We Love Morrissey but C'Mon: Dude Totally Ripped off Bryan Ferry

By Nicholas Pell Tue., Jun. 5 2012 at 5:00 AM

Twenty years ago I discovered Morrissey; he gave expression to the deep isolation and longing for connection that I felt as a suburban misfit. As I grew older it became less about the Pope of Mope, however, and more about the well-dressed man singing operatic odes to skinheads and small-time criminals.

But forget about that. My two decade Moz obsession has come to an end. Why? I realized that Morrissey is little more than a cheap knockoff of Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry. For the uninitiated, Roxy Music were glam/art rock pioneers from the early '70s who rivaled even Bowie with hits like "Virginia Plain" and "Street Life," both of which presaged the coming punk revolution. While watching Roxy Music perform "Really Good Time" on a YouTube clip, it all came into focus -- the affected poshness, the self-consciously ironic "Britishness," the two-note vocal moan, all of it appropriated by Moz.

Early in Moz's career, Ferry seemed little more than an influence. As the years went on, however, it's fair to say that the charming man became a parody -- not of himself, but of Roxy Music-era Ferry.

Indeed, in Morrissey's post-Vauxhall and I career, gone are the paeans to self-pity. In their place are dark, brooding tales of lovable losers, perhaps too clever by half. Struggling to find his voice, Moz went through Smithsesque jangle pop (Viva Hate and Bona Drag), light, jazzy pop (Kill Uncle) and an ill-conceived foray into hard rock (Your Arsenal). After Arsenal, he seemed to find his voice -- it's too bad that voice is little more than the schmaltzier elements of Roxy Music.

Compare Moz and Bryan Ferry side by side. As the pair age, their similarities become increasingly striking: Handsome aging men who wear their gray hair arrogantly like battle scars, donning high-end suits with all the subtlety of a hooker in church. The last defenders of British values, the High Tory ne plus ultra who make flirtatious overtures toward fascist movements both home grown and international.

Tags:

Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, Roxy Music, The Smiths

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MadModern

"BF is a genius, Morrissey is a fat, gay, clown" Insipid comment without a doubt. The facts? Both are insanely talented songwriters. Case closed.

Aronmauck

This is a stunningly stupid story. It presumes some form of originality that simply doesn't exist. The Smiths are no more deriviative than any other group, and far more creative than most.

Aaa

BF is a genius, Morrissey is a fat, gay, clown, I can't see any similarities there. He did say "For Your Pleasure" was a classic album or something like that , but anyone with taste knows that. He also slagged off Roxy after Eno left saying that "Stranded" and "Country Life" were a waste of time...funnily enough he covered/crucified "Street Life" a few years back on tour, and has recently had a go at BF for his political preferences ( as typical lefty, socialist idiots do). What a prick!

madModern

Wonderful piece, and very interesting. I love them both. Both are brilliant song writers without a doubt. There's a strange timeless feel to a lot of Morrissey and Ferry songs. In my opinion, both owe a ton to Lou Reed. The frenetic and freezing isolation of living in the shadows has never been better expressed by Lou and the Velvets. That said, I think "The Queen is Dead" is one of my all time favorite albums. And on a random note, Roxy Music's "Psalm" from the Stranded album (supposedly the first song he ever wrote) is a song I could listen to every day! An 8 minute epic about love, sex, fashion and death...... If anyone hasn't listened to "Psalm" (or seen the live performance on youtube) please do

Steve Morgan

And what do you do? Ah yes, type up petty vitriolic online blog "articles" about people and things you clearly do not understand. Your parents must be beaming. Try writing something of some value sometime. This might make you less cantankerous and more likely to see and hear what Morrissey means a little more clearly. It amazes me that people still have such axes to grind with him. How about a quote from one of those newer songs you glibly dismiss: "There is so much destruction all over the world, and all you can do is complain about [Morrissey]?" And regarding the shirtlessness––you are just jealous that no one screams or swoons when you take yours off at night. You clearly know much more about herpes than I do, but the comparison you make is a perfect example of your gruesome writing skills and total lack of imagination. Mr. Nickle A Spell: "It only hurts because it's true" :)

Nicholas Pell

Sick burn, brah. Seriously, why is "you're an ugly hack that no one loves" the go to insult every time I trash talk someone's favorite band? Also, since you apparently didn't read the article: Moz fan of 20 year pedigree. Been listening to what the guy has to say for some time. I'm over it, though frankly I should have been closer to 20 years ago than not.

Aprilfresh

Ferry is the ultimate. Loved this piece!

Lambogirl10

Boo.

N M

All of the above is true, but it's also the natural cycle of pop. If you've ever seen The Drums, you would see Jonathan Pierce doing his best to imitate Moz.