"Morrissey's a Twat”, Peter Hook

Perhaps in an effort to divert attention away from his autograph fraud, former New Order and Joy Division bassist Peter Hook has lashed out against ex-Smiths front man and artist Morrissey solo celebrated. In a public Q&A on Saturday (October 10) in Bristol, England, Hook explained his disdain for the Smiths. "There's no way I could have liked the Smiths, as they were our competition," he said. "A twat anyway to Morrissey's! He makes Mark E. Smith look popular! He really does." Hook went on to dig into Moz's approach to legal issues, saying, “What I do love about Mozzer, though, is that any time anyone has any legal problem with him, the only person you can speak to about (it) is his mother! That's true. So if you have a problem you have to deal with Morrissey's mother. And the first thing she says is, 'Our Steven wouldn't do that!'"

Love Morrissey Song to Katy Perry, Russell Brand

Morrissey is typically associated with unrequited love or heartbreak, but that's not the case for new couple Katy Perry and Russell Brand. Britain's The Sun reports the two, who met at the MTV Video Music Awards last month and have since started dating, have picked Morrissey's "Whatever Happens, I Love You" as their song. Brand also plans to get its chorus tattooed on "an intimate part of his body," according to the tabloid. Brand and Perry are recently on vacation in Paris, France, where they currently visited Jim Morrison's grave. Perry also has a cameo in Brand's upcoming new film, Forgetting Sarah Marshall spinoff Get Him To The Greek. It's out in June.

Astor jury to keep deliberating tells NYC judge

NEW YORK — Jurors in the five month long criminal trial over New York City philanthropist Brooke Astor's will were told to keep deliberating after indicating they're struggling to reach a verdict.
Judge A. Kirke Bartley told jurors Monday to "hang in there" as unhurriedness stretched into a stressful eighth full day. One female juror appeared tearful in the Manhattan courtroom.
Bartley urged jurors to be "respectful" with one another.
Jurors went the night5 for home. It wasn't clear instantly what had sparked dissonance. The the note the jurors had sent him, judge did not say and sealed.
Astor's son, Anthony Marshall, and lawyer Francis Morrissey are charged with looting Astor's nearly $200 million estate. They deny the allegations. Astor died in 2007 at 105.
(This version CORRECTS judge's name to A. Kirke Bartley, not Kirke A. Bartley.)

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.