1990 10 28 Morrissey questionnaire Sunday Correspondent

The Correspondent Questionnaire

MORRISSEY was born Steven Morrissey in Manchester on 22 May 1959, the son of a hospital porter and a librarian. An introverted child, he submerged himself in books and pop culture and spent years on the dole before joining The Smiths in 1982. They toured extensively and their third album, Meat is Murder, reached number one in 1985. The group disbanded in 1987 and Morrissey has since pursued a solo career. Kill Uncle, his next album, is due out in February. He lives near Manchester.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being Terence Stamp.

What is your greatest fear?

Being invited to sing at the Prince’s Trust Rock Gala.

With which historical figure do you most identify?

Pinocchio or Richard III.

Which living person do you most admire?

Sir John Mills or Ronnie Kray.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Thrift.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Unpunctuality.

What is your greatest extravagance?
An undriven vintage car.

What objects do you always carry with you?
A Private Eye Thatchcard.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
‘No, I won’t’, ‘Why should I?’, ‘What’s the point?’ and ‘I’d like to terminate our agreement’.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Everything listable.

What is your favourite word?
Pointless.

Who are your favourite writers?
Radclyffe Hall, Emily Bronte, George Eliot, Oscar Wilde.

What are you reading at the moment?
Thomas Wright’s Universal Pronouncing Dictionary and General Expositor of the English Language Vol IV, N to Q (1852-55).

Who is your favourite painter?
Hannah Gluckstein.

Who are your favourite musicians?
Jacqueline du Pre, the New York Dolls.

What is your favourite building?
The Middlesex Hospital.

What is your favourite journey?
From consciousness to unconsciousness.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Next door’s cat.

Which living person do you most despise?
Bernard Matthews.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Common sense.

On what occasions do you lie?
When completely unnecessary.

What makes you most depressed?
The Americanisation of England.

What is your greatest regret?
Not being bom in 1942.

When and where were you happiest?
21 May 1959.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
A driving licence.

Which talent would you most like to have?
General lawlessness.

What would your motto be?
‘There isn’t necessarily always tomorrow.’

How would you like to die?
With Jean Shrimpton.

How would you like to be remembered?
As Manchester’s answer to the H-Bomb.

Compiled by
Rosanna Greenstreet

THE SUNDAY CORRESPONDENT

28 OCTOBER 1990