Thursday, November 6, 1997
Entertainment
7A
Patient fans wait for Morrissey
Morrissie, formerly of the band "The Smiths," sings at Liberty Hall. He held his first Kansas performance last night. He is on tour to promoting his new album "Maladjusted." by Augustus Anthony Pianyas/Kansas
Musician makes his first Kansas stop, pleases fans
By Rachelle Datweiler
rdetweiler@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Two people stood outside Liberty Hall at 7 a.m. yesterday morning.Before noon, a crowd had formed.
They were standing in the cold, waiting to catch a glimpse of Morrissey, the Britain-born former leadersinger of the '80s band "The Smiths." Since the band broke up in the mid-80s, Morrissey has sung on his own.
- Last night was his first stop in Kansas.
Morrissey walked towards a sold-out crowd of screaming fans with smoke spitting across the stage. He returned his fans' loyalty by scattering their flowers across the stage with a swift kick.
"He's still very self-loathing and self-pitying," said Kathy Barney, Kansas City, Mo., resident and Morrissey fan for several years. "Self-centered as what you could call it. A typical pompous English person."
Self-centered or not, fans arriving early, waiting up to 45 minutes in a line that wound down Massachusetts Street and curved around the corner of Seventh Street.
Bitten Heine, Lawrence resident, said she felt ridiculous waiting to get inside, especially because Morrissey tended to walk off stage after playing only a few songs.
When she saw Morrissey in Los Angeles, she said the crowd went out of control, and Morrissey ended the show after only four songs.
Once inside, security greeted everyone with a thorough frisk.
Tracy Floreani, a Liberty Hall employee checking people's bags and pockets, said Morrissey asked for tight security.
A disgruntled fan threw raw meat on the stage at a previous show. The aloof vegetarian stopped his concert and walked off stage, Floreani said.
She said that even though no meat, or cameras, were found on anyone, Morrissey made people do funny things.
Long-time fan Katrina
Wineinger, Kansas City, Mo., resident, said when she was 13 and filled with teen-age angst, she went to the library and checked out John Keats' poetry just because Morrissey mentioned him.
Last night, she said she didn't expect to do anything rash, now that she has grown out of groupie love.
But other people aren't so sure.
Mike Filla, a Shawnee resident, said before the show he visited the Eldridge Hotel.
Rumor had it that Morrissey was staying there. He said fans were sneaking around the lobby, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible while looking for the star.
This is quite a reaction for a man whose music can be viewed as nothing less than depressing.
"I think his lyrics are different than most singers," said Erin Miller, Aurora, Ill., graduate student. "It's depressing, but I don't get depressed listening to it. I associate the music with a good time in my life."
Brooks to release album this month
Delay allows star to market 'Sevens'
The Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
Garth Brooks' war of wills with his record label has ended with a management shake-up and plans for his long-delayed album "Sevens"
to be in stores for Christmas.
Brooks, who held up the album for months, sided stepped questions about his possible role as power broker at a
Brooks: Album to be in stores for Christmas.
news conference yesterday announcing Capitol Nashville's changes and his album's Nov. 3rd release
Nashville's changes and his album's Nov. 25 release.
"The decision that was made was made by the company," he insisted. "It's all about the music."
Brooks has sold more than 62 million records, making him the biggest-selling artist in the United States except for The Beatles.
His 1990 release, "No Fences," sold more than 14 million copies, but sales for his latest effort, 1995's "Fresh Horses," were disappointing at less than 5 million. Brooks blamed a flawed marketing plan by Capitol Nashville and its parent company, EMI Recorded Music.
In a telephone interview
yesterday, Brooks denied reports that he refused to release "Sevens" until Capitol Nashville president and chief executive Scott Hendricks was replaced with Pat Quigley, a marketing expert who has worked closely with Brooks in the past.
"I can definitely tell you 100 percent that that was not true," Brooks said.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that the label went with the CEO candidate Brooks liked better and agreed to use Brooks' own marketing ideas for the new record, which included promoting it beyond traditional country music fans and funding a TV special featuring the album.
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The delay caused Brooks to miss out on an opportunity to promote the album. Its release had been planned Aug. 7, to coincide with his HBO-televised concert in New York's Central Park.
Still, the release of "Sevens" could prove an important shot in the arm for the slumping record industry.
"Christmas only comes once each year," said Jim Fifield, president and CEO of EMI Music. "I'm really, really pleased that Garth has been able to deliver the record."
Brooks said he had considered continuing to tour but refraining from releasing new material until his contract with Capitol ran out in 2015.
"I'm excited; I'm nervous," Brooks said of the impending release. "I'm sick to my stomach, and I love feeling that way. If this doesn't sell squat, it's over."
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