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Jack Lowden who starred in BBC period drama ‘War and Peace’ earlier this year, has been cast as Morrissey in the upcoming biopic of The Smiths’ frontman. Titled Steven, the film will focus on Morrissey’s pre-Smith’s life and the series of odd jobs he worked before he decided to move into music.

Jack Lowden will play Morrissey in Steven.

Speaking to The Daily Mail, Lowden described Morrissey as ‘a massive icon’ and explained how the film would explore the singer’s life after leaving school and the events which led to him forming the seminal band.

Continue reading: 'War And Peace' Star Jack Lowden Cast As Morrissey In Upcoming Biopic

British indie rock icons The Smiths have been announced as one of this year’s nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s the sixth year for which the band have been eligible for the prestigious honour, but the first time they’ve been picked for consideration.

Morrissey, the former lead singer of The Smiths, who have been nominated for the Hall of Fame

Other debutants on the list are Green Day and Trent Reznor’s Nine Inch Nails, who’ve both scooped a nomination in their very first year they could have done so, and Sting, Bill Withers and Stevie Ray Vaughan. The late Lou Reed has also made the fifteen strong shortlist.

Continue reading: The Smiths, Green Day, Nine Inch Nails Nominated For Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Morrissey was attacked by a fan in the middle of his song in San Jose on Wednesday night (May 7, 2014). The former Smiths man was performing 'One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell' from Years of Refusal when a group of fans broke through security to hug the singer, according to TMZ.com.

Morrissey Performing In Manchester

Initially, the singer seemed amused and was seen chuckling at the situation, however, one fan went too far and smashed into Morrissey, knocking him to the ground.

Continue reading: Morrissey Attacked On-Stage, Knocked To The Ground In San Jose

One cold and windy night in August, a band of cloaked NME staffers gathered around the office's Morrissey shrine and asked The Great One what more they could do to worship his glorious name in their eternal plight of penance. A slightly bored-sounding voice answered back "Did you dispose of Elton?"

Morrissey Sticks The Knife In In 'Autobiography.'

"Yes, my Lord," the exultant congregation chimed in unison as the Editor kicked a large, lumpy black sack on the floor. "Then let it be known that The Queen Is Dead is the greatest phonographic recording in the world. Let there not be a single indie-inclined youngster spawned today who is not tearfully grateful for what We have gifted their ears and relationships."

Continue reading: NME Pick The Smiths' 'The Queen Is Dead' As Greatest Album Of All Time: Surprised?

Morrissey is either as miserable now as he ever has been, or his fan site True-To-You is stirring up rumours that will probably do more harm than good to the former Smiths singer. According to the online fanzine, Morrissey's auto-biography was due to hit shelves on 16 September, but "a last-minute content disagreement" with him and Penguin Books "caused the venture to collapse."

Morrissey's book deal with Penguin, which may not have even existed, fell through at the last minute

With the due publication date set for Monday, 16 September, this "last minute" disagreement must have been brewing for some time as the book has yet to make it's way on any booksellers schedules, which usually give wind of an impending publication a few weeks before it is due out. According to the fanzine, Penguin never printed any review copies off and Morrissey is now searching for a new publisher to put his story out there. Penguin have so far refused to comment on whether the book was due to be released, or even confirm whether they had a prior arrangement with the singer.

Continue reading: Morrissey Pulls Out Of Book Deal Three Days Before Publication, Says Semi-Official Fan Site

Thom Yorke appears to have responded to producer Stephen Street's criticism over his yanking of tracks from Spotify, claiming he gave away Radiohead's album In Rainbows as a "statement of trust."

Earlier this week, Yorke and Nigel Godrich delivered a scathing critique of the streaming service's business model before making both his solo and Atoms for Peace tracks unavailable.

"The reason is that new artists get paid f*ck all with this model.. It's an equation that just doesn't work," said Godrich in one of several messages re-tweeted by Yorke. 

Continue reading: Thom Yorke Pleads "Don't Make Us The Target" After Spotify Backlash

Good news for former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr! He’s a God-like genius! That must be reassuring to know.

The axe-wielder, who also has an exhaustive list of other bands and collaborations, including working with The Cribs, Modest Mouse, Nile Rodgers from Chic, The Pretenders and New Order’s Bernard Sumner, among others, has won the NME God Like Genius award for 2013. The gong is basically a life achievement sort of thing, recognising the talent of an artist over many years of work.

"The NME seems to be good at giving this award to people I like so I'm in good company. I guess it means that some things are alright with the world," Marr said in a statement. He’s in good company indeed; The Clash, Paul Weller, The Cure, Manic Street Preachers, New Order & Joy Division and Dave Grohl have all won the award in the past. Last year’s winner was Noel Gallagher. NME editor Mike Williams said that it was Marr’s continuing evolution that had led to the award. "He's continued to push boundaries and evolve throughout his career, working with some of the best and most exciting artists on the planet," said Williams, reports Reuters. Of the other awards, Haim, Tame Impala, M.I.A and The Rolling Stones are all up for four categories each.

Continue reading: Still Brill! NME God Like Genius Award For The Smiths Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr will be crowned Godlike Genius of the Year at this year’s NME Awards. Marr, whose distinctive guitar licks were combined with Morrissey’s song-writing skills to make The Smiths the legendary band that they are, has also played in Modest Mouse and – more recently, joined the three Wakefield brothers The Cribs.

The NME Awards will be held at The Troxy in East London, on Wednesday February 27, 2013, where Marr will collect his gong. Marr’s about to release his debut solo album The Messenger and speaking about the award, said “It is a very nice thing to be getting this award and I am honoured. The NME seems to be good at giving this award to people I like so I’m in good company. I guess it means that some things are alright with the world.” His previous band mate Morrissey won’t be expecting any such honour any time soon; he has fallen out with the magazine on a number of occasions, most recently when they printed an article that he felt had branded him a racist.

The magazine’s editor, Mike Williams, said “All hail Johnny Marr, NME Godlike Genius 2013 and the newest recruit into NME’s holy order of music legends. And what a legend he is! Not content with rewriting the history of music with one of the world’s greatest ever bands, The Smiths, he’s continued to push boundaries and evolve throughout his career, working with some of the best and most exciting artists on the planet.” Johnny follows in the footsteps of 2012’s Godlike Genius, Noel Gallagher, which just goes to show, there’s no justice in the world. Or no huge commitment to chronology, perhaps. 

Continue reading: NME Awards Johnny Marr 'Godlike Genius' Title, 2013

Morrissey, ex-frontman of '80s band The Smiths, has been diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer and may need surgery. His ill-health renders him unable to continue with his US tour currently, but is expected to return to the stage in February.

As NME reported on Sunday (27th Jan) Morrissey was suspected to have a bladder infection. However as more tests have been done having been admitted to the Beaumont hospital, in Detroit, it has become apparent that the singer in fact has a bleeding ulcer. As his representative, Lauren Papapietro, said in a statement, reported by SkyNews, he's expected to be well again in time to make his February 9th show in Las Vegas. "Morrissey is expected to make a full recovery and thanks everyone concerned for their support during this time." She said, "Morrissey apologises greatly for any and all inconvenience and looks forward to continuing his US tour."

His US tour had already been postponed after he rapidly returned to England to care for his mother, last October. The cities that shows have been cancelled: Asheville, North Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; Lawrence, Kansas; Clear Lake, Iowa; and Lincoln, Nebraska. It is expected that Morrissey will simply postpone these dates rather than cancelling them entirely. 

This last time year music fans were agog at the quality of the line-up that Coachella Festival pulled together. It was a bill that had everything, from the likes of rap statesmen like Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre, to the UK’s biggest alternative band Radiohead, a reformed At The Drive-In, blues rock giants The Black Keys and everyone’s favourite cabin dweller Bon Iver.

A year on and we’re still awaiting the announcement of Coachella 2013's bill, and as usual the rumors are flying around thick and fast as to who'll be playing on the weekends of April 12 and April 19, 2013. Everyone else is piping up with their own rumors on who’ll be appearing at the double weekender in April, so we thought we’d chip in with five that we think are likely to be making an appearance.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Continue reading: Coachella Festival 2013; Who's Going To Be Playing?

Morrissey Arrives For The Late Show With David Letterman This Week Wearing Fetching White Nail Polish

Never one to mince his words, Morrissey has taken aim at the Beckhams in his latest rant, labelling David and Victoria "insufferable" and suggesting he'd have them "dragged to the edge of the village and flogged." The former Smiths man has taken aim at Sir Paul McCartney, the London Olympics and the Royal Family in recent months, though the former Manchester United star and his fashion designer wife have come in for particular scorn.

Speaking to Loaded magazine, the 53-year-old mused, "I'd... have the Peckhams dragged to the edge of the village and flogged because they are insufferable to anyone of intelligence, and they actively chase the paparazzi." Following the end of his contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, it is rumoured that Beckham will search for new employment in London. He and Victoria are reportedly renting a home in Kensington, West London, in time for the new school term, though Morrissey thinks it's bad news for everyone involved. "We don't seem to realise that David and Victoria Peckham will soon be back and god forbid they will be bestowed with titles Sir and Lady Peckham, this is what's wrong with this country, we don't seem to care," he said, adding, "Football often seems to me to have no meaning whatsoever other than just to be there. It can't be elevated any higher because so many footballers are paid £200,000 a week, yet couldn't identify a harp."

Continue reading: Morrissey On The 'Insufferable' Beckhams: "I'd Have Them Flogged"

Fleetwood Mac have announced their tour dates for US and Canada in 2013 and the last date of the tour is in Detroit on June 12… just a few weeks before the UK’s iconic Glastonbury festival, which takes place on June 21 – 23. Can you see where we’re headed with this train of thought? Well, it looks like we’re not the only ones starting to think that Stevie Nicks and co. would make a brilliant addition to next year’s line-up, as the bookies, William Hill, have slashed the odds of Fleetwood Mac headlining the festival’s Pyramid Stage on the Sunday to 6/1, making them second favourites.

Currently, The Rolling Stones are favourites to be announced as the festival closers though frankly we’d like to know who’s giving William Hill their inside info because they currently have The Smiths in third position and everybody knows that Morrissey and Marr will never agree to let bygones be bygones and reform in time for Glastonbury 2013. Or ever. Right…? Right? Or is there something that someone’s not telling us?

The line-up for Glastonbury 2013 hasn’t yet been announced, even though tickets for the event have already sold out – such is the pulling power of what is widely considered to be the best festival on the planet. In 22nd place, on William Hill’s list is the Korean rapper, Psy at 200/1. We’re not convinced that Psy’s going to produce another hit on the same scale as ‘Gangnam Style’; file that one under ‘wasted bet.’

Coachella Music Festival are still a while away from announcing their headliners for their 2013 event, but if reports are to believed there is one act they're absolutely desperate to get back together for the event. It's believed that the festival organisers are so keen to reunite cult band The Smiths that they have offered to ban meat from the entire event if the British indie band do reform.

There've been long-running rumours of a comeback ever since the group split up way back in 1987, with founding members Morrissey and Johnny Marr reportedly getting offered offered as much as $4.5 million to get back together. The song writing duo have so far stuck to their guns on the matter though, insisting that they're not interested in reuniting. Morrissey now has a large back catalogue of solo records behind, whilst Marr has lent his guitar talents to everyone from Modest Mouse to The Cribs. However, it's now emerged that Coachella have promised staunch vegetarian Morrissey that they would ban all meat products from the Indio, California site for the entire event if he reunited the group for a headline performance.

Morrissey famously stormed offstage at Coachella in 2009 after smelling smoke from the on-site barbecues, and he told Australia's News.com.au that they first made the offer for the 2010 festival. "[After 2009] the agents for Coachella offered a 100 per cent vegetarian event for the following year if I would agree to headline with Johnny Marr as The Smiths" Morrissey commented. "Fascinatingly they made it clear that they would 'not require' the Smiths' bass player or drummer... which I thought certainly said something."

Morrissey took time out from rallying against the British royal family and meat eaters and turned into a Good Samaritan at the weekend, with it being reported that the outspoken musician tended to an elderly lady who collapsed in a bookstore.

Former front man of The Smiths, Morrissey was browsing shelves at New York City's well-known Strand Bookstore, no doubt looking for some Keates or Yates, on Sunday (September 23rd) when a frail customer standing nearby him was taken ill. Acting quickly, the performer knelt down to comfort the confused woman and offered to fetch her some water before staff came to her aid. An onlooker told Queerty.com, "He picked up her stray belongings and asked if he could get her some water or call for help. She declined and collected her things and moved on. But my friend said she touched Morrissey's cheek in gratitude!"

Continuing, they added "Obviously, she didn't know who he was, just was touched by this act of kindness from a nice British man. He seemed very shaken up and flustered by the incident and left the store soon afterwards without buying anything." Which sounds a bit more like the Morrissey we know and love.