When i began reading this book i held morrissey in high praise. the smiths have been a constant in my music collection for around 10 years so i was unprepared to read what i did in this book. Well researched, well written, and extremely honest, i am now able to seperate the artist from the music; meaning: just because the artist (s) may be asses does not mean that the music will automatically suck. i REALLY enjoyed reading this book, as many questions were answered, such as the Myra Hindley child killings in Manchester, the reasons behind certain songs, etc. i think that with a clearer picture of the band i can now appreciate the music even more.

I just finished this book, and while I found it to contain a wealth of information, I thought there was maybe too many words dedicated to the family history of Morrissey. Actually, there was more text about the aforementioned subject than there was about the actual breakup of the Smiths.

Rogan would often use Smiths lyrics in what I perceive to be some sort of clever irony when discussing subject matter. I know this was done vecause Morrissey was called in the book an 'ironic plagiarist', and Rogan is just playing his little game. However, it came off as amateurish.

It's pretty obvious that Rogan never talked with Andy Rourke, which is a shame, because he is an unsung hero in the band, and should have felt more slighted for not getting songwriting credits. His basslines were often what carried the tune in those songs, and he should have been treated better by M&M.

While this book is very well researched and provides a wealth of backround information and detail on all of the key players in the Smiths, it ultimately fails to provide any real insight into the inner workings of the band. The lack of interviews with Morrissey and those closest to Morrissey ensure that the book presents at best an incomplete picture of the story of the Smiths.

Another flaw is that Rogan never really seems to get a feel for his subject. Despite all his research, you never get the sense that he understands what the Smiths were really about and what made them truly special.

Despite these problems, I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for some insight into the backround of the group, the photo section alone makes this book well worth the purchase.

I love Morrissey and The Smiths, so this book could be written [bad] and I would still like it. But fortunately Rogan is a gifted writer who loves the subject matter even more than I do!

You'll learn way more than you ever wanted to know about the band and the split between Johnny Marr and Steve Morrissey from this at times obsessively accurate and detailed account. I was struck by how weird Morrissey really is. His odd antics in print and life are not an act. He really is an odd duck. But isn't that why we love him so much? He speaks for all of us when he whines, moans, and sighs about life's missed opportunities, unrequited loves, and the mystery of personal identity.

Included are dozens of photos of everyone involved in the whole saga. It is a really great read! Enjoy!

"It's so easy to laugh. It's so easy to hate. It takes guts to be gentle and kind...I know it's over, and it never really began. But in my heart it was so real."

I finally gave my self the mental courage to explore some of the issues about The Smiths I was reluctant to divuldge myself into. Quite aware of the greed, the egos, and other self inflicted issues that caused the break up of my most passionate feelings towards my life and music -- I came to terms. Within 72 hours, the book was complete and left me conjureing with my own thoughts of life, death, and everything in between -- which is rather ongoing. As for the few that are out there, they will understand and comprehend what Morrissey, Marr and The Smiths mean in terms of living. I for one, held onto their myth which is the reason that I am still amongst the world. I applaude Rogan for the time he spent capturing Manchester - while I was a 'country mile behind the world' and state bound if that.