Rating: 
Summary: All you ever wanted or did not want to know about Morrissey
Review: I was very shocked at the details Johnny Rogan came up with. This book is a must for the die hard Smiths fan!J.F. Houston, TX.
Rating:
Summary: Obscenely comprehensive, erudite, and highly readable.
Review: I've spent the better part of high school idolizing Morrissey the entity, the writer, the singer. I had a faint, unrealistic, and embarrassingly devoted view of him. Rogan's even-handed book, full of detail, subtext, and and enthusiasm did nothing to quell my ardor for Morrissey. It helped frame it into more realistic terms. Morrissey and Marr is an eye opening book about a very real, complex, and quintessentially unique man. The detailing of his history, his faults, and his idiosyncries humanized this former "rock god," and made him a little more accessible.
Rating:
Summary: A well written and researched work.
Review: In Morrissey and Marr, The Severed Alliance, Johnny Rogan gives Smiths fans a wonderful look inside the most influential band of the 80's with a great feel for the subject and many pictures. As a rabid Smiths fan (although not a fan until fully 7 years after the breakup), I was both facinated and saddened by the events which conspired to tear apart the beloved band from Manchester. After turning the English music press on its ear for just a few short years, The Smiths still hold the attention of fans around the world. This book gives you the background that helps explain how Morrissey and Marr could write some of the greatest pop songs ever, and how they could lose the whole thing. What's even worse is that it never had to end. Johnny Rogan writes this book from the perspective of the journalist looking for the truth, the novelist providing entertainment, and most importantly, the Smiths Fan who feels the loss. Read it, if you love The Smiths, or even if you just love the history of pop music. The latest edition of the book includes a forward and epilogue and also an invaluable Discography complete with concert tape listings and known "bootleg" recordings. ~Max Silva: Houston, Texas 199
Rating: 
Summary: A good read, but can you believe it?
Review: That is really the question. Johnny Rogan Hits the nail on the head for most of the book, but is he really telling things how they really happened? One day we might even find out.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: This book is a must-read for anyone who likes the Smiths. After reading it I felt like I had a better understanding of who Morrissey is and a greater appreciation for his amazing lyrics, as well as the musical genius of the rest of the band. I think Rogan did a good job making all of the Smiths seem like human beings - while he doesn't underestimate their talent, he doesn't paint them as perfect either. Sometimes the book is a bit lengthy and more detailed than necessary, but overall "Morrissey and Marr" is an interesting and well-written book.
Rating: 
Summary: INFORMATIVE SLEAZE
Review: This book was trash. Trash with a lot of information, but trash just the same. This uninsightful biography attempts to examine Morrissey as though he were a regular person - as though he was just like every clueless moron that rockets to stardom. Morrissey is a genius in the truest sense of the word. This biographer tries to suggest that Morrissey is self-centered and pretentious when it comes to his importance in the music and the world in general. The problem with this deformed philosophy is that he neglected to realize that Morrissey in NOT just an average person with an inflated ego. His ego is not over exagerrated, it's just right because he IS that important, he IS that smart, and he IS deserving of the respect he demands. Mr. Rogan is like most people in that he has a problem with someone who understands his or her own self worth. A lot of us are like that. We are afraid to stand our ground or state our importance because others will perceive us as "egotistical" or "rude" or any number of things -and people usually do react that way. Morrissey is a genius, he's not ashamed to admit it, and he's not going to downplay his intellect just to make the shallower members of the human race feel less insecure. This makes Mr. Rogan, like most others in the pop music "scene" uncomfortable. Deep down, they all want to be like Morrissey - they just don't have the cojones to do it, so they bash him instead. It all boils down to jealousy.
Rating:
Summary: Best Biography I ever read!
Review: This is by far the best biography I have ever read. It's filled with information that must have taken years of research
BRAVO!
Rating:
Summary: brilliant
Review: This is rightly considered one of the greatest rock biographies ever. I must say, I'm stunned that Rogan was able to find details as miniscule as those here. A completely readable book, the author even manages to make the band members' childhoods and pre-band days seem interesting, something that few rock biographers are able to do--I tend to just skip over the first few chapters in such books. Not here though--everything in The Severed Alliance is fascinating through and through, presenting a fair and balanced view of the band which by no means justifies Morrissey's savage animosity towards Rogan based on its content. A must-read for Smiths fans, as well as anyone contemplating writing a book about a band--this is the way to do it, guys.
Rating:
Summary: Seperating the Artist from the Music
Review: When i began reading this book i held morrissey in high praise. the smiths have been a constant in my music collection for around 10 years so i was unprepared to read what i did in this book. Well researched, well written, and extremely honest, i am now able to seperate the artist from the music; meaning: just because the artist (s) may be asses does not mean that the music will automatically suck. i REALLY enjoyed reading this book, as many questions were answered, such as the Myra Hindley child killings in Manchester, the reasons behind certain songs, etc. i think that with a clearer picture of the band i can now appreciate the music even more.
Rating: 
Summary: Recommended, but with caveats...
Review: While this book is very well researched and provides a wealth of backround information and detail on all of the key players in the Smiths, it ultimately fails to provide any real insight into the inner workings of the band. The lack of interviews with Morrissey and those closest to Morrissey ensure that the book presents at best an incomplete picture of the story of the Smiths. Another flaw is that Rogan never really seems to get a feel for his subject. Despite all his research, you never get the sense that he understands what the Smiths were really about and what made them truly special. Despite these problems, I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for some insight into the backround of the group, the photo section alone makes this book well worth the purchase.
| 
