Morrissey Under Fire From American Fans After Wishing Bush Would Die

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Morrissey sparks furore over Bush

Morrissey is due to tour the US in July and August
Rock icon Morrissey has caused outrage among US fans with reported comments that he wished President Bush had died.
The former Smiths frontman informed a Dublin crowd on Saturday that former president Ronald Reagan had died, the Manchester Evening News reported.

He went on to say he wished the current president, George W Bush, had died instead, according to the paper.

The paper's website has 100 comments - most from the US - with about six out of every seven criticising the singer.

More tastelessness and idiocy from across the Atlantic

Jean Shaw
Fan
"He has the right to say anything he wishes. It just sounds so much like Osama," wrote Lee Hempfling from Phoenix, Arizona.

"More tastelessness and idiocy from across the Atlantic," said Jean Shaw, in San Francisco.

"If it were the other way around (Americans cheering the death of a foreign leader), we'd never hear the end of it."

But others wrote in support. "Somebody had to say it," was the comment from Andrew in Anaheim, California.

And Evan Woods in Los Angeles wrote: "Morrissey obviously does not bow before the flag, like so many Americans, and religiously honour anyone who has ever held a position of power."

He is no stranger to controversy

Morrissey spokesman
The singer, whose comeback album went to number two in the UK in May, is to tour the US as part of the Lollapalooza festival in July and August.

His spokesman was unavailable for comment to BBC News Online on Thursday, but told the Manchester Evening News there was no recording of the Dublin Castle show.

"But as far as we can tell, Morrissey was just alerting the audience to the fact that Ronald Reagan had died," he said.

"He then simply followed that up with his comment about George Bush, which was his own opinion. He is no stranger to controversy."

The newspaper said the internet version of its original story was viewed more than 500,000 times in 24 hours.

― Mozza Fan, Thursday, 10 June 2004 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Heh, started a parallel thread on ILE...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 10 June 2004 17:53 (twenty-two years ago)

So how many of the idiots bitching are actual Moz fans?

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Thursday, 10 June 2004 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Big deal.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 10 June 2004 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

When I saw the Smiths, Morrissey said that he wished that the guy who built the stage were dead. So, I think he says that a lot.

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 10 June 2004 17:54 (twenty-two years ago)

erm, 100 divided by 7 = 14 angry people. this means somehting?

― kephm, Thursday, 10 June 2004 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 10 June 2004 17:57 (twenty-two years ago)

people actually know who morrissey is?

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 10 June 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

when does this dude ever NOT wish politicians dead?

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Morrissey eh? He should just cheer up a bit.

― Keith Watson (kmw), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone simultaneously liking morrissey and supporting "dubya" is confused.

go Morrissey anyhow - doesn't offend me at all (unlike his new record which is offensively awful).

― hjd, Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:10 (twenty-two years ago)

hjd otm

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm willing to bet $5 that if the president DID die, Morrissey would find some way to be sad about it, still.

― deanomgwtf!!!p%3Fmsgid%3D4581997 (deangulberry), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the same guy that wrote a song called "Margaret on the Guillotine"?

― Unknown User, Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Unknown, I think that has been well kept in mind by everyone who has already posted on this thread, for a start.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Someone post the big long list of things that Morrisey has declared 'vile' again. I loved that.

― derrick (derrick), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:18 (twenty-two years ago)

From the New York Times:

June 10 - British singer Morrissey proclaimed yesterday to a patisserie full of bewildered customers, "I hope that the man who injected the cream into this eclair is DEAD!"

― dave225 (Dave225), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Morrissey Under Hugs & Kisses From American Fans After Wishing Bush Would Die

― hiding from the agents, Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i think considering how much venom the moz had for thatcherism and the whole reagan vibe of the 80s, bush should be proud of himself.

― bill stevens (bscrubbins), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:56 (twenty-two years ago)

George W Bush should die in a hotel fire in Birmingham, wrapped in sheets gritty with Mr Kipling crumbs.

― Momus (Momus), Thursday, 10 June 2004 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

...Or an accident involving a runaway Morris Minor on the B46 bypass at Hemel Hempstead, while crossing the road to visit a grocer's shop.

― Momus (Momus), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

MUSICIAN "MOMUS" ARRESTED FOR QUESTIONING

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I figure this is as good a place as any to confess that I really dislike Morrissey and his music.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:07 (twenty-two years ago)

...Or possibly George W Bush will sever important ankle arteries while removing bicycle clips outside the Salford Asian Boys' Cycle Club and bleed to death under the steely, indifferent gaze of homosexual National Front skinheads.

― Momus (Momus), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I figure this is as good a place as any to confess that I really dislike Morrissey and his music.

*cries*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:09 (twenty-two years ago)

...Most likely, however, is that George W Bush will die of paper cuts inflicted by his well-thumbed copy of the Collected Poems of Palmer's Green spinster Stevie Smith.

― Momus (Momus), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm fine with the sentiment, but it's a pretty stupid thing for Morrissey to say. The Secret Service hassled Eminem over that "I'd rather see the President dead" throwaway line - what are they gonna do with a foreign national?

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

maybe L.A. bores him now.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Everyday is like Sunday - IN GUANTANAMO.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm going to buy three copies of his new album now.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:17 (twenty-two years ago)

get bush to autograph them.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"...Most likely, however, is that George W Bush will die of paper cuts inflicted by his well-thumbed copy of the Collected Poems of Palmer's Green spinster Stevie Smith."

bizarre

― de, Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you think Shrub will get to hear about Morrissey now?
I don't know why but this makes me feel all tingly, all funny

― de, Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:23 (twenty-two years ago)

headline should read "morrissey under fire from stray bored american googlers after wishing bush would die"

― amateur!st (amateurist), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"He has the right to say anything he wishes. It just sounds so much like Osama," wrote Lee Hempfling from Phoenix, Arizona.

Stupidest quote ever.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

the state news service in cuba gave reagan's death the line, "he who should never have been born, has died."

that beats morrissey, i think.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:31 (twenty-two years ago)

by a mile

― common_person (common_person), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Cuban poets have been reduced to writing headlines - further proof of the evils of the Castro regime.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Thursday, 10 June 2004 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Nah, Nick, Bush will die of self-inflicted cuts from his very beaten copy of Curious George or bottles smashed over his head by his drunken twin daughters...who are secret liberals, by the way.

― Ian Beverly (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 10 June 2004 20:39 (twenty-two years ago)

what insightful commentary.

― hstencil (hstencil), Thursday, 10 June 2004 20:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not sure having Jenna Bush on the left would really say such grand things for our cause.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 10 June 2004 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

is that the English major one? cause she's already on my hit list for setting back our cause, oh, at least 1000000 years

― Morley Timmons (Donna Brown), Thursday, 10 June 2004 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

It just sounds so much like Osama.

Blimey. Has he taken on a Manc accent, a world-weary demeanour and a rockabilly combo? Can we look forward to calls to jihad with an arched eye-brow and an Oscar Wilde reference? Cool.

― Snnap Dragon (snnap dragon), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Omozza

"Everyday is Like Jihad"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:22 (twenty-two years ago)

"November Spawned a Fatwa"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

"Al Quadian Cousin"

(doesn't quite work i know)

― de, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Bigmouth Strikes Again.

'nuff said.

― Slim Pickens, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:39 (twenty-two years ago)

"How Sunni is Now?"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"Shia take a Bow"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:43 (twenty-two years ago)

the neocons respond: "A Rush and a Bush and the Land is Ours."

― Slim Pickens, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, "You're the One for Me, Fatwa" would work better.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Hahahaha

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

"This Charming Mullah"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"Dubai Dave"

― de, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Erm, "Rumsfeld on the Payroll."

― martin m. (mushrush), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

all these tracks and more, collected on Hatful of Allah

― Slim Pickens, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

"Last of the Famous International Mujahideen"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

"The World Is Full of Crashing Infidels"

― de, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

"We Hate it When our Friends Become Infidels"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"The First of al Qaeda to Die"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"Muezzin in a tutu"

― de, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm with Momus on this one, and I agree with Morrissey as well. The only problem with that would be that then Cheney would be president, so not much difference there. I also concur with the Cuban news service regarding Reagan, even though Castro pretty much sucks too, so what are ya gonna do...? In addition, I agree w/ Nickalicious (sp?) regarding Morrissey. Never cared for him... Sorry, Ned. Weep for me... :-)

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

"My World is Full of Crashing Bombs"

― Slim Pickens, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"Girlfriend in a Burqua"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sweet & Tender Taliban"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"Suicide bombers of the world unite"

― de, Thursday, 10 June 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't think Bush had much of the Hispanic vote ...

― Dare, Thursday, 10 June 2004 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"Suffer Little Chalabi"

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 10 June 2004 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"Afghani in Platforms"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 June 2004 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, Hispanics vote for conservatives in droves, especially after Reno vs. Gonzales.

― Ian Beverly (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 10 June 2004 23:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"hand in glove (in abu ghraib)"

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 11 June 2004 01:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"pretty girls make abu ghraib"

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 11 June 2004 01:26 (twenty-two years ago)

"there is a light that never goes out" sounds like a torture technique from the jail.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 11 June 2004 01:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"shariahead"

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 11 June 2004 01:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"We Hate it When our Friends Become Infidels"

there are a lot of good ones on this thread, but i really like this.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Friday, 11 June 2004 03:51 (twenty-two years ago)

"prisoner in a coma"

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Friday, 11 June 2004 03:54 (twenty-two years ago)

"Omar, It Was Really Nothing"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 11 June 2004 03:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Sort of off-topic, but thinking about ol' Moz, it struck me that his latest album really is amongst his worst 2 or 3. People agree? If so, how many (like me) feel like we suckered ourselves with the pre-album hype? I should've learned by now, I know.

― paulhw (paulhw), Friday, 11 June 2004 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I love me lots of Morrissey's music, but it strikes me that he's possibly the most celebrated one-trick-pony to ever assume the microphone. A radically self-reinventing chameleon he assuredly is not.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 11 June 2004 20:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Some Holy Wars Are Bigger Than Others

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 11 June 2004 20:27 (twenty-two years ago)

"Frankly, Mullah Shankly"

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 11 June 2004 20:28 (twenty-two years ago)

This these could be about bush with no changes!:

Little Man, What Now?
November Spawned a Monster

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 11 June 2004 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

it struck me that his latest album really is amongst his worst 2 or 3. People agree?

Good lord no, I think it's wonderful.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 11 June 2004 20:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm Not Saudi

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 11 June 2004 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)

from pfork news:
"As is to be expected, reactions from fans and media have been mixed, provoking both ire and glee, but so far, it doesn't seem that the Secret Service have taken Morrissey's words too seriously. The fans are another matter entirely. Webboard comments have ranged from anti-European ("More tastelessness and idiocy from across the Atlantic") to mildly amused ("Somebody had to say it") to vehement agreement ("George W. Bush should die in a hotel fire in Birmingham, wrapped in sheets gritty with Mr Kipling crumbs") since the incident."
did you get royalties for that momus?

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Friday, 11 June 2004 20:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe Johnny Rogan will be driving down the M25 and accidently crash into Dubya's limo...

― Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Saturday, 12 June 2004 04:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Hating on Bush is an ambivalent gesture, and not necessarily destructive to Bush's cause or role. As many observers have pointed out, the Bush regime seems to have put into practise the Emperor Caligula's motto 'Let them hate, so long as they fear!'

Slavoj Zizek wrote (and I think this is a key to Morrissey's work in general, as well as to this specific statement about Bush): 'We do not escape from guilt, we escape to guilt, we seek refuge there. By assuming guilt, the son attempts to keep intact the image of the father as the representative of the Law. In other words, the desire for parricide is already an illusion that veils the impotence of the father.'

― Momus (Momus), Saturday, 12 June 2004 08:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Caligula would have blushed.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Saturday, 12 June 2004 13:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Rosemary wins!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 12 June 2004 13:31 (twenty-two years ago)

momus what is the proper stance to adopt vis-a-vis bush? i mean, presuming one has the bad luck to be living in america.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Sunday, 13 June 2004 03:10 (twenty-two years ago)

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