Manhattan Photographer and Vice Mag Staple Patrick O'Dell Directs New Morrissey Video
Today, Pitchfork brings us a brand new Morrissey video for a forthcoming single called “All You Need is Me.” The interesting part is that the video was directed by Patrick O’Dell, the Manhattan photographer and former Vice magazine photo editor whose blog, Epicly L’aterd has become something of a must read for downtown scenesters and skater kids.
Mr. O’Dell, who now hosts a skateboard documentary show on Vice’s online television network VBS.tv, is a massive fan who’d featured enough Morrissey shows on his blog that he was asked to shoot some concert footage this past fall. The thing is, with the exception of a lo-fi, do-it-yourself sort of shoot he did for the experimental indie band Panda Bear, he’d never filmed a music video before. So you could imagine his surprise when manager Merck Mercuriadis gave him a call while he was out in Los Angeles last month and asked him to not just film but actually direct Morrissey’s new video—the following day!
“I was blown away,” he told the Culture Czar. “I didn’t understand why they were asking me to do it because I don’t direct music videos.” And his nerves? “It took me a while to even calm down about it. The 15 minutes before he arrived were the worst. I was so freaked out!”
But the video looks good nonetheless. Check it out above.




















Anything with Morrissey in it looks great!
This video does **not** look good. Being a Smiths/Morrissey fan for over 15 years I am "truly disappointed" in this pile of amateur garbage. Morrissey has more than enough money to hire a proper director.
Plus this was done better in the Tomorrow video.
Honestly, you should have known it was over your head and declined...Its the worst video I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE-
I could have done better, with my cell phone and final cut...seriously...its just the most awful amateurish garbage ever to make celluloid-
Are you the reason Merck was fired!?!
Stick to the skate boards
Really really bad video. Band members walking aimlessly, is from "Tomorrow" music video. I don't understand what they used it again. Someone with no Morrissey background, basically took all the previous Morrissey music videos, and took out the common themes, "walking around with Morrissey up front", " morrissey banging the tambourine" and "morrissey singing in front of the band". no talent, no creativity. hope morrissey comes with a slightly better single for the next round.
its actually pretty good. kinda fresh looking. not what we expected but do you think morrissey is trying to get it played on MTV to win new teeny bopper fans?? Morrissey probably just wanted to meet someone that worked with Panda Bear.
Keep your complaining on morrissey-solo(w) and go back to reading Cahiers du cinema.
Fact - Morrissey does not like videos.
This is what he does in videos. He walks about and sings.
If you are a Morrissey fan you would not expect anything else. He isnt going to try and rival Thriller is he?
Morrissey is about the words and music not prancing about in a music video
Fact - Morrissey does not like videos.
This is what he does in videos. He walks about and sings.
If you are a Morrissey fan you would not expect anything else. He isnt going to try and rival Thriller is he?
Morrissey is about the words and music not prancing about in a music video
Excellent video! Morrissey has never looked better. I can't stop watching it. Funny!
Great video, very funny. Much better than any of the ROTT videos for sure. I would have been crazy nervous...
I am embarressed to say that I was squealing like a teenager when I first saw the video. It was nice to see Morrissey in full color and very casual. No, it was not the most prolific video. But, Morrissey said in the past that he never liked videos. The person that said Morrissey is about words and music is correct.
I disagree with the person that said the director should have declined the opportunity. If Morrissey or his staff asks you to do a video, you jump on the opportunity and do the best you can. That comment just sounds like jealousy.
Mr O'Dell Great job. I really enjoyed the video and to shoot it on such short notice I would have pissed my pants. Like to hear more about the man and his sense of humor or whatnot. Please keep up the great work. Moz is #1.
Thanks,
Andrew
Mr O'Dell Great job. I really enjoyed the video and to shoot it on such short notice I would have pissed my pants. Like to hear more about the man and his sense of humor or whatnot. Please keep up the great work. Moz is #1.
Thanks,
Andrew
I think this is a fantastic video! Morrissey in bright colours, looking very tidy. The 'Tomorrow' video was a different era of Morrissey, that many of us as fans can't let go of. And we shouldn't, but to be fair, he's nearing 50, he's got a nice young band behind him, his songs are still fantastic, and he is still going strong. We can't expect him to be running around in a video in turnups and a cowboy shirt, can we? Instead of hating on this video, why not thank your lucky stars that he's still writing music that makes your proud to say that, yeah, after all these years, I'm still a Morrissey fan :)
i liked the video very much. i love the setting, i love the colors, and the vibe goes very well with the message in the song. well done , i say !! congrats mr o'dell.