Penguin Classics - Morrissey Autobiography - I am Human and I need to be Loved.

I am the son, and the heir, of a shyness that is criminally vulgar. 

I am the son and heir, of nothing in particular…

thus begins the era-establishing song How Soon Is Now by Morrissey?

The Smiths (they were nearly called The Ryans) was an almost-happened almost-stormed-the-world band. A creation that almost made sense to BILLIONS of sad young souls. The The Smiths remained unchanged, despondent, melancholic and people just tended to step away from the strange daffodil-waving front man’s idea of a world of lovely words and raw emotion, like he was some sort of disease. A pariah. An owl clawing the window ledge.

In Morrissey’s new AUTOBIOGRAPHY from Penguin Classics, yes from Penguin Classics the imprint normally reserved for Homer, Virgil and Henry James is publishing the singer’s memoir. His opening paragraph is said to be three-and-a-half pages long! Now that’s setting the pace some. In classic Morrissey style he then goes on to self-deprecate and reveal his life as an industry Icon in spectacular style. One wonders if the life of such a lyrical luminary is really ‘altogether as strange as Morrissey paints it. Some of the imagery being plucked from overnight reviews of this book tell of a surreal world where this ‘late starter’ brushed shoulders with all kinds of queer life moments. And then shares them unflinchingly with his agape readers.

But what not to like about that? Morrissey didn’t comply to pre-packaged stereotypes of the classic pop icon. His song HOW SOON IS NOW has hung on for decades now, as relevant then as it is now. A music that (by its very simple message) is and maybe always will touch our hearts on a purely animal level.

I am human and I need to be loved, how true this is for all of us.