Morrissey play to Valley concert

British singer-songwriter Morrissey, who performed at the 2009 Coachella Music and Arts Festival, is returning to the desert Dec. 5 for a concert at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino.
With his poetic lyrics and a distinctive croon that sags with emotion, Morrissey helped turn The Smiths into one of the most influential bands of the 1980s.
After the pair split in 1987, he launched a successful solo career with such hits as “Everyday is Like Sunday,” “Suedehead” and “We Hate it When Our Friends Become Successful.” He is listed among Rolling Stone magazine's list of the top 100 singers of all time.

Morrissey to Release Album, Tour U.S.

For email-pal Johnny Marr's sake, let's hope Morrissey has a smart phone, because the King of Mope is hitting the road this fall/winter in support of his upcoming release: Swords, a new B-sides compilation out Nov. 3.
The upcoming release was curated by the legendary singer himself, who collected the disc's eighteen songs from the singles released for his past four albums: Years of Refusal (2009), Greatest Hits (2008), Ringleader Of The Tormentors (2006), and You Are The Quarry (2004). Songs include "Munich Air Disaster 1958," which finds Moz reflecting on the notorious plane crash that killed 21 passengers, including seven Manchester United soccer players, a live cover of David Bowie's "Drive-In Saturday," and "Shame is the Name," featuring Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders on back-up vocals.
As an extra for hardcore Smiths fans, this first pressing of Swords will include a bonus disc of eight live tracks from a concert in Warsaw in July 2009, including a rendition of the Smiths' "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby," originally released on another B-sides compilation, 1986's The World Won't Listen.
In support of Swords, Morrissey will bring his ongoing world tour to the U.S., kicking off the nine West Coast stops in Seattle on November 29 (see dates below). More U.S. gigs are expected to be announced for late 2009.

Swords tracklist:

1. "Good Looking Man About Town"

2. "Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice"

3. "If You Don't Like Me, Don't Look At Me"

4. "Ganglord"

5. "My Dearest Love"

6. "The Never-Played Symphonies"

7. "Sweetie-Pie"

8. "Christian Dior"

9. "Shame Is The Name"

10. "Munich Air Disaster 1958"

11. "I Knew I Was Next"

12. "It's Hard To Walk Tall When You're Small"

13. "Teenage Dad On His Estate"

14. "Children In Pieces"

15. "Friday Mourning"

16. "My Life Is A Succession Of People Saying Goodbye"

17. "Drive-In Saturday"

18. "Because Of My Poor Education"

Limited edition bonus disc:

1. "Black Cloud"

2. "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris"

3. "I Just Want To See The Boy Happy"

4. "Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself"

5. "One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell"

6. "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby"

7. "Life Is A Pigsty"

8. "I'm OK By Myself"

Morrissey tour dates:

11/29, Seattle, WA (Paramount)

11/30, Portland, OR (Roseland Theatre)

12/2, Oakland, CA (Paramount)

12/4, Indio, CA (Fantasy Springs)

12/5, Las Vegas, NV (The Joint)

12/7, Pomona, CA (Fox Theatre)

12/8, San Diego, CA (Copley Symphony Hall)

12/10, Los Angeles, CA (Gibson Amphitheatre)

12/11, Ventura, CA (Ventura Theatre)

Astor trial, NYC jury resuming deliberations

NEW YORK (AP) — The jury in the criminal trial over the will of late philanthropist Brooke Astor is scheduled to resume deliberations Wednesday.
Astor's son, Anthony Marshall, and estate lawyer Francis X. Morrissey are accused in an 18-count indictment of exploiting her mental decline to plunder millions of dollars from her estate, estimated at $198 million.
Marshall faces a maximum 25 years in prison if he's convicted of the most dangerous charges of first-degree grand thievery.
Prosecutors say Marshall pressured Astor into selling a painting for $10 million and pocketed a $2 million commission. They say he also gave himself a $1.4 million retroactive raise for managing his mother's finances.
Astor was 105 and suffering from Alzheimer's when she died in 2007.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Closing Arguments At Trial Of Astor's Son

Closing arguments were scheduled to resume Monday at the Manhattan trial of Anthony Marshall and his co-defendant, attorney Francis Morrissey. Prosecutors say Astor who died in 2007 at age 105 wasn't competent to sign documents that increased Marshall's share of her $198 million estate. The defense says that although she was suffering from Alzheimer's, the philanthropist had lucid moments. On Friday, the prosecutor said Astor signed a letter in 2003, giving her son $5 million. He said that on the same day, she was too confused to know she was in her own house. Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann called it further proof that Marshall took advantage of Astor. Astor was born March 30, 1902. She died of pneumonia at Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. in 2007 at the age of 105.

New York's high society to Trial shines a spotlight

Reporting from New York What did the butler hear? Can the peeved French maid and the combative ex-chauffeur be trusted? If only the pet dachshunds, Boysie and Girlsie, could talk. It would make it far easier for the jurors who this week are expected to begin reviewing four months of often contradictory testimony to decide if the son of Brooke Astor, the late philanthropist and New York social doyenne, fleeced his mother of millions.Final arguments began Monday in the trial of the son, Anthony Marshall, and Astor's estate attorney, Francis X. Morrissey Jr. They are accused of altering Astor's will to ensure her approximately $198-million estate went to Marshall when she died in 2007 at the age of 105.On Tuesday, defense attorneys sought to portray Astor as a mother driven by love for her only son to change her will in 2004. She was not, they reasoned, a demented old woman strong armed by Marshall and Morrissey, as the prosecution has alleged."Underlying this case is the love of Brooke Astor for Tony Marshall," his attorney, Frederick Hafetz, said as defense summations stretched to the 10-hour mark.The trial has revealed the clashing worlds of New York where Wall Street's collapse and the Bernard Madoff scandal have ended many high rollers' lavish ways, but where a rare few still have untold millions to spend. In Astor's case, those millions often went to supporting institutions geared toward improving life for less fortunate New Yorkers libraries, universities, hospitals, public gardens and conservation pairs among them.

Morrissey’s: candidates prevail in W. Haven

WEST HAVEN It was the Morrissey faction over the Picard faction in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.More candidates supported by Democratic Town Committee Chairman James Morrissey won in Tuesday night’s hotly contested primary over candidates supported by Mayor John M. Picard.In two of the most heated contests of the night, City Clerk Deborah Collins and Tax Collector Francis Withington will remain the candidates for the Democratic Party. Collins, backed by Morrissey, handily defeated challenger Deborah Evangelista, who was supported by Picard.Former City Councilwoman Martha Bell waged an intense battle against Withington for the tax collector spot on the ticket and earned a large number of votes, though Withington ultimately won. Final tallies were not available Tuesday night. During his one term in office, Withington generated controversy when he refused to hire a tax manager for the office, despite strong urging from Picard and the City Council.Picard said he was particularly disappointed by Bell’s loss to Withington, saying he “couldn’t believe people couldn’t see that we need a professional in that office.” Regarding the loss of a majority of his candidates for City Council, Picard said he is disappointed but still plans to focus on moving the city forward if re-elected.“My intention is always to move the city forward,” he said.Picard also pointed out that two of his candidates for the Board of Education, M. Toni Paine and Mark Palmieri, were the night’s top vote getters. His third Board of Education candidate, Gerald Calabritto, did not make the ticket, as Morrissey backed candidate Eric Murillo did.For City Council, the only Picard supported candidate to defend his spot on the ticket was District 1 Councilman Nicholas Pascale. The rest of the winners for City Council were Morrissey candidates: Sean McCauley, 2nd District; John Lewis, 3rd District; Steve Wydra, 4th District; Councilwoman Nancy Rossi, 7th District; Councilwoman Tracy Morrissey, 8th District; and Councilman Sean Ronan, 9th District. Council member Deborah Conlon lost her 2nd District seat, and Gail Carroll lost her 3rd District seat.“The Democratic voters spoke for themselves,” James Morrissey said at the end of the night. “It was a sweet victory for us.”One person on the Picard team, 18 year old recent Notre Dame High School graduate Michael DiMassa, said he was proud of the showing he had against Rossi. DiMassa said he lost by about 40 votes.“Against a two term incumbent? I’m thrilled. I’ll be back in two years,” he said.