Morrissey is one of those rare artists whose B-sides seem just as likely to be worthwhile as his singles, and we obviously mean that in the best way possible. For this reason, news of his upcoming SWORDS B-sides record (due out November 3 in America and October 26 across the pond) seems more than welcome. The album covers single B-sides from his last four albums that the man himself chose, and will be supported by a tour that begins in Seattle in late-November. Tracklists and dates commence…

SWORDS Tracklist:

Good Looking Man About Town
Don’t Make Fun Of Daddy’s Voice
If You Don’t Like Me, Don’t Look At Me
Ganglord
My Dearest Love
The Never-Played Symphonies
Sweetie-Pie
Christian Dior
Shame Is The Name
Munich Air Disaster 1958
I Knew I Was Next
It’s Hard To Walk Tall When You’re Small
Teenage Dad On His Estate
Children In Pieces
Friday Mourning
My Life Is A Succession Of People Saying Goodbye
Drive-In Saturday
Because Of My Poor Education

Limited edition bonus disc:

Black Cloud
I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris
I Just Want To See The Boy Happy
Why Don’t You Find Out For Yourself
One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell
You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet, Baby
Life Is A Pigsty
I’m OK By Myself

SWORDS Tour Dates:

11.29 Seattle, WA @ Paramount
11.30 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
12.02 Oakland, CA @ Paramount
12.04 Indio, CA @ Fantasy Springs
12.05 Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
12.07 Pomona, CA @ Fox Theatre
12.08: San Diego, CA @ Copley Symphony Hall
12.10 Los Angeles, CA @ Gibson Amphitheatre
12.11 Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theatre

Once again, Morrissey finds something to get upset about: now, the singer is taking to the internet to refute claims by former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke that he was dismissed via post-it note. In an interview with Eye Weekly, Rourke was asked about a rumored story about his 1986 dismissal from the band in which Morrissey left a post-it on the bassist’s windshield that read, “Andy – you have left The Smiths. Goodbye and good luck, Morrissey.”

In the interview, Rourke affirmed that the story was true, adding that “I thought it was a parking ticket, but it was a lot worse than that.”

Morrissey, upon reading Rourke’s comments, took to his True to You fansite and unleashed the following missive:

I am forced to defend myself – again – from a comment made by Andy Rourke last week on the eyeweekly website. It is a recurring comment whereby Andy confirms that his dismissal from the Smiths was made via a handwritten postcard from me telling Andy “you have left the Smiths.” I would like to state to anyone interested in the truth of this matter that no such postcard was ever written by me, and no dismissal postcard was ever placed on Andy’s car with my knowledge or consent, and I am naturally irked that such an alleged deed has gone down in the fairy tale footnotes of Smiths lore. If such a postcard ever existed, it is likely that an unfunny stunt was played on Andy by someone attempting Morrissey-scrawl – easily done. Secondly, Andy’s “dismissal” from the Smiths would not be a decision solely made by me, and would not be announced by me on a note bearing only my name, and it would also not be executed by a handwritten note carelessly thrown onto the hood of a car (or window-wipers, as has often been reported.) Doesn’t anyone have the wit to work this one out?

Morrissey is sending two box sets of solo material our way in the very near future. Featuring tracks spanning from 1988 to 1995, these collections are said to include tunes such as ‘Suedehead’, ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’, ‘Piccadilly Palare’, ‘Disappointed’ and ‘The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get.’ The first set drops on October 12 and features the first part of this chronology, followed by the release of the second part on November 2. We should add that both sets will be sporting nifty lidded boxes, possibly a deal-sealing detail. Throw a pompadour wig in there and it’s a done deal. Check out track lists below. (Via NME).

‘The 7″ Singles ‘88 – 91”

A – ‘Suedehead’
B – ‘I Know Very Well How I Got My Name’

A – ‘Everyday Is Like Sunday’
B – ‘Disappointed’

A – ‘The Last Of The Famous International Playboys’
B – ‘Lucky Lisp’

A – ‘Interesting Drug’
B – ‘Such A Little Thing Makes Such A Big Difference’

A – ‘Oujia Board, Oujia Board’
B – ‘Yes I Am Blind’

A – ‘November Spawned A Monster’
B – ‘He Knows I’d Love To See Him’

A – ‘Piccadilly Palare’
B – ‘Get Off The Stage’

A – ‘Our Frank’
B – ‘Journalists Who Lie’

A – ‘Sing Your Life’
B – ‘That’s Entertainment’

A – ‘Pregnant For The Last Time’
B – ‘Skin Storm’

‘The HMV/Parlophone Singles ‘91-95”

A – ‘My Love Life’
B – ‘I’ve Changed My Plea To Guilty’

A – ‘We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful’
B – ‘Suedehead’ (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, October 4, 1991)

A – ‘You’re The One For Me, Fatty’
B – ‘Pashernate Love’

A – ‘Certain People I Know’
B – ‘Jack The Ripper’

A – ‘The More You Ignore Me The Closer I Get’
B – ‘Used To Be A Sweet Boy’

A – ‘Hold On To Your Friends’
B – ‘Moon River’

A – ‘Interlude’
B – ‘Interlude (Extended)’

A – ‘Boxers’
B – ‘Have-A-Go Merchant’

A – ‘Sunny’
B – ‘Black-Eyed Susan’

In March, the editors over at Nerve posted their picks for the Forty Sexiest Frontwomen in Rock History, and after receiving a bit of flack for their picks, the editors have struck again; only this time (more importantly) with the Forty Sexiest Frontmen in Rock History.
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