Matthew Jacobson interviews writer Dickie Felton on his new book, I AM HATED FOR LOVING. Featuring images of concerts, quotes from fans, and quotes from the Northern Lifeguard himself, Morrissey.
Dickie Felton is a writer from Liverpool, now based in Cumbria. Dickie started his career as a journalist on the Liverpool Echo and Daily post – he says, this part of his career “feels like three million years ago”. With a rush and a push, he moved forward and published two books “The Day I Met Morrissey”, and “Morrissey International Airport”. Both engaging, warm and a must for all fans of Morrissey and fans of music in general.
Dickie has now published his third book on Morrissey, I AM HATED FOR LOVING, a visual and written documentary of a unique subculture. The book is a collaboration between Dickie and Persian artist Iman Kakai-Lazell who has also created books with Kristin Hersh, Mark Lanegan and Kirk Brandon. It features over 125 black and white images and quotes, stories from fans and the words of Morrissey.
The world will, and should listen.
I met Dickie many many years ago, I’ve travelled on tour with him, drank with him and drank on tour with him – so, it was only time I interviewed the man himself as he takes home the ‘Morrissey book hat-trick ball’. I wanted to know more about the writing process, the recent tours and fans across the globe.
Congratulations on your 3rd book on the singer-songwriter, Morrissey – How did you find the process, was it easier because of previous experience or still a challenge?
The process was unbelievably smooth and simple because I was working with a wonderful artist called Iman Kakai-Lazell who is a genius. From me first approaching Iman with the idea to publication was just four months.
How did the photography collaboration come about, and how did you choose the pictures to be in the book?
I’ve always loved taking photos of Morrissey fans as I think they are incredibly stylish. I took hundreds of images at 16 concerts. Sometimes I was on a roll and it just flowed – Dublin and New York being examples. I was also shooting videos and making little films. It’s difficult to try to do both at the same time. So, some nights I just concentrated on still images. In terms of curating the photos, me and Iman just sat down and went through them all to pick the ones we wanted. I’m really proud of some of the photos – but it is the fans themselves that create the energy. There are images in the book which aren’t perfect but it was about capturing the atmosphere more than anything else. And it’s a concert setting and I’m in the middle of the concert – so a lot of the photos are rough and ready. But there’s a joy to that.
The recent tour, was breathtaking – I felt the passion is as strong as ever, is that how you found the tour?
I wanted to do the book as it feels Morrissey has been under fire for about five years. He marked 40 years in music with no record deal, no management, no media support. I think that the fans have really responded to that by supporting him to the hilt. So I found that so moving at the concerts. The connection between Morrissey and his people is so powerful.
The book is a celebration and pays tribute to two books combined, the pictures from the beautiful ‘Morrissey Shot’ and ‘Morrissey In His Own Words’. The pictures in your book also look amazing and Morrisseys on stage comments are always superb, insightful, poignant and very witty. Any that stay in your mind, or should we wait for the book?!
I loved Linder Sterling’s ‘Morrissey Shot’ book from 1992 which featured black and white images of Morrissey and his fans on the Kill Uncle tour. I was 17/18 when that book came out and I think I looked at that book every day for five years! I wanted that life. I wanted to just go to Morrissey concerts, to have a quiff, to wear NHS glasses. Now I’m 50 and I still feel that way!
The other book I loved back then was ‘Morrissey In His Own Words’ which was a compilation of all his great quotes in the late 1980s.
In a sense my book is homage to those two books but a look at the Morrissey of the present day. During the concerts I felt an absolute urgency to everything Morrissey was saying on stage.
My fave Moz quote changes all the time, but I love what he said in Paris: “We are shepherds. We are not sheep. If you have something to say, speak up! It will change lives if you speak up!”
A central theme in the book is the question “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” Those words appear on a state backdrop during the concerts. I find myself wrestling with that question in the book…
The tour is a celebratory moment of respect to Morrissey – the scenes of clambering on stage, or trying to catch the shirt is still as frantic and unbelievable, it really doesn’t happen to anyone else. You mentioned how these gigs took you back to the Live In Dallas tour and era – magical moments you treasure?
So many remarkable moments on the tour that gave me flashbacks to legendary Morrissey shows from decades ago. The crowd rushing the orchestra pit at the end of his show at Liverpool Empire last July was like watching a movie. Just so much love for Morrissey. I was agog watching it. As was Morrissey himself I think.
The cancel culture world, is daft but dangerous – for me the only thing that should be cancelled is critics Wi-Fi accounts, but fans remain so loyal, and so very protective. We understand, we treasure – you must have had some wonderful conversations with fans on your travels?
I think the best conversations are in transit between concerts. I feel Morrissey fans have a bond. They understand each other. This is rare in music. Sometimes the hours and hours waiting in line before a concert or sat in an airport lounge can be so important. It can lead to remarkable and unexpected conversations…
I’ve always wondered about the motivation to continue and the drive is something special from Morrissey – with such a glorious career behind him, and ahead of him – he’s as dedicated as ever to recording and producing art – the new songs sound as good as ever – they were certainly celebrated on the tour – any favourites?…
I think songs like ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ and ‘Notre-Dame’ are among the most important tracks he’s ever written.
I do feel these concerts are so special – especially the excitement when dates are announced, its a community of special people that travel to any gig, anywhere – do you have any gigs, tours that have lodged themselves and stayed in your mind to reflect on?
I honestly believe the last few tours have been the best. Most of the venues were historic theatres with capacities of around 3000. This is the perfect location for Morrissey concerts – up close. I’ll always remember the 2023 tour as being Morrissey’s best. Remarkable things were happening on the stage and in my own life. What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Do you retain memorabilia along the way, t-shirts, ticket stubs etc?
It is one of the tragedies of modern concert-going that paper concert tickets are almost extinct. I guess I just keep photographs these days. Oh, and the occasional Morrissey signed vinyl! The book is thee red best memory of the tour as it’s all there – Morrissey, the people, the places.
What next for Dickie Felton – is there going to be a fourth Moz book?
I’ve done three Morrissey books now. I’m not sure the world could stand another! I mention ticket stubs – I would love to write a book about football and music. I’ve kept every football and gig ticket stub for the last 40 years.
Some tickets are from dramatic moments in history. Fragments of faded memories always ‘to be retained’. l started writing about the stories contained in my stubs a while back. Maybe I’ll pick up the pen again…
With thanks to Dickie Felton.
Purchase the book at – I AM HATED FOR LOVING – PRE-ORDER MY NEW MORRISSEY BOOK – Dickie Felton
Matt
Matt Jacobson
Explore Liverpool
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