Old news I know, but I was thinking about the recent(ish) Morrissey nonsense in the NME. I know the old ham's opinions lean a bit far to the right, and his comments about Englishness seem way too nostalgic to be taken seriously but what do people expect? This guy has made a career out of references to white bread British working class culture. He employs imagery of Britain every bit as odious as Betjemin's leather on willow or Shakespeare's sceptered isle. He redeploys skinhead imagery as homology stripped from its political foundation, sucks the colour from the cheeks of fascist farce - and yet people love him. He's an 80s icon. So what if he didn't have the courage of his convictions to step from behind the asexual facade until he was in his late 40s. So what if he castigated asians in a manner worthy of Enoch. So what if he waves that Union flag with a dewy eyed nostalgia for a Britain of his memories (albeit memories altered through art). We still get excited about his comebacks and talk excitedly about that Smiths moment.
But worst of all for me was the NME reaction to the geriatric posturing of Mozza's memories. It was positively Daily Mail in its righter than right wing expression of shock. It was a reaction up there with the Mail's condemnation of teenage mums, loony lefties, immigrants, Muslims, druggies... or anyone not like US.
Thing is I'm not sure NME were representing the voice of their readership (as the Mail can at least claim) so much as they we taking on the position of the moral majority - which is kind of ironic when you think of where the magazine thinks it stands on the ideological shop rack. Underground, alternative it ain't. Neither is it particularly the position of the average shock waved indie kid - many of whom, when pushed, might even agree with Mozzer (indie is after all that most Tory, and conservative, of all youth scenes - all the 'me' centricity of Thatcherism and the innovative spirit of a caged bunny, erm I mean an Eaton schoolboy).
So, in a strange twist on their expression of local leftism the NME attacked free speech in a manner worthy of a rag that is pitched at the heart of commuter belt 50 something women. NME's curtains were twitching with all the rage of 'Mr.Angry of Surbiton' at, what was at the end of the day the rambling of a man who knows best how to anger child hacks. He should be offered a part in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as the child catcher not attacked in this most blunt, unintelligent way.
Funny though that Moz seemed most upset by the fact that the journo didn't know who David Bowie was. It's a hard thing to face Moz, but you're getting old. The kids don't get your references anymore. Most don't give a damn about you - your haircut is all wrong.
So, NME, a right wing rag for right wing times attacking a man with overtly right wing attitudes. It's like the 80s without Live Aid.
My solution? Get the git off out TVs, our radios, magazines etc. Not because he's a fascist, so many artists throughout time have been (and I for one relish the argument), not because he's middle aged, but because, even in these mediocre times he's Mr Mediocre personified.
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