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Morrissey FAQ: All That's Left to Know About This Charming Man
No one can argue that Morrissey is one of the best lyricists and charismatic front men in music history. But people love to argue about other things – his mysterious personal life, his pompous attitude, and the history and meaning behind his biggest hits.
Morrissey FAQ will put to rest any questions and doubts about the singer known around the world for his meaningful lyrics and biting wit. Readers will also learn about his passions, his weaknesses, the people who love him, the people who hate him, and the people who want to be him. Not since Elvis have fans been so obsessed with a singer; they fight with each other at concerts, they rush and tackle him onstage, they dress and act like him, and they even build shrines dedicated to him. Liking Morrissey isn't just liking his music – it's a way of life.
Morrissey is known for his over-the-top lyrics, his stage antics, his philosophies, and his whining. But after reading this book and digging deeper into the brooding mystique that is Morrissey, you'll also start whining... for more Moz!
Morrissey FAQ will put to rest any questions and doubts about the singer known around the world for his meaningful lyrics and biting wit. Readers will also learn about his passions, his weaknesses, the people who love him, the people who hate him, and the people who want to be him. Not since Elvis have fans been so obsessed with a singer; they fight with each other at concerts, they rush and tackle him onstage, they dress and act like him, and they even build shrines dedicated to him. Liking Morrissey isn't just liking his music – it's a way of life.
Morrissey is known for his over-the-top lyrics, his stage antics, his philosophies, and his whining. But after reading this book and digging deeper into the brooding mystique that is Morrissey, you'll also start whining... for more Moz!
392 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2015
About the author
D. McKinney
8 books1 followerD. McKinney is the author of the charmingly crude novels Sunset Capri, Welcome to Slumberland. Leaving Slumberland, Slumberland or Die, and Morrissey FAQ: All There Is To Know About This Charming Man. A writer, music lover, and historian, she was first published in 1997. She also collects records and matchbooks, and loves old television commercials, old Las Vegas, and old men.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 17, 2026
Very interesting to read an entirely Californian view of Morrissey's career, complete with a lack of understanding for UK extreme right politics. (as the author says, she doesn't get why people got so upset by skinheads in Morrissey's stage drop and videos). This book was written in 2015, I suspect the author would have had a harder time ignoring the politics of 2020's "I am not a dog on a chain" album.
May 20, 2015
This is a well-researched book by D McKinney. I haven't been listening to Morrissey for even a year and already in my journey of discovery I have found myself obsessed with every nuance about him. This book is wonderful because it has all the most recent information about him (ending at his most recent album, World Peace Is None Of Your Business), which got me interested in picking up the book.
Morrissey FAQ: All That's Left To Know about the Pope of Mope, or as my copy reads, "All That's Left To Know about this Charming Man" will most likely be greatly utilized by those entrenchingly passionate about Morrissey, newcomers, or perhaps the veteran-fan who thinks they already know it all. This book did have a tendency to read exhaustingly, FAQ would numbingly list songs in their chronological order to the albums: where McKinney would describe its subject matter, her love for a song or hatred for the song; sections might be shorter than a previous section because the author's passion would not be shared as another--leaving that piece with a feeling of being unfinished or just a means to truck onward. Also there were a few typos in this book, nothing that would make me glaringly upset, but noticeable nonetheless. These elements would be my only gripes about this book. But I was able to look over them because of McKinney's clever humor.
What I did find enjoyable about his book were the tidbits that answered some of my lingering curiosities and questions I had about Morrissey, example: "Reel Around The Fountain" by The Smiths. I was always confused about its meaning, but McKinney explained it was about losing your virginity. And isn't that always awkward? Also, who knew Morrissey once had a girlfriend? Yes, with Annalisa Jablonska. At this same time Morrissey admitted both were bisexual to his pen pal, Robert Mackie. That at least explains Morrissey's "first crush" Jerry Nolan, New York Dolls drummer. The song "My Love Life" would also detail his bisexuality, but surprisingly McKinney didn't say much about the song off Maladjusted "Wide to Receive"
My favorite moments from this book was about his early solo career, about how his backing band came about during the time frame of Viva Hate through Your Arsenal. Just because I like shit like that. As well as the section about his literary influences, everyone knows Shelagh Delaney and Oscar Wilde, but what about John Betjeman or Majorie Rosen? Or Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights? (I would think Morrissey would hate anything related to Kate Bush! Oh wait, there IS Kristeen Young!)
This book has made me want to hunt down copies of Viva Hate and Maladjusted, as well as a want to delve into his literary influences that I did not know about. I felt that I knew Morrissey a bit more after reading this book.
Morrissey FAQ: All That's Left To Know about the Pope of Mope, or as my copy reads, "All That's Left To Know about this Charming Man" will most likely be greatly utilized by those entrenchingly passionate about Morrissey, newcomers, or perhaps the veteran-fan who thinks they already know it all. This book did have a tendency to read exhaustingly, FAQ would numbingly list songs in their chronological order to the albums: where McKinney would describe its subject matter, her love for a song or hatred for the song; sections might be shorter than a previous section because the author's passion would not be shared as another--leaving that piece with a feeling of being unfinished or just a means to truck onward. Also there were a few typos in this book, nothing that would make me glaringly upset, but noticeable nonetheless. These elements would be my only gripes about this book. But I was able to look over them because of McKinney's clever humor.
What I did find enjoyable about his book were the tidbits that answered some of my lingering curiosities and questions I had about Morrissey, example: "Reel Around The Fountain" by The Smiths. I was always confused about its meaning, but McKinney explained it was about losing your virginity. And isn't that always awkward? Also, who knew Morrissey once had a girlfriend? Yes, with Annalisa Jablonska. At this same time Morrissey admitted both were bisexual to his pen pal, Robert Mackie. That at least explains Morrissey's "first crush" Jerry Nolan, New York Dolls drummer. The song "My Love Life" would also detail his bisexuality, but surprisingly McKinney didn't say much about the song off Maladjusted "Wide to Receive"
My favorite moments from this book was about his early solo career, about how his backing band came about during the time frame of Viva Hate through Your Arsenal. Just because I like shit like that. As well as the section about his literary influences, everyone knows Shelagh Delaney and Oscar Wilde, but what about John Betjeman or Majorie Rosen? Or Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights? (I would think Morrissey would hate anything related to Kate Bush! Oh wait, there IS Kristeen Young!)
This book has made me want to hunt down copies of Viva Hate and Maladjusted, as well as a want to delve into his literary influences that I did not know about. I felt that I knew Morrissey a bit more after reading this book.
April 10, 2016
Really, it's a two and a half star book that I'm rounding up, because I'm a huge Morrissey fan.
McKinney's writing is unashamedly informal and opinionated, which is sometimes charming and often irritating. I suppose that's not a bad description of Morrissey, however, so maybe it fits the subject.
The book does have some strange and noticeable flaws, however. Much of it is taken up by a track-by-track listing of Morrissey's music, including b-side collections, compilations, and even various covers he's performed. It does the same for the first four Smiths albums...but not for any of their singles or compilations or live albums -- not Hatfull of Hollow, or Rank, or Louder Than Bombs, or Singles. Since the Smiths were a UK band of the 1980s, a huge percentage of their singles were never included on their albums. The result of all this is the absurdity of a book on Morrissey that includes entries on unexciting B-sides such as "Oh Well, I'll Never Learn," things that only appeared on reissues, like "Lifeguard on Duty," and even his cover of "Nothing Rhymed," which he never recorded, and only played live twice -- but no entries at all for "Ask," "Panic," "Sheila Take a Bow," "Shakespeare's Sister," or "Shoplifters of the World, Unite." Those are some of his most important songs, and to omit them is both inexplicable and frustrating.
Anyway, the book has some fun stories, and it was an engaging enough read, but it's scattershot enough to not be the definitive Morrissey book. Which is frustrating, since I'm really not looking forward to plowing through "Autobiography."
McKinney's writing is unashamedly informal and opinionated, which is sometimes charming and often irritating. I suppose that's not a bad description of Morrissey, however, so maybe it fits the subject.
The book does have some strange and noticeable flaws, however. Much of it is taken up by a track-by-track listing of Morrissey's music, including b-side collections, compilations, and even various covers he's performed. It does the same for the first four Smiths albums...but not for any of their singles or compilations or live albums -- not Hatfull of Hollow, or Rank, or Louder Than Bombs, or Singles. Since the Smiths were a UK band of the 1980s, a huge percentage of their singles were never included on their albums. The result of all this is the absurdity of a book on Morrissey that includes entries on unexciting B-sides such as "Oh Well, I'll Never Learn," things that only appeared on reissues, like "Lifeguard on Duty," and even his cover of "Nothing Rhymed," which he never recorded, and only played live twice -- but no entries at all for "Ask," "Panic," "Sheila Take a Bow," "Shakespeare's Sister," or "Shoplifters of the World, Unite." Those are some of his most important songs, and to omit them is both inexplicable and frustrating.
Anyway, the book has some fun stories, and it was an engaging enough read, but it's scattershot enough to not be the definitive Morrissey book. Which is frustrating, since I'm really not looking forward to plowing through "Autobiography."
March 2, 2016
It is a somewhat weird truth that music fans tend to go through a Morrissey phase. Love him or hate him people go through a period of their lives where they list, love, hate, critique and generally wax lyrical about the man himself or his original band The Smiths.
D McKinney takes her love a bit further than this.
McKinney’s love for Morrissey drips of every page of this fascinating book. The insight and depth of knowledge that McKinney has is astonishing. From really straight forward numerical details e.g. dates of release of singles, chart position, etc. to random facts. It really is remarkable. This is the good thing about McKinney’s book Morrissey FAQ.
However, this book did have some cloying moments. I felt that McKinney offered her own opinion far too often; it made Morrissey FAQ seem amateurish and sometimes ruined the flow of the impressive facts and extensive knowledge that McKinney so clearly knew.
Morrissey FAQ is a diehard fan of Morrissey’s dream book. It allows you to have someone else to fangirl with. For me, it just had too much personal interjection.
Morrissey FAQ by D McKinney is available now.
D McKinney takes her love a bit further than this.
McKinney’s love for Morrissey drips of every page of this fascinating book. The insight and depth of knowledge that McKinney has is astonishing. From really straight forward numerical details e.g. dates of release of singles, chart position, etc. to random facts. It really is remarkable. This is the good thing about McKinney’s book Morrissey FAQ.
However, this book did have some cloying moments. I felt that McKinney offered her own opinion far too often; it made Morrissey FAQ seem amateurish and sometimes ruined the flow of the impressive facts and extensive knowledge that McKinney so clearly knew.
Morrissey FAQ is a diehard fan of Morrissey’s dream book. It allows you to have someone else to fangirl with. For me, it just had too much personal interjection.
Morrissey FAQ by D McKinney is available now.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews