Morrissey - Singer - Biography.com Morrissey Morrissey was the lead singer for the Smiths, a British band that gained a loyal following during the 1980s. IN THESE GROUPS » quotes “I had the glummest, dreariest childhood you could possibly imagine. Pop music was all I ever had, and it was completely entwined with the image of the pop star. I remember feeling that the person singing was actually with me and understood me and my predicament. A lot of times I felt I was engaged with an absolute tangible love affair.” “I would rather eat my own testicles than re-form the Smiths, and that's saying something for a vegetarian.” “We're all lonely, but I'd rather be lonely by myself than with a long list of duties and obligations. I think that's why people kill themselves, really. Or at least that's why they think, 'Thank heaven for death.'” “Writing words and then singing them in front of people is the most dangerous art form.

When you're face to face with an audience, you can sing what you like, and if they really love you they'll accept whatever you say.” Morrissey Synopsis Born on May 22, 1959, in Manchester, England, Morrissey gained fame in the 1980s as the co-founder and frontman of the Smiths, a British rock band. With his eccentric style and acid-tongued lyrics, he became an icon for disaffected youth. After the band's breakup in 1987, Morrissey embarked on a successful solo career, while also continuing to make waves with his many controversial comments. Early Years Stephen Patrick Morrissey, who is most commonly referred to by his last name, was born on May 22, 1959, in Manchester, England. The son of a hospital porter and a librarian, Morrissey was a moody, introspective child. He found an early love in poetry and writing, outlets that helped him cope with the occasional bouts of depression that gripped his life. Morrissey especially adored the work of Oscar Wilde. For Morrissey, pop music provided a needed escape from his "dreary" childhood in Manchester.

"Pop music was all I ever had, and it was completely entwined with the image of the pop star," he told The New York Times in 1991. "I remember feeling that the person singing was actually with me and understood me and my predicament. A lot of times I felt I was engaged with an absolute tangible love affair." Morrissey eventually took the stage himself, playing briefly in a band called the Nosebleeds. In 1982, the struggling writer and musician teamed up with guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce to form the Smiths. The Smiths The band, whose first single was "Hand in Glove," quickly became a force on the English music scene. Over the group's four-year run, they released four studio albums, all of which charted at either No. 1 or No. 2 in the United Kingdom. Front and center was Morrissey, a brooding, sharp-tongued leading man who wasn't afraid to publicly dismiss other pop bands. His attitude and eccentric style quickly made the singer a heartthrob for England's disaffected youth.

While at times disdainful of the celebrity culture that gripped the pop scene, Morrissey embraced the connection he could make with his fans. Following the band's 1984 self-titled debut album, the group released Meat Is Murder (1985), whose title was no doubt driven by Morrissey's own commitment to vegetarianism. One more album, The Queen is Dead (1986), followed before the band called it quits in 1987. Two other releases: Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) and a live album, Rank (1988), came out after the group's demise. Solo Career In 1988, Morrissey kicked off his solo career with the well-received album Viva Hate, which climbed to No. 48 on the U.S. charts. His solo follow-up, Kill Uncle (1991), was viewed as a disappointment. However, he hit his stride again with Vauxhall and I (1994). In the years since, Morrissey has continued to put out albums and connect with his fans on tour. Despite an up-and-down solo career, Morrissey remains an icon in the pop music world.

Unfortunately for fans of the Smiths, he has ruled out the possibility of a reunion. "I would rather eat my own testicles than re-form the Smiths," he said in 2006, "and that's saying something for a vegetarian." Personal Life Over the years, Morrissey's temper and outspokenness have continued to make headlines. In 2010, while commenting about animal cruelty in China, he said, "You can't help but feel that the Chinese people are a subspecies." His ire has also been directed at Kate Middleton, Lady Gaga, Madonna and Victoria and David Beckham. In 2013, Morrissey released an autobiography, which was called, simply, Autobiography. The book covers his childhood, including his teenage fondness for the New York Dolls, a band of transvestites. "Jerry Nolan on the front of the Dolls debut album is the first woman I ever fell in love with," he wrote. In his autobiography, Morrissey also revealed that he formed his first relationship at age 35, with photographer Jake Walters. The singer has always been vague about his own sexuality, and did not state whether or not the two were ever lovers.

Some mentions of Walters were removed from the U.S. edition of the book. Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us ! Citation Information Morrissey | New Music And Songs | Morrissey About Morrissey As the lead singer of the Smiths, arguably the most important indie band in Britain during the '80s, Morrissey's theatrical crooning and literate, poetic lyrics -- filled with romantic angst, social alienation, and cutting wit -- connected powerfully with a legion of similarly sensitive, disaffected youth. These fans turned the Smiths into stars in Britain, exerting tremendous pull over much of the country's guitar-based music for many years after their breakup, and even if the group remained underground cult artists in the States, they had a fan base that slowly, steadily grew larger over the years. Indeed, a few years after the Smiths' breakup in 1987, Morrissey's American cult had grown to the point where he became more popular in the U.S. than in his homeland, where he nevertheless was never far from the music press headlines.

After a quiet period around the turn of the millennium, Morrissey launched a comeback in 2004 with You Are the Quarry, an album whose success proved that he remained one of the most beloved figures in alternative rock. Stephen Patrick Morrissey was born May 22, 1959, in Manchester, England; not surprisingly a shy, awkward youth, he became obsessed with music and film as a teenager and devoted his writing talents to penning a New York Dolls fanzine (he was the president of their U.K. fan club), as well as a tribute to James Dean and numerous opinionated letters to the weekly music paper Melody Maker. During the explosion of punk in the late '70s, Morrissey unsuccessfully auditioned for Slaughter & the Dogs and sang for a brief period with a band called the Nosebleeds. He met guitarist Johnny Marr in 1982 and the two began writing songs together, forging one of the most productive partnerships British pop had seen in quite some time. The Smiths' 1983 debut single, "Hand in Glove," a love song filled with oblique references to homosexuality, made them an underground sensation in the U.K.

and as Morrissey attracted more attention, he demonstrated a flair for manipulating the media. His interviews were filled with blunt, unpredictable opinions and intentionally outrageous statements and his notoriety wasn't hurt by his stage presence (he performed wearing a hearing aid with flowers sticking out of his back pockets) or his self-proclaimed celibacy in the wake of much speculation about his sexuality. Possessed of a darkly cynical bent as a lyricist, he was often misinterpreted as advocating some of the more disturbing things he sang about, which only added to the furor surrounding the band. The Smiths' eponymous 1984 debut was a smash in the U.K. and in its wake, Morrissey began promoting his political views, heavily criticizing Margaret Thatcher, and advocating vegetarianism (hence the title of the follow-up LP, Meat Is Murder). The Queen Is Dead (1986) was acclaimed as a masterpiece, but friction between Morrissey and Marr was growing. Marr departed after 1987's Strangeways, Here We Come and Morrissey broke up the rest of the band to begin a solo career.

Feeling betrayed by Marr's defection, Morrissey channeled his frustration into creating new material with producer Stephen Street. His first two solo singles, "Suedehead" and the gorgeous "Everyday Is Like Sunday," were significant British hits in 1988 and his first album, Viva Hate (its title a reference to the Smiths' breakup), was commercially and critically well received. He released several more high-quality singles, including "The Last of the International Playboys" and "Interesting Drug," but spent an inordinate amount of time laboring on the follow-up album, issuing the stopgap compilation Bona Drag in 1990. In the meantime, the Madchester fad was sweeping British indie music and when the lackluster Kill Uncle was finally released in 1991, it only magnified the disappointment. U.K. reviewers took Morrissey to task, suggesting that the record marked the end of his glory days and that he would never be able to match the songs he'd written in tandem with Marr. A misperceived flirtation with British nationalism (not helped by a couple of seemingly racial caricatures in recent songs) tarnished his image even more in the U.K.

press during 1992, this coming amid even more frequent reports of feuds with his managers, business associates, and ex-bandmates. All the controversy overshadowed the fact that 1992's Mick Ronson-produced Your Arsenal was a smashing return to form; Morrissey used his new guitar tandem of Alain Whyte (who co-wrote much of the material) and Boz Boorer (formerly of rockabilly revivalists the Polecats) to full advantage in crafting a crunchy, glammed-up record. It easily ranked as the hardest-rocking of his career. Meanwhile, over in the U.S., tickets for his upcoming tour were selling like hotcakes and he managed to sell out L.A.'s Hollywood Bowl even faster than the Beatles had. His confidence renewed by his American success (to the point where he permanently moved to Los Angeles), Morrissey delivered an equally strong follow-up in 1994's calmer Vauxhall and I, which even got him his first Top 50 singles chart entry in the U.S.

with the MTV-supported "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get." A hit-and-miss compilation, The World of Morrissey, followed in 1995, after which he switched labels (from Sire to RCA) for the first time since the Smiths' debut album. Also issued in 1995 was the prog rock-informed Southpaw Grammar, which confounded many and perhaps prevented him from expanding his American audience past a now sizable group of longtime listeners. In 1996 he moved to another new label, this time Island, and released Maladjusted the following year. It failed to sell well outside of his most fanatical followers and his relationship with Island ended in 1998. In the years that followed, Morrissey remained a massively popular touring attraction on the strength of his singular identity, despite the fact that he had yet to land another record deal. Finally, he signed his Attack label to Sanctuary, and released his first studio album in seven years, 2004's You Are the Quarry featuring production by Jerry Finn (blink-182, Sum 41, and Green Day).

The album's leadoff single, "Irish Blood, English Heart," garnered considerable press, radio, and music television attention, and established a comeback of sorts. The concert recording Live at Earls Court followed one year later, as did the DVD concert Who Put the "M" in Manchester?, which saw a brief theatrical release. His second full-length for Sanctuary, Ringleader of the Tormentors, was produced by Tony Visconti (T. Rex, David Bowie) and released in spring 2006. Recorded in Rome, the album also featured some orchestration by famed composer Ennio Morricone. Around this time, Morrissey's longtime guitarist and writing partner Alain Whyte left the band. Although Whyte continued to contribute songs for Morrissey, he was largely replaced on album and in live shows by guitarist Jesse Tobias. In 2009, Morrissey released Years of Refusal, his first under Decca after label changes found Sanctuary being absorbed into the Universal Music Group (which owned Decca). Produced by Finn and once again showcasing guitarist Tobias, Years of Refusal found Morrissey going for a more stripped-down, back-to-basics rock approach.

Sadly, Finn suffered a cerebral hemorrhage just after wrapping production on the album. He fell into a coma and died just over a month later on August 21, 2008. Despite the tragedy surrounding it, Years of Refusal was largely hailed as Morrissey's best album in years. Over the next few years, Morrissey busied himself with rejiggered reissues of his solo material and various other compilations surfaced, including the 2009 B-sides collection Swords and the 2011 set Very Best of Morrissey; he also played live with semi-regularity. Early in the summer of 2012, he announced in an interview with JuiceOnline.com that he was tentatively planning to retire in 2014. Morrissey then spent much of 2012 and 2013 touring the world, either side of an early-2013 period of bad health that saw him hospitalized first for an ulcer and then for a bout of pneumonia.

A film of a March 2013 show at L.A.'s Hollywood High School saw a cinema release as 25Live that August and was issued on DVD and Blu-ray before the end of the year. His autobiography -- published through Penguin Classics that October -- was well-received and became a number one best-seller in the U.K. In January 2014, despite his earlier proclamation of retirement, Morrissey signed a new record deal, this time with Capitol. Six months later he released his tenth studio album, World Peace Is None of Your Business, on Capitol's Harvest imprint. In promotion of the album, Morrissey shot several short films, released online, in which he delivered spoken word versions of the title track as well as the singles "Istanbul," "Earth Is the Loneliest Planet," and "The Bullfighter Dies." By August of 2014 Morrissey was once again without a label, having parted ways with Harvest. He also revealed that he'd undergone treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. Nonetheless, he continued touring, wrapping up the year with a two-month stint in Europe.

In January 2015, following several live shows in the U.K., Morrissey appeared in a high-profile concert at New York's Madison Square Garden supported by Blondie. That March he released a fifth single from World Peace Is None of Your Business, the digital download "Kiss Me a Lot." Also in 2015, Morrissey announced the publication of his debut novel, List of the Lost, for Penguin.

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Close Frame Unavailable Mexican Morrissey Tribute Band Mexrrissey Rocks BAM in Brooklyn | Observer By Alanna Martinez • 05/13/15 10:47am Mexrissey takes a bow after playing at their only New York venue, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, on Sunday, May 10. (Photo: @yebo_music via Twitter) On Sunday night, I saw one of the best shows I think I’ve ever seen. Mexrissey , a Morrissey tribute band comprised of some of Mexico’s leading musicians, rocked BAM for the final show of WYNC’s RadioLoveFest Festival . They sang only Morrissey songs—from the Smiths years and the solo years—in Spanish, and rearranged to the distinctly Latin beats of ranchera, mariachi, danzón, mambo, norteño, and cha cha cha—and of course, rock. The result was nothing short of extraordinary. Animations by Oscar Reyes played on stage during the performance. (Photo: Rahav Iggy Segev / Photopass.com) Morrissey—or as the well acquainted prefer, Moz—is perhaps best known as the lead singer and songwriter for the U.K.

rock band the Smiths, but has gone on to have a highly successful solo career in the years since. Who are his fans? Well, a large swath of his most devoted happens to be Mexican and Mexican-American. He knows it, they know, and it seemed inevitable that they’d produce a love child at some point. Mexrrissey is just that. It’s lead by Mexican producer Camilo Lara of the electronica group Mexican Institute of Sound (MIS). Inspired by his own love of for the singer, he reached out to some of the most talented musicians in the game, all of who were more than willing to play. Joining Mr. Lara on stage was French musician and actor Adanowsky; producer, singer, and jack-of-all-trades musician Jay de la Cueva, who has played with the likes of Micro Chips and Fobia; L.A.-based Ceci Bastida, of Tijuana No, whose album The Age of Violence has garnered her critical attention; Sergio Mendoza of Calexico, and a rotating cast of many more. I’ve known for a while about Morrissey’s Mexican fanbase, even heard about the annual Morrissey tribute concerts on the West Coast.

The phenomena was first written about at length in a 2002 essay for Spin by Chuck Klosterman, and has been dissected by many others since, and in 2014 Gustavo Arellano beautifully broke down the Mex-Moz musical connections song-by-song for OC Weekly . Ceci Bastida and Jay de la Cueva on stage with Mexrrissey at BAM. (Photo: Rahav Iggy Segev / Photopass.com) But Mexrrissey is next level. They are not a cover band. In case you haven’t already read that elsewhere, I’ll just repeat it, because it’s that important to note. The first track, “Cada Dia Es Domingo (Everyday Is Like Sunday),” was sung with a smoky voice by Ms. Bastida, who added a flair of punk grit as she danced across the stage. It didn’t hit me right away; in fact, it took a few moments to find the familiar melody while I attempted to translate the lyrics in my head. A similar realization spread like wildfire across the crowd at the beginning of each song, and reactions ranged from laughter to jumping to wild dancing to screams and tears. Ms.

Bastida played keyboard for a large duration of the show, but her big number later on was “International Playgirl,” a tongue-in-cheek gender play on Moz’s “The Last of the Famous International Playboys.” Mr. de la Cueva sang a majority of the songs, from “El Chico de L’Espina Clavada (The Boy With the Thorn in His Side)” to “Dime (Ask)” and “Mi Novia Esta En Coma (Girlfriend in a Coma)” to “Estuvo Bien (Suedehead).” His voice was a perfect compliment to Ms. Bastida: flawless, soft, and unwaveringly sweet. He delivered a powerful rendition of “Girlfriend in a Coma” that would have made Moz proud, as he sang “Mi novia esta en coma/I know/I know/Es muy serio,” crooning the last line through the reverb as the crowd erupted in joy. Ringleader Camilo Lara.

(Photo: Rahav Iggy Segev / Photopass.com) Photo: Rahav Iggy Segev / Photopass.com That song, and many of the others, playfully swirled English and Spanish translations of the songs with pop cultures references, humorous plays on words, and Mr. Lara’s own take on Moz’s often-opaque lyrics. With “Ask,” instead of the Bomb bringing us together, it was “La Bamba.” And just how does one translate “Suedehead”? Mr. Lara had a hard time with that one, and settled on “Estuvo Bien.” My emotions may be punctuated by the fact that it was a totally singular experience—there is no album for me to download (save for two songs on Soundcloud ), no future tour dates to look forward to. What I heard Sunday night exists by itself for the moment, and I was lucky to be a part of it. There was laughing, there were a little crying, and now I see Moz in a whole new light.

For a taste of Mexrrissey, a sampling of their performance at the Barbican in London in April 2015 below: Observer Morrissey Tickets | 2017 Morrissey World Tour Invalid Email – Please Try Again! Invalid Email – Please Try Again! Your Email Has Been Submitted! If you would like to speak with one of our customer service specialists, please call 1-800-880-8886 or live chat us. Morrissey Tickets Information Back to Top Steven Patrick Morrissey is an English singer, lyricist, and aspiring author. He was the lead singer for the band The Smiths from 1982 to 1989 and his a solo career has extended on to today. Morrissey is currently promoting his most recent album, World Peace is None of Your Business, and is still touring regularly. Morrissey tickets are available for his upcoming shows. Morrissey, or Moz, was born on May 22, 1959, in Manchester, England. He grew up admiring pop stars, and relating to pop music as a way to manage his depression.

In 1978 he became the lead singer for the short lived band The Nosebleeds, followed by a brief stint with Slaughter & the Dogs. At this time he decided to focus on his writing, penning three books: The New York Dolls, James Dean is not Dead, and Exit Smiling. In 1982, Morrissey formed the band The Smiths with guitarist Johnny Marr, later adding drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke. In the five years that the band was together, they recorded four albums, including their only UK #1 album, 1985's Meat is Murder, and released numerous singles. Their final album, Strangeways, Here We Come, was number two in the UK. Even though it didn't do as well in the US, it was still their most successful album. By 1987 the band broke up due to creative differences between Morrissey and Marr. Eight months after The Smiths broke up, Viva Hate, Morrissey's first solo album, was released in March 1988. For the next ten years Morrissey recorded multiple albums that had success in the UK, as well as numerous singles that did well on the charts.

In 1998 he decided take a break from recording, but returned to the studio in 2003. Morrissey shares his time between homes in Los Angeles, Rome, Switzerland, and the UK. He is beloved by his fans, having a very loyal fanbase. He has also been referred as "one of the most influential figures in the history of British pop" by the BBC. His controversial stance on political issues, the British monarchy, and animal rights has garnered some attention recently, but it hasn't overshadowed his impact on over 25 years of British pop music. How to Buy Morrissey Tickets 1. Scan through the 2017 Morrissey Schedule and select the concert that you would like to attend, or use the opponent or date filters beside the Morrissey ticket listings to find the perfect matchup. 2. Click “Select” to reveal all available Morrissey tickets, the music venue interactive seating chart, ticket quantity, and ticket price filters. Use the ticket price filter, and ticket quantity filter to quickly refine your search to the available Morrissey tickets that are in your price range. You can also utilize the “eTickets Only” filter to find all Morrissey tickets that will be delivered electronically.

The music venue interactive map can be employed to reveal all tickets available for a preferred section. Select the perfect tickets and click “Go” to proceed to checkout. 3. Review the checkout page to ensure that the correct Morrissey tickets have been selected, and read through any ticket notes or delivery information. If everything looks correct, fill out the checkout information, and purchase your Morrissey Tickets! Need help finding the right Morrissey Tickets? Our Sales and Service teams are available 7 days a week at 1-800-880-8886. Morrissey Tour Information Morrissey World Tour 2016 Morrissey has announced a world tour, that some presume might be his last due to health issues. Morrissey’s world tour includes several US tour dates, including Riot Fest in Chicago, as well as headlining shows in Boulder, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston and El Paso. Don’t miss out on seeing this music legend live in concert by getting a great deal on Morrissey tickets from TicketCity! Morrissey World Peace is None of Your Business Tour Morrissey’s 10th studio album, World Peace is None of Your Business, was released on July 15, 2014.

Singles released from the album include the title track, "Istanbul," “Earth is the Loneliest Planet," "The Bullfighter Dies," and "Kiss Me A Lot." After the release of the album Morrissey went on tour in support of World Peace is None of Your Business. The tour included dates in the Netherlands, UK, Spain, Australia, and the U.S. Morrissey also planned dates in South America in November of 2015, and a January through February tour of the Middle East in 2016. See Also: Mariachi Band Brings Morrissey To Dia De Los Muertos : NPR Mariachi Band Brings Morrissey To Dia De Los Muertos Embed Embed Mariachi Band Brings Morrissey To Dia De Los Muertos Mariachi Band Brings Morrissey To Dia De Los Muertos Embed Embed Mariachi Manchester. Piero F Giunti/Courtesy of the artist hide caption toggle caption Piero F Giunti/Courtesy of the artist Mariachi Manchester.

Piero F Giunti/Courtesy of the artist In Los Angeles, one of this year's largest Day of the Dead celebrations was held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery where Rudolph Valentino, Jayne Mansfield and Dee Dee Ramone are buried. It featured plenty of the day's usual customs — folkloric dancers, face-painting and elaborate Huichol yarn paintings and beadwork. But this year's celebration also brought an unexpected addition: A mariachi band that plays covers of songs by The Smiths ' lead singer, Morrissey . Happy Cinco De Morrissey! El Mariachi Manchester is an L.A. band devoted to Moz. Morrissey made Los Angeles his home, and his music continues to enchant Angelenos — especially Mexican-Americans, according to Gloria Estrada, who plays guitarrón in the band. "I grew up in Boyle Heights, and when I was in high school Morrissey and [The] Smiths was a huge part of a teenage, emo life," she says.

"It's just slit-wrist music and it's perfect." Singers Moises Baquiero and Alexandro Baquiero say the draw is Morrissey's dark humor, lyrics about doomed relationships and challenging authority, and his Irish immigrant roots: "Catholicism, guilt, second-class citizen — it's almost the same being an Irish descent in England, what it is of being Mexican or Mexican descent living in the United States." Hear more of the story at the audio link. YouTube Morrissey - Listen to Free Music by Morrissey on Pandora Internet Radio more Morrissey As the lead singer of the Smiths , arguably the most important indie band in Britain during the '80s, Morrissey's theatrical crooning and literate, poetic lyrics -- filled with romantic angst, social alienation, and cutting wit -- connected powerfully with a legion of similarly sensitive, disaffected youth. These fans turned the Smiths into stars in Britain, exerting tremendous pull over much of the country's guitar-based music for many years after their breakup, and even if the group remained underground cult artists in the States, they had a fan base that slowly, steadily grew larger over the years.

Indeed, a few years after the Smiths ' breakup in 1987, Morrissey's American cult had grown to the point where he became more popular in the U.S. than in his homeland, where he nevertheless was never far from the music press headlines. After a quiet period around the turn of the millennium, Morrissey launched a comeback in 2004 with You Are the Quarry, an album whose success proved that he remained one of the most beloved figures in alternative rock. Stephen Patrick Morrissey was born May 22, 1959, in Manchester, England; not surprisingly a shy, awkward youth, he became obsessed with music and film as a teenager and devoted his writing talents to penning a New York Dolls fanzine (he was the president of their U.K. fan club), as well as a tribute to James Dean and numerous opinionated letters to the weekly music paper Melody Maker. During the explosion of punk in the late '70s, Morrissey unsuccessfully auditioned for Slaughter & the Dogs and sang for a brief period with a band called the Nosebleeds.

He met guitarist Johnny Marr in 1982 and the two began writing songs together, forging one of the most productive partnerships British pop had seen in quite some time. The Smiths ' 1983 debut single, "Hand in Glove," a love song filled with oblique references to homosexuality, made them an underground sensation in the U.K. and as Morrissey attracted more attention, he demonstrated a flair for manipulating the media. His interviews were filled with blunt, unpredictable opinions and intentionally outrageous statements and his notoriety wasn't hurt by his stage presence (he performed wearing a hearing aid with flowers sticking out of his back pockets) or his self-proclaimed celibacy in the wake of much speculation about his sexuality. Possessed of a darkly cynical bent as a lyricist, he was often misinterpreted as advocating some of the more disturbing things he sang about, which only added to the furor surrounding the band. The Smiths ' eponymous 1984 debut was a smash in the U.K. and in its wake, Morrissey began promoting his political views, heavily criticizing Margaret Thatcher, and advocating vegetarianism (hence the title of the follow-up LP, Meat Is Murder).

The Queen Is Dead (1986) was acclaimed as a masterpiece, but friction between Morrissey and Marr was growing. Marr departed after 1987's Strangeways, Here We Come and Morrissey broke up the rest of the band to begin a solo career. Feeling betrayed by Marr 's defection, Morrissey channeled his frustration into creating new material with producer Stephen Street. His first two solo singles, "Suedehead" and the gorgeous "Everyday Is Like Sunday," were significant British hits in 1988 and his first album, Viva Hate (its title a reference to the Smiths ' breakup), was commercially and critically well received. He released several more high-quality singles, including "The Last of the International Playboys" and "Interesting Drug," but spent an inordinate amount of time laboring on the follow-up album, issuing the stopgap compilation Bona Drag in 1990. In the meantime, the Madchester fad was sweeping British indie music and when the lackluster Kill Uncle was finally released in 1991, it only magnified the disappointment. U.K.

reviewers took Morrissey to task, suggesting that the record marked the end of his glory days and that he would never be able to match the songs he'd written in tandem with Marr . A misperceived flirtation with British nationalism (not helped by a couple of seemingly racial caricatures in recent songs) tarnished his image even more in the U.K. press during 1992, this coming amid even more frequent reports of feuds with his managers, business associates, and ex-bandmates. All the controversy overshadowed the fact that 1992's Mick Ronson -produced Your Arsenal was a smashing return to form; Morrissey used his new guitar tandem of Alain Whyte (who co-wrote much of the material) and Boz Boorer (formerly of rockabilly revivalists the Polecats ) to full advantage in crafting a crunchy, glammed-up record. It easily ranked as the hardest-rocking of his career. Meanwhile, over in the U.S., tickets for his upcoming tour were selling like hotcakes and he managed to sell out L.A.'s Hollywood Bowl even faster than the Beatles had.

His confidence renewed by his American success (to the point where he permanently moved to Los Angeles), Morrissey delivered an equally strong follow-up in 1994's calmer Vauxhall and I, which even got him his first Top 50 singles chart entry in the U.S. with the MTV-supported "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get." A hit-and-miss compilation, The World of Morrissey, followed in 1995, after which he switched labels (from Sire to RCA) for the first time since the Smiths ' debut album. Also issued in 1995 was the prog rock-informed Southpaw Grammar, which confounded many and perhaps prevented him from expanding his American audience past a now sizable group of longtime listeners. In 1996 he moved to another new label, this time Island, and released Maladjusted the following year. It failed to sell well outside of his most fanatical followers and his relationship with Island ended in 1998. In the years that followed, Morrissey remained a massively popular touring attraction on the strength of his singular identity, despite the fact that he had yet to land another record deal.

Finally, he signed his Attack label to Sanctuary, and released his first studio album in seven years, 2004's You Are the Quarry featuring production by Jerry Finn ( blink-182 , Sum 41 , and Green Day ). The album's leadoff single, "Irish Blood, English Heart," garnered considerable press, radio, and music television attention, and established a comeback of sorts. The concert recording Live at Earls Court followed one year later, as did the DVD concert Who Put the "M" in Manchester?, which saw a brief theatrical release. His second full-length for Sanctuary, Ringleader of the Tormentors, was produced by Tony Visconti ( T. Rex , David Bowie ) and released in spring 2006. Recorded in Rome, the album also featured some orchestration by famed composer Ennio Morricone . Around this time, Morrissey's longtime guitarist and writing partner Alain Whyte left the band. Although Whyte continued to contribute songs for Morrissey, he was largely replaced on album and in live shows by guitarist Jesse Tobias.

In 2009, Morrissey released Years of Refusal, his first under Decca after label changes found Sanctuary being absorbed into the Universal Music Group (which owned Decca). Produced by Finn and once again showcasing guitarist Tobias, Years of Refusal found Morrissey going for a more stripped-down, back-to-basics rock approach. Sadly, Finn suffered a cerebral hemorrhage just after wrapping production on the album. He fell into a coma and died just over a month later on August 21, 2008. Despite the tragedy surrounding it, Years of Refusal was largely hailed as Morrissey's best album in years. Over the next few years, Morrissey busied himself with rejiggered reissues of his solo material and various other compilations surfaced, including the 2009 B-sides collection Swords and the 2011 set Very Best of Morrissey; he also played live with semi-regularity. Early in the summer of 2012, he announced in an interview with JuiceOnline.com that he was tentatively planning to retire in 2014.

Morrissey then spent much of 2012 and 2013 touring the world, either side of an early-2013 period of bad health that saw him hospitalized first for an ulcer and then for a bout of pneumonia. A film of a March 2013 show at L.A.'s Hollywood High School saw a cinema release as 25Live that August and was issued on DVD and Blu-ray before the end of the year. His autobiography -- published through Penguin Classics that October -- was well-received and became a number one best-seller in the U.K. In January 2014, despite his earlier proclamation of retirement, Morrissey signed a new record deal, this time with Capitol. Six months later he released his tenth studio album, World Peace Is None of Your Business, on Capitol's Harvest imprint. In promotion of the album, Morrissey shot several short films, released online, in which he delivered spoken word versions of the title track as well as the singles "Istanbul," "Earth Is the Loneliest Planet," and "The Bullfighter Dies." By August of 2014 Morrissey was once again without a label, having parted ways with Harvest.

He also revealed that he'd undergone treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. Nonetheless, he continued touring, wrapping up the year with a two-month stint in Europe. In January 2015, following several live shows in the U.K., Morrissey appeared in a high-profile concert at New York's Madison Square Garden supported by Blondie . That March he released a fifth single from World Peace Is None of Your Business, the digital download "Kiss Me a Lot." Also in 2015, Morrissey announced the publication of his debut novel, List of the Lost, for Penguin. ~ Steve Huey The love affair between Mexican Americans and Morrissey isn't that surprising | Public Radio International The love affair between Mexican Americans and Morrissey isn't that surprising This story is a part of A fan joins Jose Maldonado (the self-proclaimed "Mexican Morrissey") onstage during a performance by Sweet and Tender Hooligans, a Smiths/Morrissey tribute band based in LA. Credit: Forrest Locke “I wish I was born Mexican,” Morrissey once said to a Las Vegas crowd during his 1999 ¡Oye Esteban! Tour. According to many Mexican Americans, the feeling is mutual.

Player utilities PRI.org <iframe frameborder="0" src="" height="75" width="100%"></iframe> The former front man of The Smiths has one of the most loyal fan bases in music. But some of the most loyal “Moz” disciples come from an unexpected group — young Mexican Americans. There's a whole universe of fan conventions, club nights and tribute bands that tap into the Morrissey-Mexican love affair. A flyer for the "Mex Moz" club night in hosted by Mex and the City. Credit: Tanya Avelar for Mex and the City For the uninitiated, Steven Patrick Morrissey is a singer-songwriter from Manchester, England. He rose to fame with The Smiths during the 1980s and continued his career through the 1990s with solo albums. And while it might seem odd that a white, effeminate, working-class Brit who sings about Oscar Wilde would attract such a fan base, it’s no coincidence. First of all, Morrissey is a first-generation immigrant.

He was born of Irish parents but raised in England — a topic he addresses in the song " Irish Blood, English Heart ." It’s a split identity that many Mexican Americans identify with. “Being raised in a country where you’re supposed to be an American, but you’re Mexican culturally, you’re kind of between two things,” says Marina Garcia-Vasquez of Mex and the City , a New York City-based online community for Mexican Americans. “You can’t really relate to your own family because you have your own interests.” A feeling of alienation often comes with this identity, says Garcia-Vasquez, who was raised in San Jose by Mexican parents. And no one knows alienation like Morrissey. His lyrics tackle loneliness, death, nuclear war and generally being miserable — all delivered with his characteristic wit. “It goes to show something about Morrissey — his angst, being a part of the ‘other’ that … first-generation immigrants to this country can relate to,” she says. Jose Maldonado relates. Even growing in Los Angeles, a city with plenty of Mexican Americans, he felt torn by his identity. “Amongst my Anglo friends, I wasn’t quite Anglo enough. And around my Mexican friends, I wasn’t quite Mexican enough,” he says.

“I didn’t really fit into either compartment, so to speak.” Jose Maldonado, lead singer of The Smiths/Morrissey cover band Sweet and Tender Hooligans, peforms holding a bouquet of flowers in September 2014. One of Morrissey's trademarks is to toss flowers into the audience, a practice Maldonado said he learned to imitate for his shows. Credit: Forrest Locke As a teenager, he found that same angst in Morrissey's music, which quickly became an obsession. Now Maldonado has become the self-proclaimed “Mexican Morrissey," the lead singer of Sweet and Tender Hooligans , a Smiths-Morrissey tribute band that’s been performing for over 20 years. But there might be a more technical reason as to why Mexicans love Morrissey — his music evokes the classic ranchera genre that relies on romance, morose metaphors and slow-moving ballads. “It’s a big part of the culture to sing and cry, and to really belt out full emotion,” says Garcia-Vasquez of Mex and the City. “A lot of that has to do with links to love lost.

A lot of corridos or ballads have to do with not being good enough for your intended love.” She also sees the links to Morrissey's music. “I think there’s something to be said that it resembles not just ranchera music, but mariachi in general,” she adds. “You go to any cantina or space where there is mariachi, or any given birthday party, and you have men and women singing and drinking and crying to their lung capacity for every celebration that we have.” As part of her work with Mex and the City, Garcia-Vasquez once helped organize “Mex Moz” club nights in New York. Along with tracks from The Smiths and Morrissey, DJs would play classic Mexican ballads. “People come to our party and the one thing that they say is, ‘This is the music I used to listen to alone in my bedroom,’” she says. “Our DJs will turn down the song itself so people can sing together and hear each other in unison.” Morrissey himself has acknowledged the connection with his Mexican fans. He noted the phenomenon in the song “Mexico," and he's also praised Mexicans — albeit in a way only Morrissey can : “I really like Mexican people. I find them so terribly nice.

And they have fantastic hair, and fantastic skin, and usually really good teeth.” And Fernando Lions, a Brooklyn-based tattoo artist and Moz fan, remembers one concert in Mexico where Morrissey really went all out. “He had taken the Mexican flag and had put it around his waist, like a dress or a skirt or a towel,” he recalls. “It was sort of rude, but sort of sweet. It was really odd.” And to be honest, rude, sweet and odd is kind of Morrissey in a nutshell. A previous version of this story misidentified Marina Garcia-Vasquez's hometown.

Question: Morrissey was the lead singer of what band?
Answer: The Smiths