Steven Patrick Morrissey, otherwise known simply as Morrissey, has had a career lasting for almost 40 years. He has established himself as one of music’s greatest lyrical poets, both as part of ‘The Smiths’ and as a solo artist, and is quoted all over the world. Morrissey is accompanied by legions of fans consisting of pretty much every age group, and has been awarded such titles as ‘The Greatest Northern Male Ever,’ also coming in at a close second to David Attenborough in being named the Greatest British Living Icon. Morrissey has now tried his hand at writing his self-titled autobiography, published with the accolade of being a Penguin Classic – very much deservingly so.
The memoir documents his life from being born in 1959 within the turbulence of Manchester to the dizzying heights of success he reached and maintained until the present day. Before reading this book I hadn’t really known much about Morrissey himself – being a fan of The Smiths and his solo music I had known the basics, such as his animal rights campaigning, his lyrics and his general nihilism towards people and the world – but his autobiography is definitely honest and reveals much more about the illusive character, giving a side to his story that perhaps has never been heard before. His poetic prose throughout unveils his writing talent and sets it apart from other autobiographies: let’s just say it is in no way comparable to any of Katie Price’s literal expeditions.
“My childhood is streets upon streets upon streets upon streets. Streets to define you and streets to confine you, with no sign of motorway, freeway or highway.” The book begins with his recollection of his childhood in Manchester, which he makes no secret to hide his loathing of – particularly through his battering of the education system and its teachers, describing how his headmaster: “[rumbled] with grumpiness in a rambling stew of hate. He [was] martyred by his position and [was] ruled by his apparent loathing of children.” His hatred of education and the people who provided it along with his feelings of being stuck in Manchester were made better by his reverence of musicians at the time – the idolisation he had was soon replicated in the relationship of his own fans and himself. He speaks of influences by David Bowie, Patti Smith, The New York Dolls (cmtrading), Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, the list goes on. The book also documents The Smith’s journey, from Morrissey and Marr initially to their added members and their eventual signing to Rough Trade – of which Morrissey very much likes to point out they should NEVER have signed to.
Moments like meeting Mick Jagger, cracking America and at last their own free reign on their music are all touched upon, making The Smiths’ legal trial more than 10 years after their break up, which Morrissey bitterly recalls as even more tragic; the injustice and betrayal being made all too clear. Throughout he monotonously speaks of his tendency to dislike people as soon as he meets them and for people verging on misanthropy, his disdain his amusing, one of my favourite quotes being “ I have attempted a second joke, which must be like trying to strangle two people at once.” Although some have thought the autobiography is an attempt by Morrissey to justify himself and argue against accusations made over the years (his digs towards NME are practically revengeful), he does so in beautiful prose filled with memories of amazing people and incredible achievements all still with the signature Morrissey anarchy, but with a surprisingly happy outlook on how his life has turned out.
Words by Daisy Lester