about why Joe made this decision. Sound man Grant Showbiz, speaking to Q magazine many years later, felt that Moss got out to avoid having to deal with the pressures of the increasing numbers of people who wanted a slice of the band. Showbiz personally believes that that the fact that he was not ‘music biz’ didn’t help him. Rough Trade, he believes, would have preferred their own management. Theydefinitely “had a sniff that they’d got ‘the big one.’” If that was the case, it was perhaps understandable that the company putting in so much money into The Smiths – regardless of whether the sums were modest compared to a major label – would have preferred the man at the business helm to be someone they were more familiar with.
“What actually happened I don’t know,” says Grant – reinforcing the air of mystery that still surrounds the matter. “I’ve always imagined it was that way inclined. We went to America for the first time and Joe wasn’t with us.” Others have speculated that Morrissey and Moss did not see eye to eye, or that Johnny’s friendship with Joe got in the way of the creative relationship between the two writers. To whatever degree any of the above unproven rumour is true, it only influenced Joe’s actual decision to leave, which was actually for a completely different reason. Joe had earlier separated from his first wife, and had young children both from that relationship and his new partner, so family priorities were naturally high on his agenda. Moss himself was forty years old, and dealing with a bunch of teenagers in the fastest-moving, most destructive industry on the planet. Exciting it might have been to witness the birth of The Smiths, but the birth of a daughter took precedence. Joe Moss left the band because – whatever the pressures that were or were or not upon him – his family was more important to him than The Smiths.
One thing is sure: the band missed his guidance. “They were so lucky to have that year or so with Joe,” Grant remembers again. “That really defined what they did afterwards. It was all done ‘Joe-less’ after that.”
Landing in the USA without Moss, Johnny and the band weremet in New York by a limousine organised by the woman who had booked them for The Danceteria, Ruth Polski. Polski specialised in coming over to the UK, identifying new and exciting bands, and being the first person in the USA to book them there. She had a good track record too –The Fall, New Order and – according to Grant Showbiz – Echo And The Bunnymen were amongst her conquests. Grant remembers Ruth as “a wonderful, wonderful woman.” Polski is remembered as an opportunist, “in the most delightful way,” says Grant. “Obviously we were very happy that an American promoter was all over us, and was being very lovely to us.”
Arriving in the States without a manager, Johnny and Morrissey did their best to keep their hands on the wheel. While they may not have had a manager – and the fact was not missed by Ms Polski – they had brought something with them; a virus. Within days Mike Joyce hit the deck with a major dose of chicken pox, and while publicist Scott Piering began to take on some of the managerial responsibilities it was – as it proved for much of the rest of the life of the band – Johnny and Morrissey who also tried to keep hold of the reins. The gig at the Danceteria went down very well, but because of Mike’s illness the remaining dates had to be cancelled. Disappointed in New York, Johnny and Morrissey’s response was to pen ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ in their hotel room, reflecting a low point for the band as a major opportunity to cement their profile in America was lost. Silver linings and all that…
* * *
Back in the UK in the early days of the New Year, Johnny settled into the upstairs rooms of Joe’s house, where he was still living, and Morrissey became the first Smith to move to a flat in London, in the elegant
“What actually happened I don’t know,” says Grant – reinforcing the air of mystery that still surrounds the matter. “I’ve always imagined it was that way inclined. We went to America for the first time and Joe wasn’t with us.” Others have speculated that Morrissey and Moss did not see eye to eye, or that Johnny’s friendship with Joe got in the way of the creative relationship between the two writers. To whatever degree any of the above unproven rumour is true, it only influenced Joe’s actual decision to leave, which was actually for a completely different reason. Joe had earlier separated from his first wife, and had young children both from that relationship and his new partner, so family priorities were naturally high on his agenda. Moss himself was forty years old, and dealing with a bunch of teenagers in the fastest-moving, most destructive industry on the planet. Exciting it might have been to witness the birth of The Smiths, but the birth of a daughter took precedence. Joe Moss left the band because – whatever the pressures that were or were or not upon him – his family was more important to him than The Smiths.
One thing is sure: the band missed his guidance. “They were so lucky to have that year or so with Joe,” Grant remembers again. “That really defined what they did afterwards. It was all done ‘Joe-less’ after that.”
Landing in the USA without Moss, Johnny and the band weremet in New York by a limousine organised by the woman who had booked them for The Danceteria, Ruth Polski. Polski specialised in coming over to the UK, identifying new and exciting bands, and being the first person in the USA to book them there. She had a good track record too –The Fall, New Order and – according to Grant Showbiz – Echo And The Bunnymen were amongst her conquests. Grant remembers Ruth as “a wonderful, wonderful woman.” Polski is remembered as an opportunist, “in the most delightful way,” says Grant. “Obviously we were very happy that an American promoter was all over us, and was being very lovely to us.”
Arriving in the States without a manager, Johnny and Morrissey did their best to keep their hands on the wheel. While they may not have had a manager – and the fact was not missed by Ms Polski – they had brought something with them; a virus. Within days Mike Joyce hit the deck with a major dose of chicken pox, and while publicist Scott Piering began to take on some of the managerial responsibilities it was – as it proved for much of the rest of the life of the band – Johnny and Morrissey who also tried to keep hold of the reins. The gig at the Danceteria went down very well, but because of Mike’s illness the remaining dates had to be cancelled. Disappointed in New York, Johnny and Morrissey’s response was to pen ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ in their hotel room, reflecting a low point for the band as a major opportunity to cement their profile in America was lost. Silver linings and all that…
* * *
Back in the UK in the early days of the New Year, Johnny settled into the upstairs rooms of Joe’s house, where he was still living, and Morrissey became the first Smith to move to a flat in London, in the elegant
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