Magazine apologizes to Morrissey over "racism" slur

Singer Steven Morrissey, former frontman of The Smiths, performs on stage during his concert at the Rock-en-Seine Festival in Saint-Cloud near Paris, August 25, 2006.

Credit: Reuters/Benoit Tessier

LONDON | Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:18am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Music magazine NME has apologized to Morrissey for a 2007 article which the former Smiths frontman complained suggested he was a racist.

Morrissey, 53, sued the publication for a story titled "Morrissey: Big Mouth Strikes Again" in which he discussed the issue of immigration in Britain.

The case had been due to go to court after the singer won a pre-trial hearing at the High Court in October where the publication had sought to strike out his claim on the grounds of delay.

"NME is pleased that it has buried the hatchet with Morrissey in respect of the libel case he brought against us in 2007," a statement from the magazine said.

"Morrissey sued over an article based on interviews with him which he believed accused him of racism.

"After an on-going dialogue with Morrissey and his representatives, NME today (Tuesday) publishes a clarification in the magazine and online which makes it clear that we do not believe we ever called Morrissey a racist and nor do we believe he is.

"We have said sorry to Morrissey for any misunderstanding that may have arisen."

The publication added that the settlement did not involve payment of damages or legal costs to the singer. A "small" sum was paid by NME last year on the court's orders.

In the original article, Morrissey was asked if he would ever move back to England, and was quoted as saying in reply:

"With the issue of immigration, it's very difficult because, although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears."

Morrissey's lawyer, John Reid, of Russells Solicitors, said: "My client is obviously pleased that the NME have finally and publicly apologized to him.

"This claim was never about financial damages, and no money was sought as part of a settlement. The NME apology in itself is settlement enough, and it closes the case".

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)

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Richards apologizes to fellow Rolling Stone Jagger

Rolling Stones band members Mick Jagger (L) and Keith Richards smile during a news conference regarding the documentary film ''Shine A Light'' directed by Martin Scorsese about the Rolling Stones in New York in this March 30, 2008 file photo.

Credit: Reuters/Lucas Jackson/Files

LONDON | Fri Mar 16, 2012 8:29am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has apologized to Mick Jagger for derogatory comments he made about the lead singer in his 2010 memoir "Life", which caused a rift within the band.

In comments reported by Rolling Stone magazine, the two rock'n'roll veterans agreed it was time to move on.

Fans will be relieved to see them burying the hatchet, as the row had threatened to undermine plans to celebrate the Rolling Stones' 50th anniversary this year and to go on another world tour.

"Looking back at any career you are bound to recall both the highs and the lows," Jagger was quoted as saying. "In the 1980s for instance Keith and I were not communicating very well.

"I got very involved with the business side of the Stones, mainly because I felt no one else was interested, but it's plain now from the book that Keith felt excluded, which is a pity. Time I reckon to move on."

Richards added: "Mick's right. He and I have had conversations over the last year of a kind we have not had for an extremely long time and that has been incredibly important to me.

"As far as the book goes, it was my story and it was very raw, as I meant it to be, but I know that some parts of it and some of the publicity really offended Mick and I regret that."

An eagerly anticipated world tour by one of the world's biggest music acts is now not expected to happen until 2013 at the earliest, according to the same magazine.

Some industry sources had put the delay down to the argument between Richards and Jagger, but Rolling Stone said it may be more closely linked to concerns over Richards' health.

"The quality of the guitarist's performances declined after he suffered a head injury on vacation in Fiji in April 2006, midway through the Bigger Bang tour," the magazine said.

As well as the tour, the Rolling Stones have announced the July 12 release of a picture book tracing their rise to global fame. The band debuted at the Marquee Club in London's Oxford Street on the same date in 1962.

There will also be a "groundbreaking" documentary film released in September.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Steve Addison)

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