Mozipedia: The Encyclopaedia Of Morrissey & The Smiths
by Simon Goddard

There’s more to Mozzer’s life than this book – but not much

Very few of these piecemeal, violently unchronological, encyclopedia-of-a- rock-star books are worth bothering with, given that they’re generally tawdry exercises in cut-and-paste hackery. The fact that this is a genuine pleasure to read reveals a few things. Mainly, though, it’s a testament to Q journalist Simon Goddard’s skill and passion for the subject material and Steven Patrick Morrissey’s status as a bona fide pop culture icon, whose wit is only matched by his litigiousness, and lyrical talent by his petulance.

The book tells the story behind every song he’s recorded solo or with The Smiths, nailing down all of the lyrical allusions and literary references. Likewise, he keeps track on the bewildering army of bequiffed musicians who’ve been through the Pope Of Mope’s revolving door. (Goddard is too much of a fan to point out that these largely interchangeable players have one primary function: not to be Johnny Marr or show any kind of virtuosity; this fear of being upstaged has just about prevented Morrissey’s solo career from taking flight in the same way as The Smiths.) The gold is in the trivia, though, and there’s enough here to keep the most hardened fanatic enthralled for hours.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

ISBN 9780091927097, 532 pages

Reviewed by John Doran
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