Article for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. by a journalist from the UK's "The Guardian". Taylor covers a conference held in Manchester, English titled "Why Pamper Life's Complexities?": named after a Smiths song, and the first academic conference held in the band's honor. Using quotes, papers, and interviews at the conference, Taylor explores how the Smiths and Morrissey appeal to even distinguished academics, many of whom presented papers with the qualification that they were themselves mega-fans of the group. The author presents several reasons for the continuing appeal, such as Morrissey's mysteriously ambiguous sexuality, and his passionate lyrics - he was described by one conference-goer as everyone's "invisible friend."