I came across this interview and had never seen it.
Click below for full interview.
Morrissey came back in a big way in 2004, even for those of us who thought that a seven year hiatus between records wasn't such a bad idea. Celebrating the return, Alarcon dug through his back pages, and unearthed this, a chance meeting with Morrissey's guitarist, a couple of years back at the Coachella festival. Wearing a hidden back brace that looked more like Mae West's girdle and a handful of painkillers, Whyte that day, grimaced through a 45-minute set of Mozza classics. Then, just minutes after that set, he grimaced through another ten with your faithful editor, Alarcon...
It's really good that the band made it here tonight. I can honestly say that everyone backstage was radioing each other until your coach drove up. They didn't know whether or not you guys were going to show up.
Late entrances and all you know (grinning). You can say we're driven by drama.
Yeah, it would have gotten ugly if you guys didn't show.
Really, I thought it seemed a bit ugly anyway - - we were dodging water bottles and debris the entire set. They weren't upset were they?
Umm, I don't think so, just wound up. I thought they really enjoyed the set from where I was. Anyway, can I ask what happened in Vegas? Rumors have it that you had back spasms during (the House of Blues) soundcheck and were on the stage semi-paralyzed. Is that true?
Well, that's a half-truth. Actually, we never even made it to sound check. I've always had a bad back. This isn't the first time I've had problems.
Oh, I was just wondering because literally, everyone was subscribing to the theory that Morrissey was using you as a scapegoat to cancel the upcoming dates. You know, like the Bowie tour in 96?
No, no, no. It's really my fault this time, look (lifts his shirt and models his light blue girdle-like back brace).
Wow, how did you play with that on? It's like an iron lung.
Well, did you see me out there? (laughing) I was literally immobile.
No, you were great. The band was great.
Well, thank you for your sympathy. It's my job.
Anyway, I know you're probably not supposed to give interviews, but is there a chance I could ask you a few question for without getting in trouble?
Well, the only people that might get mad have left already so ask away.
Um, ok. Well, how would you sum up the last eight or so years working with Morrissey and the rest of the band?
Well, Boz (Boorer, guitarist), Gary (Day, bassist) and I knew each other because we all were in bands in and around London at the same time. We've always gotten on well. We're all good mates - we share a lot of the same musical roots since we've all played with each other at one time or another before Morrissey asked us to play with him - musicians in London can be quite incestuous.
And Morrissey?
He's just one of the lads, you know? Incredible wit, sharp, subtle sense of humor. It's always casually professional though. He lives in L.A. now and we live in England so anytime spent is precious. It's write, rehearse, record and play - in that order, so there's not much time to socialize anyway, but I think that works to everyone's advantage.
