An introduction

I'm a big fan of The Smiths.  Huge.  They're one of those bands I would pay pretty much any amount of money to see if they reformed.

Disclosure: I might love The Smiths but I'm definitely not a fan of Morrissey, the man (or even of Morrissey, the solo artist).  The reasons are numerous and some are serious while others are pretty ridiculous.  That said, I still get excited every time I pass his childhood home on the bus and point it out to myself like some kind of fangirl. With the exception of 'When Doves Cry' I don't think music gets that much better than 'Strangeways, Here We Come.'

I'm OK with that and with my relationship with Morrissey.

My husband also likes The Smiths (although not as much as I do) and grew up in the same neighborhood at approximately the same time as Morrissey so he was enthusiastic about reading the Autobiography.  He was hoping to see some of his childhood memories through Morrissey's eyes.

Digression: is that not as ridiculous a title as Russell Brand's My Booky Wook? It totally is.  Note: I enjoyed My Booky Wook a lot.

Our neighbor, Clint, is an avid Smiths fan. He told us he'd bought Autobiography and complained that the first 150 pages was Morrissey (can I start calling him SPM now?  It's easier.) waffling about bands he liked and not his youth. Clint said he didn't care about Patti Smith or the New York Dolls, he cared about SPM.

Two days later there was a knock on our front door.  Clint handed Autobiography  to my husband in silence, wearing a glum expression. This blog is a collection of some of the things my husband has said while reading Autobiography.  His rage is hilarious, it's kind of like me reading Dan Brown.

The Players

Stephen Patrick Morrissey (SPM): born in 1959 in Trafford, Manchester. Probably a genius, singer for one of the greatest bands of all time (in your face, Kanye).

Big Daddy: my husband, born in 1966 in Stretford, Manchester. Almost ex-goth, Gary Numan's 20th biggest fan. Generally a fun time.  He has fond memories of Manchester from 1970-1992 and I think prefers shitty old Manchester.

Here's the location of SMP's childhood home and below is the Google Maps route between their two childhood homes (I picked the iron bridge route, OBVIOUSLY).

Our Steve: my brother-in-law.  Born in 1968, attended the same high school as Morrissey but spent the 80s listening to Herbie Hancock and break dancing on linoleum stolen from his kitchen.

Enzo: my dachshund, probably not a fan of The Smiths but I can't be sure. He definitely enjoys the theme song to The X-Files.

Me: born in Southern California, 1980. I moved to Manchester in 2002 and, in an epic display of snobbery, believe you only really understand The Smiths if you've lived in Manchester.  This city (which I love so hard) is SPM's biggest muse, or was, and it shows in his music big style.  Wyclef Jean is my favorite solo artist but my favorite song is R. Kelly's 'Ignition (Remix).'

Sam: a friend from work who named her cat after SPM.  As in, his name is Stephen Patrick Morrissey.  I don't even know if she knows about this blog but I bet she'd appreciate it.