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Morrissey At Centre Of Damaging NME Race Row

Magazine accused of betraying his trust...

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Morrissey is at the centre of a controversial race row with the NME, after the music magazine accused The Smiths legend of using “naïve and inflammatory” language when discussing immigration in the UK.

The singer’s management yesterday threatened the publication with legal proceedings over their editorial in the potentially damning article, printed today.

Morrissey’s representatives got wind of the possible damaging nature of the feature in an anonymous tip-off in October on the site Morrissey-solo.com. In response, NME editor Conor McNicholas reportedly said on October 29 they were “rumours and untruths” and that Morrissey’s words were “benign when argued in isolation.”  

He is now accused of turning back on these comments and “betraying the trust” of Morrissey and his management.

Interestingly, the NME journalist who carried out the interview, Tim Jonze, has personally written to Mozza’s representative Merck Mercuriadis denying that the comments and editorial has anything to do with him. In a rare move, the credits for the piece read: Interview: Tim Jonze / Words: NME.

According to true-to-you.net, Jonze, who also writes for The Guardian, said: “I should mention that for reasons I'll probably never understand, NME have rewritten the Moz piece. I had a read and virtually none of it is my words or beliefs so I've asked for my name to be taken off it. Just so you know when you read it.”

Merck has revealed that upon receiving this, he immediately wrote to NME Editor Conor McNicholas, who after three days (“timed to arrive after his magazine was printed therefore preventing us from stopping the printing” – claims Merck) replied.

In response, McNicholas claims that the comments in the piece are “fair and balanced”, and writes: “Obviously no-one is accusing Morrissey of racism - that would be mad given what Morrissey says - but we do say that the language Morrissey uses is very unhelpful at a time of great tensions.”

The NME does, however, compare Morrissey's views to that of the BNP.

In the feature, Morrissey (who now lives in Italy having relocated from the US) commented on immigration in such sentences as “Other countries have held on to their basic identity, yet it seems to me that England has thrown it away.”

He also said: “Britain’s a terribly negative place… with the issue of immigration, it’s very difficult because, although I don’t have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the identity disappears.” 

In response to McNicholas’ comments, a clearly irate Mercuriadis wrote on true-to-you, claiming the magazine has “betrayed his trust.” A solicitors’ letter followed. 

He wrote: 

When / if you read the interview, please look at the credits which are unique:
Interview - Tim Jonze
Words - NME

When reading it we request that you think for yourself and consider what is question and answer and what is inflammatory editorial on the part of the NME which we assume can only be intended to create controversy to boost their circulation at the expense of Morrissey's integrity and for which no journalist is willing to be credited. It might as well say "anonymous."

There is virtually no other artist with a more meaningful following across the history of the NME and it would appear that Mr. McNicholas thought the "new" NME could gain some credibility at Morrissey's expense. The story reads like a cynical exercise by yet another NME editor trying to put his name in the history books via a poorly thought out and terribly executed attempt at character assassination.

As we all know, the NME does not speak for its readership, the artists do. Artists like Morrissey. The NME also does not speak for Morrissey. Anti-racist songs such as "Irish Blood, English Heart," "America Is Not The World" and "I Will See You In Far-Off Places" tell you the true measure of the man.

Conor McNicholas made a decision for reasons known only to himself to betray our trust and make himself out to be a hero at Morrissey's expense. 

As you can see from the legal letter below, we will be unrelenting in our quest to bring him / NME to justice.

By the way, the good news of the day is that Morrissey signed his new record deal with Polydor / Decca this afternoon! We will soon be scheduling new singles and albums for next year, but one thing you can count on not happening is a 7" cover mount on the eNeMEy! 

Sincerely,
Merck Mercuriadis
28th November, 2007

We await the next development of proceedings with baited breath.

It’s not the first time the publication has fallen out with Morrissey. In 1992, a damning article hit out at Morrissey for draping himself in a Union Jack at a Finsbury Park gig under the title: ‘Flying The Flag Or Flirting With Disaster?’

The publication famously accused Morrissey of experimenting with racist imagery, in the context of the National Front supporters who were present in the crowd at the Madness headlined show.

This led to a huge falling out between the two, only for the hatchet to be buried three years ago. It looks as though the latest article has now ruined their relationship eternally.
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  • In my opinion, having read the article, Morrissey has said absolutely NOTHING racist at all. The NME have stitched him up by filling the gaps with absolute rubbish(not written by Tim Jonze I understand), even using the semantics of certain old lyrics (nothing to do with this article)to make him seemingly racist. They deserve to be sued.

    ~ by Wordsworth 11/28/2007

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  • The NME are clearly mixing immigration with racism. I’m not against immigration at all, in fact it adds to our culture. But to even insinuate someone is racist for discussing immigration is very, very wrong

    ~ by shane m 11/28/2007

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  • I can’t believe a magazine that asks people to Love Music, Hate Racism will stich up someone who is clearly not racist. Double standards me thinks!

    ~ by Mozza 11/28/2007

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  • It looks to me like the NME have hounded him to say something they could print. His comments in the first interview were hardly inflamatory, the follow up interview pursues his views on immigration and they get their ”gates are flooded” comment. Morrisey is obviously using stupid language but hardly a racist like their editorial infers.

    ~ by andy 11/28/2007

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  • sounds like the nme conducted the interview with an aim to stitch him up, which is totally out of order, prob because sales have dropped off recently. Not sure if the case will get to court tho unfortunately

    ~ by avid reader 11/28/2007

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    • Let’s hope it does go to court though! I like controversy!

      ~ by andy 11/28/2007

  • Morrissey was very naive I reckon, but he was in no way inflamatory

    ~ by Muggins 11/28/2007

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  • Sadly the NME have achieved the publicity they hoped this scam would generate. The fact that the interviewer has completely disassociated himself with the printed ”interview” says it all.

    ~ by Barryjb 11/28/2007

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  • annoyingly i’m prob going to buy this now! Unless someone brings it in toffice

    ~ by avid reader 11/28/2007

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  • Conor McNicholas is a rat faced weasel of a twat who has single handedly turned the NME into Smash Hits

    ~ by Shaun 11/28/2007

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  • I also have read the article and you cannot argue with the fact that Mozza’s words read like the BNP manifesto. An orgnaisation who’s views and oppinions are rooted in racism and facist thought. England may have a problem with immigration but this is not the root cause of England not being the same place as it was 50 years ago. His comments are misguided.

    ~ by Dandelion 11/28/2007

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  • Immigration is, unlike racism, a hot topic which can be condemned or supported quite viably, eitherway. So it is NME being quite naive to suggest casting an derogatory view on immigration is a racist view. I’m alllllllllso gonna reiterate a previous comment... Conor McNicholas is a c*nt.

    ~ by Alx. 11/28/2007

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  • Dandelion, you’re missing the point they’re not Morrissey’s words, they’re the words of NME, see the credits. Some people (well Conor McNicholas) just love to create a reason to have a go at someone because they don’t kiss NME arse.

    ~ by ncgirl 11/28/2007

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  • The NME are the racists here as they were in 92. Please go away NME your time has now past. Morrissey forever.

    ~ by Brian S 11/28/2007

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  • Well done NME. You’ve just lost another reader.

    ~ by Bij 11/28/2007

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  • NME is to music magazines, what the Sun is to newspapers. Fucking scum

    ~ by NME sucks 11/28/2007

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  • Im glad i have read this article before buying NME,as now I will not be buying it, Morrissey is a huge star,an icon- and if the rest of his fans feel like I do, then I shall be boycotting the NME from now on. think theyve shot themselves in the foot with this article.

    ~ by Sheila-takes a bow 11/28/2007

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  • Conor McNicholas is an egomnaiac of the highest order. He can frankly piss off

    ~ by Steve thinks NME is scum 11/28/2007

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  • I have been buying the NME for 15yrs and this is the end.... well done Mr McNicholas, your idiocy and attempted crass stitch-up of Moz has cost you another reader.

    ~ by Millhouse 11/28/2007

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  • Just more proof that this ”new NME” is total uninformed and fad-ish bollocks.

    ~ by stamanfar 11/28/2007

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  • who cares? morrissey is a wanker.

    ~ by god. 11/28/2007

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    • Not as big a one as you so obviously are. Give my regards to your lover Mrs. Palm and her five lovely daughters.

      ~ by Dave 12/7/2007

  • the great shame in all of this is the fact Morrissey has even been reduced to the level of even speaking to the NME. it’s a horrible little rag edited by a horrible little man. Morrissey is absolutely entitled to his opinions and although I agree that something of British identity has been displaced, to even mention immigration into a conversation about the subject wasn’t exactly the smartest of move. Does anyone expect quality journalism about ’real music’ in the NME any

    ~ by jmac9000 11/28/2007

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  • NME is a joke and has been for years. No one over the age of 14/15 takes anything it has to say seriously,just look at some of the crap that they have championed over the last couple of years. Having said that the stitch up job on Moz would of been funny if it wasn’t so poorly executed. We know that he isn’t a racist, at least anyone with a brain does, but the ham-fist way NME have written this article seems to be aimed at the immature and bigoted as some sort of anti-Morrissey rally

    ~ by bees-knees 11/28/2007

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  • NME never accused him of racism. im a big fan of morrissey but his words did sound dated and it was him that brought the subject of immigration up if you read the article

    ~ by george 11/28/2007

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  • I read the article and NME was desperate to goad Morrissey into saying something that could sell the mag this week. Totally irresponisble and cheap rock journalism. Ir ead the interview twice just to ensure I hadn’t missed something. So mOzza yearns for the England of yesteryear-BIG DEAL. I though Morrissey handled the interviewer with intelligence and dignity.

    ~ by SickBoyAtHome 11/29/2007

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  • I’m a liberal immigrant and don’t rate Morrissey. It is that the editor of NME is a coward & a liar, selling out a once great magazine to suit his egomaniacal tabloid aspirations. What is quite sad is that Tim Jonze will never work for NME again, because he upheld the beliefs of honest journalism and integrity. Every person who has purchased NME should feel conned. Morrissey can sue, but the readership will take away the lifeblood of this vainglorious editor - sales & eve

    ~ by An immigrant 11/29/2007

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  • Squeaky bum time for that wee rat-faced editor, Conor McNicholas of the NME. What a disgusting, devious & dispicable man he really is!!! And this is the man who claims to be a fan & having a ’gold disc’ of YATQ hanging on the wall of his living room???

    ~ by CB............ 11/30/2007

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  • Most of the comments on here are obviously from fans of Morrissey who wont have anything negative said about him in any circumstances. I personally think that the NME story rings true given Morrisseys history. Why dont people who chose not to even live in England like Morrissey shut up about Englishness being lost?

    ~ by non-Morrissey fan 11/30/2007

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  • Well i havent read the article but having been to a number of Morrissey gigs have always wondered why he has such a large BNP following attending?!?!

    ~ by cosimclever 11/30/2007

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  • As a British Asian I am offended by the comments and am struggling to reconcile the admiration I have for Morrissey the artist and the very negative man that he appears to be in the NME interview. I still believe that noone else can articulate the misery and complexity of the human condition as well as Morrissey but would hope he can see the effect his comments have on the people who are the children of immigrants and love being English a situation he should be only too familiar with.

    ~ by Sadia Tabassum 12/5/2007

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  • immigration and racism are two different things. everyone is allowed their opinion....on immigration. not everyone is going to agree/like people from differnent countries coming to live here and it is not being racist to say so.

    ~ by j 2/24/2009

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