Morrissey Central: Blue Rondo A La Turk

BLUE RONDO A LA TURK - Morrissey Central
July 8, 2019

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"I liked them because they seemed two jumps ahead of everyone else. The mere sight of them suggested big league, but they didn't quite get that far. They were one of the very few groups that the Smiths supported, but there was a scepticism about them being just 'club models' … who asked and got. This was said also about very early Roxy Music … who appeared to be quite affluent before they'd even had a hit. With Blue Rondo, again, you suspected that they were given all of their fantastic suits for free whilst the rest of us had to dream of being able to buy SOMETHING that didn't look TOO abysmal. The main electric spark was their dancing which was very virile and athletic … and even though they came from the Blitz/Billy's scene they seemed like supermale prizefighters or nightclub heavies … deep-chested vocals, narrow-hipped, and very much a man's, man's, man's, man's world. I don't think a sudden tussle would trouble them in the least. But their songs were not about the curves of seductive women - or even about women … as if women might even lack some essential excitement. It's a safe bet that they couldn't stand the Smiths … me singing about not even a glimmer of adventure sex. But that was 1982 or, for me, 1947. Their companion Robert Elms described me as "Ena Sharples". I was actually flattered because Violet Carson, I thought, was extremely funny. You know how comedians or comic actors think that if they show lots of teeth people will think they're saying something hilarious … when of course they aren't? Well, Violet Carson kept her teeth well hidden. Maybe she had none? How did I get from Blue Rondo a la Turk to Violet Carson?
Oh. Well, Blue Rondo were a London band … which was obvious to us because they actually had shoes. I don't think their songs were as good as ours, but our shoes weren't as good as theirs, so, there we are.
They quickly went away and didn't return. I don't know if it's even possible to find their music anymore, but it certainly wouldn't hurt the ear. I think some of Blue Rondo were from the West Indies whereas of course all of the Smiths were born at the Manchester Scabies & Gripe Maternity Hospital."

Morrissey 7 July 2019, talking to himself (for … what choice?)

* sorry, I have no idea who took the above photograph.


Amusing musings from Moz about the first Smiths-support act.


Note posted by an anonymous person:

Actually, it was the other way around. The Smiths supported them. It was their first live show ever on 4 October 1982 at the Ritz.
 
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Well, I'm intrigued. Is someone writing a book? About to spill the beans? I know Andy Rourke's been threatening to write his story for ages and I think so has Mike.
I'm not going over old ground here, you can find it in the archive, suffice to say someone who knows told me, and they would not lie about such things.
 
Yes. Absolutely agree. There was also the time around 89/91 when Morrissey was seen as rather musically passé and Johnny was in Electronic somewhat classlessly slagging him off in interviews.

In Stuart Maconie's review of Bona Drag from 1990, he says: "Morrissey currently enjoys a critical standing akin to a Saddam Hussein. Cat Stevens stands a better chance of getting a positive review than Moz these days. And woe betide the writer who has a good word for him."

It's almost forgotten now how low his stock was at that time. So, yes, it's cyclical and I have no doubt the wheel will turn again.

These aren't just regular cyclical events - you're massively understating the ghastliness of Morrissey's words and actions in the last 18 months. Exposed as an absolute liar (and a total fool) by Der Spiegel, his frightening continued support for a blatantly right wing (whether far-right or not) political organisation, and unbelievably disgusting comments about race. This situation is like nothing he has ever brought upon himself during his 35+ years in the public eye. He's pissed people off in the past, sure, but they were always people that hated the Smiths and him in the first place (the right wing media, royalty, the meat industry etc.) Now he has utterly sickened the very people who supported him the most throughout his singing career. Hence the mass-hemorrhaging of over 50% of his UK (at least) fan base. Yes, he can pull things back a little but only with the kind of retraction proposed earlier in this thread and, even then, a good chunk of the people who followed him over the years will never return. Underestimate the scale of this current situation at your peril.
 
I'm not going over old ground here, you can find it in the archive, suffice to say someone who knows told me, and they would not lie about such things.
Last call for Mr. Finan departing for Dubai at gate 66. Please make your way to the gate please.
 
I'm not going over old ground here, you can find it in the archive, suffice to say someone who knows told me, and they would not lie about such things.

The same person who told you that Boz had left the group a year or so ago, presumably.
Utter clown.
 
For those who missed the wonders of Boomslang first time round, here's Johnny at that time. Almost impossible to believe it's the same guy who just played at Glasto. Unrecognisable.


Yes, saw him on that tour, it was the first time I saw Johnny live.
With Ringo Starr's son on drums. Pretty good show, but the songs weren't.
 
I'm not going over old ground here, you can find it in the archive, suffice to say someone who knows told me, and they would not lie about such things.

I know that you know, but I thought maybe someone was ready to tell the world. I mean, I would think a bombshell like this would move quite a few books!
 
Absolutely. Even during the Boxers-tour, one of my very favourite tours which saw Moz at perhaps his peak creatively, he was playing small venues and the general British public couldn't care less. Good quote from Maconie. Could be used ever so perfectly in 2019.

The general British public have never cared about Morrissey. He wasn't playing arenas but neither was he playing 'small' venues re: Boxers tour. The gigs were amazing though. If only the clock could be turned backwards?
 
Yes, saw him on that tour, it was the first time I saw Johnny live.
With Ringo Starr's son on drums. Pretty good show, but the songs weren't.

What was it like? His lyrics haven't got any better over the years, they're still utter nonsense but at least you can hear him now. "The Last Ride"....I couldn't make out four words.
 
I know that you know, but I thought maybe someone was ready to tell the world. I mean, I would think a bombshell like this would move quite a few books!

It would result in another court case :lbf: and Moz would win it this time.
 
For those who missed the wonders of Boomslang first time round, here's Johnny at that time. Almost impossible to believe it's the same guy who just played at Glasto. Unrecognisable.



I have to say I absolutely LOVE this song. I wish he would play it live, it would be so much better now. I see your point and can understand why it took him so long to re-emerge as a solo act. He served a good apprenticeship in Modest Mouse touring the world for a couple of years and especially playing in the rock'n'roll environment of the Cribs to really embrace being an exciting frontman.
 
What always saved me as Moz fan was that I never paid any attention to the people around him. I couldn't care less about Johnny and his guitar or Boz or the rest. Just puppets to me and none of them have even an ounce of personality or anything you can call star quality.

Simple craftsmen selling a tune here and there to make them able to eat chips and get fat. Whereas Moz is so much more than his lyrics and he is everything from a poet to a pop star to a great philosopher and when he speaks the world listens.

How he has managed to be interesting in every interview all these years is in itself remarkable and sometimes those interviews gave me even more joy than his music and he always spoke my mind as if he was walking around thinking what I was thinking.

He's the Kinder egg that keeps on giving.
 
What was it like? His lyrics haven't got any better over the years, they're still utter nonsense but at least you can hear him now. "The Last Ride"....I couldn't make out four words.
It was dense. But that was the thing at the time, frontmen just standing there supposedly cool and muttering their nonsensical lyrics. A bit like Oasis :)

Anyway it was still great because the first time I saw the legendary Johnny Marr.

A couple of years later I saw him again in that same venue, as guitarist for Modest Mouse and he was much more relaxed. We even managed to have a word with him prior to the gig as he just sat there amidst the crowd when the opening act was playing. Great guy.
 
The general British public have never cared about Morrissey. He wasn't playing arenas but neither was he playing 'small' venues re: Boxers tour. The gigs were amazing though. If only the clock could be turned backwards?
Not small, but the ones I got to see, Croydon and the two London dates were certainly a lot more low-key than the ones he played for instance last year in London. And most people would assume that during Vauxhall-era Moz was much 'bigger' than he was in 2018, but he wasn't :)
And yes, it was absolutely amazing, never to be bettered, by anyone.
 
So what did you type in? "UncleSkinny", "Jewish", "Conspiracy"?

If anything, the fact that you specifically searched for a Jewish link to Skinny makes it even worse and makes you out to be an even bigger anti-Semite.
The question is, did he get the rabbi to circumcise and suck their screaming son's penis as is the Jewish metzitza b'peh tradition?

rabbi.jpg
 
What he can do is retract his support for uber toxic, right-wing For Bigots, retract his idiotic statement about people preferring their own race, and generally stop acting like an ignorant, offensive twat. Enough for now?
Morrissey will never retract the truth.

In fact he will go on to enlighten us even more.

Which will make you stamp your feet in tears.

While bringing me endless joy and delight.
 
These aren't just regular cyclical events - you're massively understating the ghastliness of Morrissey's words and actions in the last 18 months. Exposed as an absolute liar (and a total fool) by Der Spiegel, his frightening continued support for a blatantly right wing (whether far-right or not) political organisation, and unbelievably disgusting comments about race. This situation is like nothing he has ever brought upon himself during his 35+ years in the public eye. He's pissed people off in the past, sure, but they were always people that hated the Smiths and him in the first place (the right wing media, royalty, the meat industry etc.) Now he has utterly sickened the very people who supported him the most throughout his singing career. Hence the mass-hemorrhaging of over 50% of his UK (at least) fan base. Yes, he can pull things back a little but only with the kind of retraction proposed earlier in this thread and, even then, a good chunk of the people who followed him over the years will never return. Underestimate the scale of this current situation at your peril.

I think you totally over-estimate the faux outrage of The Guardian and the left. Most people don't give a f*** about the PC fascism that dominates public discourse. Moz's views on immigration really aren't that shocking. Most people over 35 would almost entirely share Moz's views on immigration and Islam. Only students who are force-fed cultural Marxism get upset about such mainstream opinion. Even most immigrants think mass immigration is out of control. I have a friend who's a proper cockney. He's married to a black woman. Has 5 mixed race kids. He constantly tells me about how he thinks immigration is out of control. His wife thinks the same.
 
Persinally I think Linda's are more valid or even Russell brand. It's interesting none of them are getting involved

Linder, yes, but Russell Brand? He's a superfan, hardly impartial.
 
I know you weren't referring to a Smiths reunion.

And it's not nonsense about Joyce. It's the truth. In time you will see I'm right.
AND it's none of your f***ing business.
Tell me the difference between your "information " and your promulgating of it and a guttersnipe tabloid journo flogging off a tale about Geri and Mel B having a lesbian fling?

Really, who the f*** cares?

(and,if you do,perhaps,ask why?)
 
Linder, yes, but Russell Brand? He's a superfan, hardly impartial.

Rummer has it, he as more than that.
But my point was he's respected. So is Linder. That's what I meant.
As opposed to Maker, Sam, fiona. Nobody gives two shits about them.
 
For those who missed the wonders of Boomslang first time round, here's Johnny at that time. Almost impossible to believe it's the same guy who just played at Glasto. Unrecognisable.



Boomslang - the worst album in history of pop-rock music.
 

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