Morrissey: Scandal & Passion

A household name in his native England, Morrissey just might be the most obscure mega-celebrity in America. While his albums-both as a solo artist and as the frontman of revered 1980s rock outfit The Smiths-rarely reach the charts, he routinely sells out stadium shows in record time. One struggles to think of an artist with a more devout (some would say fanatical) following, and the diversity of his audience is legendary; he has long been a gay icon, yet he also enjoys a rabid following among Latino teenagers. His music-characterized by witty, literate lyrics that tend toward the angst-ridden and the morose-has been the comfort of a generation of sullen teenagers, earning him the mantle ""The Pope of Mope."" A fixture of the British tabloids due to his outspoken vegetarianism, anti-royal diatribes and any number of other stances and foibles, ""The Moz"" is also a polarizing figure in the tradition of Michael Jackson-simultaneously revered and reviled at home and abroad. Thankfully, author Bret's profile is not the sensationalist expose one might expect given this volume's titillating subtitle. Considering Morrissey's penchant for controversy and his infamously vague sexuality (he has been alternately labeled gay, bisexual and celibate), Bret's restraint is downright gentlemanly. In fact, this is an appropriately English take on a uniquely English personality, to the extent that at least half of the author's references require an intimate knowledge of British pop culture, circa 1960-80. Written without the cooperation of the notoriously press-shy singer, the book is unfortunately light on biographical detail, but it's a compelling (if sometimes fawning) exploration of the cult of Morrissey nonetheless. 8 pages of color photos.