been the odd mediocre track and even album but that's to be expected in such a long career.

[@Wilantonjakov]

@@ravenknight1704 I've listened to all his work, and while there are exceptions, I generally hear little subtlety, and rather very poppy, bland songs that reek of pomposity. There are exceptions - I think his first 3-4 albums were very good, and some on his "Parlaphone Singles" such as Jack the Ripper, which I think is his best song. Other than that, I don't think his work is much better than Queen's, whose music is bombastic and distasteful. Listening to a Morrissey song these days is just laughable, which is why I will always cherish those moments I spent listening to the Smiths non-stop when I was younger. Their music was leaps and bounds above the solo efforts of any of its constituting members. I must say though, that I am somehow finding that I am increasingly liking Morrissey given the role he plays today. He has never strayed from his political beliefs, which were always populist and working/middle-class centric and only now because the overton window of what's politically acceptable has completely changed - does Morrissey stand out. Especially in this crazed world we live in today. So overall, I believe the quality of his music degenerated over his career, but I have no problem going back and listening to those early albums. Tunes like Suedehead, Everyday is Like Sunday, Break up the Family, Margaret on a Guillotine, Bengali in Platforms, even the Remastered "Treat me Like a Human Being" matches the beauty of the Smiths. He has little gems hidden in there sometimes, but to me there are very few bands that can match the Smiths or come close to them, so I guess it's not all that surprising that Morrissey's later work just doesn't cut it for me.

[@MeadowlakeSt]

So it should have been "seventeen, clumsy and shy", not "sixteen". Wonderful interview. I'm intrigued.

[@redrumtruecrime]

Maybe because 16 is a number associated with sex. Age of consent uk

[@Cmonbilly]

@@redrumtruecrime true but don’t you think sixteen might just sound better too?

[@udlestrudle]

What a beautiful human

[@RashidSivaji]

Take a shot every time Steve says quite, really, or at all.

[@elvisleeboy]

Cheers, I've just come out of a nine month coma thanks to this comment.

[@dbfhorses]

@@elvisleeboy Haha.

[@rattatouilletherat]

I read this in his voice, lmao

[@thewildmitchell]

19:52 - Idea for Sister I'm a Poet floating about since 87. Fantastic listen, I've never heard him laugh before!

[@sixer6er]

He seems a lot more comfortable when he’s interviewed by women. Really good one this

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

Not at all.

[@leeturton9254]

The genius was on about Marr when he said I won't share you...maybe I'm wrong dunno

[@bluesbulletin]

I love the general genderlessness of his lyrics.

[@microaggressionsurvivor2937]

Examples?

[@bluesbulletin]

. Basically all of it...but "Hand In Glove" is one example.

[@pervenchemusic]

@@microaggressionsurvivor2937 always refers to people as you such as on back to the old house

[@purplebanana9]

the smiths to tame impala listener overlap is insane

[@inikainika1523]

Prolly Moz most chilled out interview. I reckon coz he's in a dark room.

[@honeyhitchins7805]

Wowowowow 😍 stunninggggg brilliant amazing I love this sm

[@jokroberts]

Beautiful, natural interview...Morrissey at his best, thank you so much for sharing... (some great quotes from this piece btw!)

[@dianaadhikari45]

I sit at home and make phone calls, go out and buy food. Rock star life. ✌

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

He is just being brutally honest.

[@erniemccracken2429]

He hasn't really changed. People think there's more to Morrissey than meets the eye and that he must have terrible secrets or live some kind of debauched lifestyle behind the scenes, but he really doesn't. He has a smallish circle of close friends who he keeps in regular contact with. He travels to England (Manchester area specifically) to visit relatives and old friends quite frequently. He listens to a lot of music. He watches television. He reads books. But his passion is being on stage singing his songs. That's why he tours so extensively. It's what makes him tick.

[@David-h4z2s]

He's a one off

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

I remember watching this when it was broadcast. Morrissey and Muriel. A wonderful combination.

[@perlefisker]

A very cute interview. I feel so strongly it belongs so a completely other time. I don't think many people will define the late 80's as 'innocent', but compared to 2021 - they are: the shyness and giggling when talking about relationships is just one example. (It seems that Muriel knows Morrissey's music quite good, but I wonder, however, how she listens to it, when she says after he has told he never had a successful relationships - that it doesn't seem to have bittered! What?)

[@chri5o53]

Morrissey and a charming lady

[@arricammarques1955]

Female & Feel-male

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

@@arricammarques1955 Stupid comment.

[@ycls2004]

Been looking for this particular one because I have the second half of it on a video cassette somewhere. Naturally its quality deteriorated considerably since 1992/3. "well I knew we had something in common", tongue in cheek and other gems along the fact that it is a sad farewell for any 'Smiths' fan, makes it his best interview. Period.

[@MrLarryhoover425]

Best interview I've seen

[@sbaxter4207]

One of my fave interviews. The lady interviewer is great too.

[@cosmicactivity299]

30:29 😂

[@wallacelovecraft8942]

The last bit is so funny lol. He just can't answer what he does all alone in houses after saying he only goes out for food.

[@MeadowlakeSt]

So it should have been "seventeen, clumsy and shy", not "sixteen". Wonderful interview. I'm intrigued.

[@katelynncolburn9457]

Awe love the bit of fun banter from 29:00 onward, so cute the interviewer keeps probing silly question and he gets embarrassingly flustered trying to remain formal

[@TheEarlHaight]

He’s dead on about the bands of his era needing to change. Very few were able to do so successfully without blowing up or fading into obscurity

[@luislizard2626]

He went from in his 20’s to in his 30’s look in a very short time inside the 5 years period with the band !!

[@erniemccracken2429]

He was only 28 here, but I get what you're saying. Mind you, he still looks very youthful and skinny here compared to the Boxers era in the mid 90s, by which point he was definitely heavier (though not overweight) and older looking. His speaking voice was also much deeper by the mid 90s than in the 80s.

[@mooghead]

Good interview. Strange to hear Morrissey talk the way he does when The Smiths fans now know the turmoil that was happening behind the scenes.

[@erniemccracken2429]

The info on this video says November 1987 but that can't be correct because in this interview The Smiths are spoken of as if they are still together, but they broke up in the August or September of that year. The break up itself was quite abrupt, although Morrissey seems quite subdued here so many he could sense that Marr wasn't happy in the band and was likely going to leave.

[@sunnysyl7]

So Cute .... Oh My ......

[@monstergod888]

His face!!!!😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@tomimpala]

Good Scottish interviewer. Just a good interviewer, really.

[@kathjackson7]

What a truly beautiful interview in all aspects 🖤🖤🖤

[@dwapaka02]

he speaks in cursive

[@katelynncolburn9457]

He totally skirted around the "did any of the lyrics themes actually happen to you" and sex questions lol. Implies "yes" Vaguely answers but likes to leave us hanging.. he hasn't changed that for 30 years hah

[@bostonbob9667]

I love this interview it's so funny they make a great team

[@inikainika1523]

He liked A-HA!

[@sonicfoxxmusic4281]

Agree Mark...OUT OF BLUE COMES GREEN..superb song..and many more which arrived if you bothered to buy more than their first album..saw them "live" in Shepton Mallet once...pretty damned professional outfit...great writers.

[@josephvanhinsbergh8880]

I love them also

[@32446]

Their first album is brilliant.

[@soulproduct6209]

He must have had a crush on their lead singer, Morten Harket.

[@DarthChungus-xl9jj]

How did she get that out of him, brilliant

[@RogatyZayac]

22:40

[@captainfeedback1]

Indeed!

[@bgierat]

Hard to believe this was almost the end of the Smiths…you can’t feel here but a few months later it was over.

[@guiltbyimplication]

August 1987, The Smiths had ended by November.

[@timpala5841]

1:14 .... in the future there has to be a slight change 😢.... like the end of the greatest musical duo of all time!

[@39Fanclub]

might be my favourite Moz interview now, also the way that no one seemed to anticipate / speak of their very soon-arriving demise saddens me even more now. it really seems unfair but oh well

[@darrenwalshe65]

ear say 1984 is without doubt his best interview

[@32446]

I’m from Lancashire and also lasted only 7 days too.

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

7 days in a relationship? 🤣🤣🤣

[@NITE_SHIFTING]

Seems to cut off abruptly. Where's the rest?

[@arricammarques1955]

Bulked erased by now?

[@calblonde22]

Brilliant interview!

[@GrimAnglo]

Such a flirty conversation! Love it

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

It is just an interview.

[@katelynncolburn9457]

Yes I noticed that too when she was doing that girlish laugh

[@David-h4z2s]

Is Morrissey gay or straight I have never worked it out

[@redlady935]

I didn't know they had social distancing in 1987 too!

[@lucyrigby6487]

Espero que alguém legende em português😢

[@ajp55a]

lloyd cole cant believe he put them in with pete burns. that is fucking shocking. Rattle snakes is one of the best albums of the 80s and the virtuosity of the instrumentation is seldom seen. Your wrong on that one Morrissey

[@williamking4599]

He meant he was friends with Pete burns and lloyd cole

[@vadimislearningguitar4977]

i prefer the Morrissey back then in 87 - to the Morrissey of years 2000

[@seankilburn7200]

It’s quite saddening to see what he has become.

[@vadimislearningguitar4977]

@@seankilburn7200 what he has become ... right - i identify with him so much as a teenager - and still cherish and love that person -------- growing older i think something happened.... i think he crystallized some of his pains - he could not melt those pains in human exchange with other people .... and when that happens you isolate yourself more and more - and you become biased and more lonely - it is a real pity --

[@amazinmets8439]

@@seankilburn7200 He grew up. You should try it sometime.

[@seankilburn7200]

@@amazinmets8439 Must we resort to insults?

[@pervenchemusic]

@@amazinmets8439 Grew up? He was much more mature and stable in his youth then what he is now

[@ultanbeare]

Oh if a human being was a cake 🎂 Not be likes again .. love ⚘ just love

[@Dreamskater100]

Nice interview. (Especially Scottish interviewer's accent).

[@xfactorcritic]

@@SNAFU78 Muriel Gray is her name

[@ultanbeare]

Loyld Cole is Rattle snakes legend

[@julieclark8976]

Mozza we're going to see a Smith's tribute band tomorrow come on! We need you! 😁

[@NITE_SHIFTING]

Are they flirting?

[@healthystudent7689]

English sirs. That's how he sounds

[@gabrieltenorio716]

What's the name of the Morrisey haircut?

[@Ct-rq8zy]

Gabriel Tenorio shaved back and sides to a number 2 and long on the top with quiff

[@redrumtruecrime]

It's called a pompadour hair cut

[@thomaswolf2233]

I’m a huge smiths fan, but I can’t shake the impression that Morrissey really is full of guff.

[@davidmeichner8346]

Where's the astrologer?? Update?

[@teampancakesD]

The way he licks his lips is so seductive

[@David-h4z2s]

Behave Pancake 🥞😱

[@jamesadcock5235]

Morrissey changed so much over the years.

[@rexnegron1778]

he will not ever talk about his relationship with JOhnnyn Marr. Well it was a private matter but people get mad when you mention it. It's obvious they were lovers, it's a shame they couldn't work it out.

[@user-ek6dg4gs9w]

Wasnt Johnny dating Angie??

[@williamking4599]

They weren't lovers, morrissey might have wanted it but johnny was clever enough to keep morrissey onside Until the morrissey became too much.

[@cespo77]

So I guess Johnny and Angie who were already married then and Angie was always in the picture were having a threesome according to you.

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

utter nonsense.

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

@@williamking4599 garbage. He may even be straight for all you know.

[@andrew6978]

Was Muriel going to a funeral that day?

[@scottishenlightenedguyesca7801]

this guys posh boy cupboard gay voice is funny “ i know some people pedastool me as special maybe if my mother had menstrated the week before or my father had requested felacio i might not he alive and i find that poetically quite tragic “ ahahahaha

[@user-mv3zo2ip9n]

What part of the interview is that? I didn't see it

[@pervenchemusic]

Don't know how you can say anything when you describe yourself as an "enlightened guy"

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

utter lies. Daft comment. C.

[@margaretcronin4073]

Camp as Christmas

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

Could be straight for all you know.

[@scifilull]

@@thesound-chameleonman3580how did you make this comment 8 months ago when he's been open about his past relationships for years? with men as well

[@BurtonRdForever]

So if this interview takes place on the 20th November 1987, he's half way through recording Viva Hate. He had to fulfill one more album with EMI. Thing's like this is why Rouke and Joyce only got 10%? They didn't ever promote the albums or do any press? It was always Moz or Moz and Johnny. So while they have a lie in Moz is doing stuff like this to promote an album to make them all money? Johnny wrote all the basslines and drum patterns which was the main plank of Moz and Johnny's defence in the Royalties suit?. Great players don't get me wrong they were integral to the Smiths sound but 25%? No writing, no press, no videos? Remember Moz did all the videos too except Charming Man. They also had the chance to drop the case and work with Morrissey as a solo artist (Gannon too) which they declined to do. More fools them? Andy settled for £80,000 and Mike won in court £1,000,000. As of 2009 Mike hadn't received a penny? They've done absolutely nothing worth mentioning post Smiths? There will never be a reunion unfortunately. People always cite Morrissey as the one really pissed off but Johnny Marr was also sued and he was really upset by what he saw as betrayal by especially his schoolmate Andy. Think they've patched it up now but Marr and Joyce? No.

[@29memyselfandi]

Also Morrissey gets constantly criticized over the court case yet Marr seems to escape all criticism. I guess Moz just attracts criticism. Anyway glad he’s still going strong. And his new album is very special.

[@guiltbyimplication]

Even Johnny doesn't claim he wrote the basslines for The Smiths. Andy wrote his own basslines.

[@seankilburn7200]

@@guiltbyimplication Why do the song writing credits never go to him as well then? Please let me know where you got this from.

[@guiltbyimplication]

@@seankilburn7200 Sean, songwriting credits are almost always given to whoever composed the lyrics, and main melody or chords. The rhythm section and any other musicians usually don't get a songwriting credit even when they compose their own parts as that's seen as the arrangement of the song. There are exceptions like U2, Coldplay and REM where each member gets an equal writing credit. It's unfair really because the most recognisable thing about a song like Barbarism Begins At Home is the bass line and Andy doesn't get a writing credit for it.

[@guiltbyimplication]

@@seankilburn7200 Johnny has said on many occasions that Andy wrote his own basslines. Johnny Marr: "Andy and I worked very well together. He would come up with his bass lines and I would produce him. He's unique."

[@masstafa8299]

Translate to indonesian please 😭

[@jizzsouth7997]

This was around the time that Morrissey became very wealthy. You can sense it.

[@seankilburn7200]

I think it’s a crying shame that the fame seems to have gone to his head now.

[@diegopisfil614]

Cara Delevingne's twin brother

[@curfimo9793]

Because of the eyebrows??

[@32446]

He’s got far too many brains to be related.

[@patricelamour4226]

‘Are you disagreeable ‘ ‘ hmm , yes ‘ Marvellous

[@patricelamour4226]

‘ You don’t normally write about girrrls . Why have you suddenly noticed them ?’

[@decaffeinatedafrican5997]

Cœur fimo and the eyes

[@rexdinarocky]

Someone sent MOZ a vegan cupcake that morning geez he’s unrecognizable here.

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

Stop talking utter nonsense. Of course it looks like him, just younger.

[@ellystripes]

His manner is unrecognisable, not his face lol

[@tkshots]

i am a smiths fan but are these 2 conning the masses?

[@RK-rf8rc]

Shame Strangeways, Here We Come was the worst Smiths album (by far). Not sure why he says he's perfected anything on that record...

[@GrantWitherspoon]

R K The debut is clearly the worst

[@gretzkyan]

It's hard for me to choose but Strangeways has a lot of my favorite songs.

[@achair650]

@@gretzkyan my favorite smiths album is the one that is playing 🤣

[@johan.m_]

wowow u are so wrong!

[@RK-rf8rc]

Me near, okay? I like the debut. It has a rawness I find more pleasing. Not saying Strangeways doesn’t have great songs (I Started Something..., Stop Me... and Last Night... are amazing) and my initial comment was a tad harsh but it’s the album I’ve listened to the least.

[@sexobscura]

she always did enjoy the