Rating: 
Summary: wow....
Review: a great book (of course it's about morrissey!
Rating:
Summary: A must for every Smiths fan
Review: From the birth of Morrissey's parents in Dublin to the formation of the most influential English band of the 80's, this book covers every aspect concerning The Smiths' trajectory. Johnny Rogan is careful enough in analyzing some of the events that, even having preceded The Smiths' formation, played an important role on the group's entire artwork. He discusses, for instance, the impact that the Moors Murders had on Morrissey as a young child, explains how the education he was given at school led him to write The Headmaster Ritual, and examines the influence that guitar heroes of the 60's later had on Johnny Marr's compositions. The book also approaches the innumerable problems The Smiths encountered during their brief, yet fruitful existence; from their initial difficulties in signing with a record company to a millionaire proposal from EMI, from their constant problems in finding a proper manager to the controversies raised by their songs, everything is fully detailed here. Moreover, there is an all-special attention to an often unnoticed problem among The Smiths' structure: the unequal division of royalties between Morrissey/Marr and Joyce/Rourke parties. Throughout the whole book, Johnny Rogan can't help letting his sympathy towards the Joyce/Rourke cause show, lamenting the paltry 10% they were given and presenting Morrissey and Marr in all their greed. Indeed, Rogan does not hesitate over demystifying Morrissey, portraying him as an eccentric, selfish and sometimes difficult to deal with personality. "If God exists, then Johnny 'the Rat' will be devoured by his German Shepherd dogs" was Morrissey's response to the book. Regardless of how correct Rogan is concerning Morrissey's character, or whatever Morrissey's reaction was, The Severed Alliance is an excellent biography - essential not only for Smiths' fans, but for all willing to understand the multi-faceted music of the 80's.
Rating:
Summary: Lonely In Me Loneliness....
Review: I finally gave my self the mental courage to explore some of the issues about The Smiths I was reluctanct to divuldge myself into.
Quite aware of the greed, the egos, and other self inflicted issues that caused the break up of my most passionate feelings towards my life and music -- i came to terms. Within 72 hours, the book was complete and left me conjuring with my thoughts of life, death, and everything in between - which is rather ongoing. As for the few that are out there, they will understand and comprehend what Morrissey, Marr and The Smiths mean in terms of living. I for One, held onto their myth which is the reason that I am still amongst the world. I applaude Rogan for the time he spent capturing Manchester-while i was a 'country mile behind the world' and state bound if that.
Rating:
Summary: Lonely In Me Loneliness...
Review: I finally gave my self the mental courage to explore some of the issues about The Smiths I was reluctant to divuldge myself into. Quite aware of the greed, the egos, and other self inflicted issues that caused the break up of my most passionate feelings towards my life and music -- I came to terms. Within 72 hours, the book was complete and left me conjureing with my own thoughts of life, death, and everything in between -- which is rather ongoing. As for the few that are out there, they will understand and comprehend what Morrissey, Marr and The Smiths mean in terms of living. I for one, held onto their myth which is the reason that I am still amongst the world. I applaude Rogan for the time he spent capturing Manchester - while I was a 'country mile behind the world' and state bound if that.
Rating:
Summary: Lonely In Me Loneliness...
Review: I finally gave my self the mental courage to explore some of the issues about The Smiths I was reluctant to divuldge myself into. Quite aware of the greed, the egos, and other self inflicted issues that caused the break up of my most passionate feelings towards my life and music -- I came to terms. Within 72 hours, the book was complete and left me conjureing with my own thoughts of life, death, and everything in between -- which is rather ongoing. As for the few that are out there, they will understand and comprehend what Morrissey, Marr and The Smiths mean in terms of living. I for one, held onto their myth which is the reason that I am still amongst the world. I applaude Rogan for the time he spent capturing Manchester - while I was a 'country mile behind the world' and state bound if that.
Rating:
Summary: A BOOK OF PURE SELF DISTRUCTION AND DESEPTION..BUT THE TRUE
Review: I HAVE BEEN A SMITHS AND MOZ FAN FOR EVER IN A DAY AND JOHNNY ROGAN HAS HIT IT IN THE RIGHT SPOT......HE EXPLAINS THE FULL EXTENT OF THIS BIOGRAPHY ABOUT THE UPBRINGING OF THE SMITHS AND ON THE DISTRUCTION OF THE SMITHS ALSO.....I WAS AMMUSED BY THE BOOK BUT YET A LIL MORDIFIED DUE TO THE FACT THAT MOZ EVEN HIMSELF WISHED THE MAN DEAD...JOHNNY ROGAN EVEN HIT THE CHILDHOOD AND MANTALITY OF STEVEN PATRICK MORRISSEY WHILE HE WAS IN ADOLESECNCE AND MADE ME FEEL EXACTLY ON HOW MOZ KNEW HE WAS GONNA BE A SAINT TO MOST OF US..JOHNNY ROGAN MAY HAVE INDEED DISRESPECTED THE MOZ MAN......BUT YET HE TOLD THE TRUE..ON THE FACT OF THE BRAKE UP AND THE RELATIONSHIP THEY ALL DOMAINED WITH EACH OTHER......I COMMEND IT..I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL THOSE WHO LOVE THE SMITHS AND MOZ.....BECAUSE IT GETS DOWN TO THE HARD FACTS THAT ARE TRUE ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED....VIVA MOZ.........
Rating: 
Summary: Rogan could use an editor, but he is informative
Review: I just finished this book, and while I found it to contain a wealth of information, I thought there was maybe too many words dedicated to the family history of Morrissey. Actually, there was more text about the aforementioned subject than there was about the actual breakup of the Smiths.Rogan would often use Smiths lyrics in what I perceive to be some sort of clever irony when discussing subject matter. I know this was done vecause Morrissey was called in the book an 'ironic plagiarist', and Rogan is just playing his little game. However, it came off as amateurish. It's pretty obvious that Rogan never talked with Andy Rourke, which is a shame, because he is an unsung hero in the band, and should have felt more slighted for not getting songwriting credits. His basslines were often what carried the tune in those songs, and he should have been treated better by M&M.
Rating:
Summary: Rogan could use an editor, but he is informative
Review: I just finished this book, and while I found it to contain a wealth of information, I thought there was maybe too many words dedicated to the family history of Morrissey. Actually, there was more text about the aforementioned subject than there was about the actual breakup of the Smiths. Rogan would often use Smiths lyrics in what I perceive to be some sort of clever irony when discussing subject matter. I know this was done vecause Morrissey was called in the book an 'ironic plagiarist', and Rogan is just playing his little game. However, it came off as amateurish. It's pretty obvious that Rogan never talked with Andy Rourke, which is a shame, because he is an unsung hero in the band, and should have felt more slighted for not getting songwriting credits. His basslines were often what carried the tune in those songs, and he should have been treated better by M&M.
Rating:
Summary: Exhaustive, but not exhaustive to read!
Review: I love Morrissey and The Smiths, so this book could be written [bad] and I would still like it. But fortunately Rogan is a gifted writer who loves the subject matter even more than I do! You'll learn way more than you ever wanted to know about the band and the split between Johnny Marr and Steve Morrissey from this at times obsessively accurate and detailed account. I was struck by how weird Morrissey really is. His odd antics in print and life are not an act. He really is an odd duck. But isn't that why we love him so much? He speaks for all of us when he whines, moans, and sighs about life's missed opportunities, unrequited loves, and the mystery of personal identity. Included are dozens of photos of everyone involved in the whole saga. It is a really great read! Enjoy! "It's so easy to laugh. It's so easy to hate. It takes guts to be gentle and kind...I know it's over, and it never really began. But in my heart it was so real."
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: I wanted this book to be great, but it isn't. Packed with pointless detail, blind heresay and pop psychology, the author postures and predicts in an overbearing and irritating way. Coupled with the fact that Morrissey was not involved with the writing of this book and has subsequently called for Rogan's head, I felt disloyal reading this book and it left a sour taste in my mouth. Rogan claims to be a Smith's devotee and yet has painted Morrissey as a neurotic, control freak.
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