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莫里西
来自维基百科，自由的百科全书
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史提芬·派崔克·莫里西（英語：Steven Patrick Morrissey，1959年5月22日—），常簡稱莫里西（Morrissey），英國創作歌手，1980年代擔任另類搖滾樂團史密夫合唱團（The Smiths）主音歌手與作詞家成名，樂團在英國極之成功，惜於1987年解散，其後莫里西開始他的單飛生涯，成績依舊斐然。莫里西公認為獨立音樂的重要革新者[1]，英國音樂雜誌《NME》曾稱他「史上其中一位最具影響力的音樂家」，《獨立報》則表示「大多數流行歌手死後才能達到他現有標誌性的地位」[2]。美國音樂評論網站Pitchfork Media曾稱他為「西方流行文化二十年來其中一位特出人物」[3]
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莫里西的歌詞充滿故事性，細緻描寫個人情感，帶有幽默感，亦有不少對社會現況的不滿和意見，他坦率的意見不時引起爭議。他支持素食主義及動物權益，他曾因嗅到演場會會場有肉味而拒絕演出。
2010年他指中國虐待動物，並指中國人是次等物種，也曾發表種族主義言論，雜誌《Q》1992年曾引述他稱黑人和白人沒有可能和諧相處，他於2008年在音樂雜誌《NME》上也曾發表反對移民言論。[4]
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早期生活
1959年5月22日，[5] 莫里西出生於蘭開夏郡的老特拉福德。[6] 他的父母伊利沙伯（娘家姓德懷爾）和彼得·莫里西[6] 是愛爾蘭天主教徒，[7] 在他出生前一年帶着他唯一的姐姐積琪蓮（Jacqueline）從都柏林移民到曼徹斯特。[6] 儘管莫里西聲稱自己的名字來源於美國演員史提夫·科克倫，[8] 但他的名字也有可能是為了紀念他父親早逝的弟弟柏德烈·史蒂文·莫里西（Patrick Steven Morrissey）。[9]他最早的住所是曼徹斯特市中心休姆區女王廣場哈珀街17號的市政公屋，現已被拆除。[10][11][12]他深受當時該地區發生的針對兒童的沼澤謀殺案影響。這些罪行給莫里西留下了深刻印象，並激發了他在The Smiths歌曲《Suffer Little Children》中的歌詞創作。[13] 他也意識到英國社會對愛爾蘭移民產生的反愛爾蘭情緒。[14] 1970年，在休姆區對維多利亞時代房屋的「貧民窟清理」後，全家搬到了斯特雷特福德國王路384號的另一處市政公屋。[15]
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在聖威爾弗雷德小學接受完初等教育後，[15] 莫里西未能通過「11+」考試，[16] 因而進入聖瑪麗中等現代學校就讀。[17] 他在田徑方面表現出色，[18] 但在學校里卻不受歡迎，獨來獨往。[19] 他於1975年輟學，未獲得任何正式學歷。[20] 隨後，他在斯特雷特福德技術學院繼續學業，[20] 並取得了三門O-Level證書，分別為英國文學、社會學及綜合論文。[21]
1985年，他為《Oxford Road Show》節目帶領參觀曼徹斯特，深情談及聖威爾弗雷德小學，還拜訪了幾位舊日教師，並翻看了一本相冊。之後他來到聖瑪麗學校，對其評價非常負面，最後諷刺地總結道：「不值得推薦。」[22]他曾嚴厲批評自己所受的教育，後來表示：「我所接受的教育本質上就是邪惡而殘酷的。我唯一學會的，就是捨棄自尊，並且無緣無故地感到羞恥。」[18] 他也談到自己在學生時期曾遭受體罰，[23]這一經歷成為The Smiths1985年歌曲《The Headmaster Ritual》的主題。教育也是他歌詞中反覆出現的元素，例如1995年專輯《Southpaw Grammar》中的《The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils》，以及2009年《Years of Refusal》中的《Because of My Poor Education》。他首張個人專輯《Viva Hate》原定名為《Education in Reverse》。該專輯在澳大利亞最初以此名稱發行，但後來被更正。[24]
我在很小的時候就在音樂中迷失了自己，並一直沉浸其中……我確實愛上了所聽到的那些聲音，無論是男聲還是女聲。我愛那些人。我真的、真的愛那些人。為了這份熱愛，我獻出了我的生命……我的青春。在流行音樂的邊界之外，是世界盡頭的一道懸崖。
——莫里西，1991年[25]
1975年，他前往美國探望一位住在史坦頓島的姑姑。[12]他父母關係緊張，最終於1976年12月分居，父親搬出了家庭住所。[26]
身為圖書管理員的母親鼓勵莫里西培養閱讀興趣。[27] 他對女權主義文學產生了興趣。[28] 在1983年接受NME採訪時，他援引了馬喬里·羅森、莫莉·哈斯克爾和蘇珊·布朗米勒等例子。[29]他尤其喜愛愛爾蘭作家奧斯卡·王爾德，並逐漸將其視為偶像。[30] 莫里西年輕時曾是肥皂劇《加冕街》的粉絲，該劇聚焦曼徹斯特的工人階級社區。他曾向《加冕街》的製作公司格拉納達電視提交劇本和劇情建議，但均遭拒絕。[31] 他還喜歡希拉·德蘭尼的劇本《A Taste of Honey》及其1961年的改編電影，這是一部關於索爾福德工人階級生活的戲劇。[32] 他後來的許多歌詞都直接引用了《A Taste of Honey》中的內容。[33]
關於自己的青年時代，莫里西曾說：「流行音樂是我唯一擁有的東西，它與流行歌星的形象完全交織在一起。我記得，當時我感覺唱歌的人真的就在我身邊，理解我和我的困境。」[34]他後來透露自己購買的第一張唱片是瑪莉安·菲芙的單曲《Come and Stay With Me》（1965）。[35] 1970年代，莫里西喜歡上了華麗搖滾。[36][37][38] 他為美國華麗搖滾樂隊紐約娃娃成立了英國粉絲俱樂部，通過在音樂雜誌背頁的小廣告吸納成員。[39][40][41]
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放棄正規教育後，莫里西先後從事了一系列工作，先是在公務員系統擔任文員，後轉入稅務局工作，[42]又在唱片店做過銷售員，還當過醫院搬運工，最終放棄工作開始領取失業救濟金。[43]他將這些工作掙來的大部分錢用於購買樂隊演唱會門票，如Talking Heads、雷蒙斯、金髮美女。[44]他常去看音樂會，對另類音樂和後龐克尤為感興趣。[45]1977年11月結識結他手比利·達菲後，莫里西同意擔任達菲的龐克樂隊「Nosebleeds」的主音歌手，[46]但莫里西又在2024年表示自己「從未加入過」該樂隊。[47]莫里西與樂隊共同創作了多首歌曲，[48]如《Peppermint Heaven》《I Get Nervous》和《I Think I'm Ready for the Electric Chair》，[46]並隨樂隊為「被拋棄的約翰」和「雜誌」樂隊暖場演出。[40]但這隻樂隊不久後便解散了。[49]
莫里西逐漸在曼徹斯特的龐克圈子裏小有名氣。[50]到1981年，他已經與龐克爵士樂隊「Ludus」的主音歌手林德·士他令成為密友，並受到後者歌詞和演唱風格的影響。[51]通過士他令，他結識了侯活·德沃托和李察·布恩。[50]當時，莫里西最要好的男性朋友是占士·梅克（James Maker）。他常去倫敦看望梅克，或是在曼徹斯特碰面。他們經常光顧當地的同性戀酒吧和俱樂部，有次甚至不得不躲避一群恐同暴徒的追趕。[52]
渴望成為專業作家的莫里西曾考慮從事音樂記者工作。[53]他經常給音樂媒體寫信，最終被周刊音樂評論雜誌《Record Mirror》聘用。[45]他為當地出版公司「Babylon Books」撰寫了幾本短篇書籍。1981年，該公司出版了莫里西所著的關於紐約娃娃樂隊的24頁小冊子，售出3000冊。[54]隨後，莫里西又出版了關於已故美國影星占士·甸的《占士·甸沒有死》。[45]莫里西當時對迪恩有濃厚興趣，甚至在臥室里貼滿了他的照片。[55]
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The Smiths時期
1978年8月，莫里西在曼徹斯特阿波羅劇院舉辦的帕蒂·史密夫演唱會上，經短暫介紹認識了14歲的約翰尼·馬爾。[48]幾年後，馬爾在1982年5月拜訪了莫里西，詢問他是否有興趣共同組建樂隊。[56]馬爾對莫里西曾撰寫過的一本關於紐約娃娃樂隊的書印象深刻。[57][58]據莫里西回憶：「我們一拍即合，有着相似的野心。」[59]次日，莫里西致電馬爾，確認願意與其組建樂隊。[60]樂隊首任低音結他手史提夫·龐弗雷特（Steve Pomfret）很快退出，由戴爾·希伯特（Dale Hibbert）接替。[61]樂隊組建期間，莫里西決定僅以姓氏公開示人，[62]馬爾則稱他為「Mozzer」或「Moz」。[63]1983年，他禁止周圍人使用他自己厭惡的本名「Steven」。[63]樂隊的名稱「史密夫」（the Smiths）由莫里西選定。[64]他後來在採訪中解釋：「這是最平凡的名字，我認為該讓世界的普通人露一會面了。」[65]
除了創作樂隊自己的歌曲外，他們還翻唱了Cookies樂隊的《I Want a Boy for My Birthday》，後者體現了他們受紐約娃娃樂隊啟發，有意突破搖滾樂中既定性別與性取向規範的意圖。[66]1982年8月，他們在曼徹斯特的Decibel工作室錄製了首支試聽帶。[67]莫里西將樣帶送至Factory唱片公司，但對方並不感興趣。[68]1982年夏末，米克·喬伊斯通過試音，成功成為樂隊鼓手。[69]同年10月，他們在曼徹斯特的The Ritz作為Blue Rondo à la Turk的暖場樂隊完成了首次公開演出。[70]然而，低音結他手希伯特對他眼中樂隊刻意營造的同性戀美學感到不滿。與此同時，莫里西和馬兒也對他的低音結他演奏感到不滿，於是他被迫離隊，並由馬爾的校友安迪·洛克接任低音結他手。[71]
在被EMI唱片拒絕後，[72]莫里西和馬爾前往倫敦，將他們錄製的磁帶交給了獨立唱片公司Rough Trade Records的謝夫·崔維斯。[73]儘管沒有立即與他們簽約，但崔維斯同意將他們的歌曲《Hand in Glove》製作成單曲發行。[74]莫里西選擇了一張由占·弗倫奇拍攝的帶有同性暗示的照片作為封面。[75]該單曲於1983年5月發行。樂隊很快引發爭議，因為《太陽報》記者加里·布謝爾指控他們的B面歌曲《Handsome Devil》是在支持戀童癖。[76]樂隊否認了這一說法，莫里西表示這首歌「與兒童無關，更與兒童性侵無關」。[77] In the wake of their single, the band performed their first significant London gig, gained radio airplay with a John Peel session, and obtained their first interviews in music magazines NME and Sounds.單曲發行後，樂隊在倫敦舉行了首場重要演出，通過約翰·皮爾的節目獲得了在電台上播放的機會，並在音樂雜誌《NME》和《Sounds》上接受了首次採訪。[78]
樂隊隨後發行的單曲《This Charming Man》和《What Difference Does It Make?》表現更佳，分別登上英國單曲排行榜第25位和第12位。[79]此時，The Smiths漸漸積累了一批忠實粉絲。1984年2月，他們發行了首張專輯《史密夫》，該專輯登上了英國專輯排行榜第2位。[79]
作為The Smiths的主場，「瘦高、輕聲細語、留着蓬鬆髮型並戴着眼鏡」[80]的莫里西顛覆了許多流行和搖滾音樂的常規。[81]樂隊簡約的美學風格是對新浪漫主義奢靡風氣的反叛。[82]雖然莫里西像新浪漫主義者或早期華麗搖滾歌手一樣採用了中性化形象，但他的風格要含蓄低調得多。[83]據一名評論家所稱，「他書卷氣十足；戴着國民醫療服務體系的眼鏡，在舞台上佩戴助聽器；他保持獨身。最糟糕的是，他很真誠」，他的音樂「如此令人陶醉地憂鬱，如此危險地引人深思，如此誘人地有趣，以至於吸引聽眾......與他及其音樂建立聯繫，而疏離現實世界。」[84]在一篇關於樂隊的學術論文中，朱利安·士他令格（Julian Stringer）將他們描述為「英國最公開表達政治立場的團體之一」。[85]而在對其作品的研究中，安德魯·沃恩斯（Andrew Warns）稱他們為「最反資本主義的樂隊」。[86]莫里西對時任首相瑪嘉烈·戴卓爾的批評尤為尖銳。在1984年10月的布萊頓旅館爆炸案後，他評論稱「唯一的遺憾」是「戴卓爾毫髮無損地逃脫了」。[87]1988年，他表示第28條法案「體現了戴卓爾的本質和她與生俱來的仇恨」。[87]
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The Smiths為他們的浪漫主義注入了現實主義色彩，以最輕盈的筆觸調和了焦慮情緒。那個時代的特質在他們的主音歌手身上體現得淋漓盡致：他（莫里西）摒棄了搖滾樂中所有陽剛氣質的痕跡，放大了不合群者與局外人的社交窘迫感，（歌曲中）輕柔縈繞的嗓音突然轉為假聲的嘶喊，身着過大尺寸的女式襯衫，戴着國民保健眼鏡或約翰尼·雷式巨型助聽器。
——Paul A. Woods，2007年[88]
1984年，樂隊發行了單曲《Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now》和《William, It Was Really Nothing》，前者為他們在英國的首支前十熱門單曲。同年年底，樂隊推出了合輯《Hatful of Hollow》。1985年初，樂隊發行了第二張專輯《Meat Is Murder》，這是他們唯一一張登上英國專輯榜榜首的錄音室專輯。僅以單曲形式發行的《Shakespeare's Sister》在英國單曲榜上排名第26位；而專輯中唯一發行過的單曲《That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore》成績較差，僅勉強進入前50名。[79]《How Soon Is Now?》最初是《William, It Was Really Nothing》的B面曲，後來被收錄在《Hatful of Hollow》以及美國、加拿大、澳大利亞和華納英國版的《Meat Is Murder》中。1985年，《How Soon Is Now?》在英國作為單曲發行，最終在英國單曲榜上排名第24位。
1985年間，樂隊在錄製下一張錄音室專輯《The Queen Is Dead》的同時，展開了漫長的英國和美國巡演。該專輯於1986年6月發行，在英國排行榜上攀升至第2位。[79]然而，樂隊內部並不和諧。與Rough Trade Records的法律糾紛使專輯發行推遲了近七個月（原本可於1985年11月發行），馬爾開始感受到高強度巡演和緊湊錄音日程帶來的壓力。[89]與此同時，魯爾克因吸食海洛英於1986年初被開除[90]克雷格·甘農臨時接替了低音結他手位置，但僅兩周後，魯爾克就復職了。甘農留在樂隊中，改彈節奏結他。這個五人陣容錄製了單曲《Panic》和《Ask》（由柯斯蒂·麥考爾和音），分別登上英國單曲榜第11和第14位。[79]1986年10月巡演結束後，甘農離開了樂隊。樂隊對Rough Trade Records感到失望，最終與主流唱片公司EMI簽約。此舉招致部分樂迷的批評。[89]
1987年初，樂隊單曲《Shoplifters of the World Unite》發行，在英國單曲榜上排名第12位。[79]隨後推出的第二張精選專輯《The World Won't Listen》在排行榜上位列第2，[79]其中的單曲《Sheila Take a Bow》成為樂隊生涯中第二個也是最後一個英國前十熱門歌曲。[79]儘管樂隊持續取得成功，但成員間的分歧——包括莫里西和馬爾日益緊張的關係——使他們瀕臨解散。1987年7月，馬爾離隊，而尋找替代者的試音工作最終無果而終。
當樂隊第四張專輯《Strangeways, Here We Come》於1987年9月發行時，樂隊已經解散。在1989年的採訪中，莫里西將樂隊解散歸因於缺乏管理團隊。[91]專輯在英國排行榜最高位列第二，但在美國僅取得一般成績，[79][92]不過相比樂隊先前專輯的表現，它在美國市場表現已算成功。
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個人事業
在The Smiths解散前幾個月，莫里西便邀請史提芬·斯特里特擔任其個人製作人兼創作搭檔，準備開啟個人音樂生涯。[93]1987年9月，他在巴斯附近的Wool Hall錄音室開始籌備首張個人專輯《Viva Hate》，[93]與音樂人文尼·瑞利、安德魯·帕雷西共同完成錄製。[94]不同於The Smiths以名人現成照片作為專輯和單曲封面的做法，《Viva Hate》的封面採用了由安東·寇班拍攝的莫里西肖像。[95]1988年2月，專輯首支單曲《Suedehead》發行，在英國單曲榜攀升至第5位，成績超越The Smiths所有單曲。[96]同年6月發行的第二支單曲《Everyday Is Like Sunday》進入榜單第9名。[97]專輯更登上了英國專輯榜榜首。[95]專輯內的最後一首歌《Margaret on the Guillotine》因歌詞描述戴卓爾夫人被處決的場景，引發保守黨議員謝菲·狄更斯對莫里西參與恐怖組織的指控。警方特別部門隨後搜查了他在曼徹斯特的住所。[98]
莫里西的首場個人演出於1988年12月在伍爾弗漢普頓市政廳舉行。[99]這場活動吸引了大量觀眾，《NME》記者占士·布朗（James Brown）稱「大廳內的興奮和氛圍，是我在任何公共活動中從未體驗過的」。[100]繼《Viva Hate》之後，莫里西又發行了兩首新單曲。《The Last of the Famous International Playboys》講述了倫敦東區黑幫克雷兄弟的故事，在英國單曲榜上排名第6。[101]隨後發行的《Interesting Drug》則排名第9。[102]在與斯特里特的詞曲創作合作結束後，莫里西轉而與亞倫·溫士丹利和克萊夫·蘭傑合作，[103]與他們錄製了《Ouija Board, Ouija Board》。該單曲於1989年11月發行，排名第18位。[103]基督教發言人和小報譴責這首歌，聲稱它宣揚神秘主義。對此，莫里西回應道：「我與死者唯一的接觸就是和《太陽報》記者說話的時候。」[104]
與溫士丹利和蘭格合作期間，他開始着手製作首張精選專輯《Bona Drag》，但僅為該專輯錄製了六首新歌，其餘部分則由近期發行的單曲和B面歌曲組成。[105]該專輯在英國專輯排行榜上位列第9。[106]專輯中的兩首新歌隨後作為單曲發行。《November Spawned a Monster》講述了一位使用輪椅的女性，雖登上排行榜第12位，但因其被指嘲笑殘障人士而引發爭議。[107]同年11月發行的第二支單曲《Piccadilly Palare》涉及倫敦男妓（rent boy）題材，並融入了同性戀俚語「Polari」，最高排名第19位。[108]此曲遭到英國同性戀媒體的批評，認為莫里西並非公開出櫃者卻使用「Polari」不妥[109]——儘管他在一年前的採訪中曾承認自己對男女兩性均有吸引力。[110]
莫里西與馬克·E·內文展開新的創作夥伴關係[111]，共同完成他的第二張個人專輯《Kill Uncle》；該專輯於1991年3月發行，在專輯榜上最高達到第8名[111]。為宣傳此專輯推出的兩首單曲《Our Frank》與《Sing Your Life》未能打入單曲榜前20名，分別僅達第26與第33名[111][112]。專輯中的另一首歌曲《Found, Found, Found》則暗示了莫里西與美國獨立搖滾樂團R.E.M.主音歌手米高·史戴普之間的友誼[113]。
在籌劃他的首次個人巡演時，莫里西組建了一支由具有洛卡比里背景的音樂人組成的新伴奏團，包括結他手Boz Boorer、Alain Whyte與鼓手Spencer Cobrin[114]。他先在歐洲展開《Kill Uncle》巡演，邀請Phranc擔任暖場嘉賓，並在每場演出舞台上佈置上Edith Sitwell的巨幅影像[115]。在美國巡演期間，他於洛杉磯的論壇體育館以15分鐘售罄18,000張門票，速度甚至快過米高·積遜與麥當娜[116]。在該場演出中，大衛·寶兒也登台，與他合唱T. Rex的《Cosmic Dancer》[116]。在美國，他的26場演出中有25場門票售罄[116]；其中德州的一場演出由Tim Broad拍攝，後以VHS形式發行為《Live in Dallas》[117]。他接着前往日本——在當地，他對官方對粉絲的嚴格態度感到沮喪——然後前往澳大拉西亞，但因急性鼻竇炎而取消了數場演出[118]。
1990 年代初期被傳記作家大衛·布雷特（David Bret）形容為莫里西與英國音樂媒體關係的「黑暗時期」[119]，此時媒體對他愈發敵對與批評。在某些情況下，媒體甚至散播錯誤訊息，例如他與弗蘭克（Phranc）正在錄製翻唱《Don't Go Breaking My Heart》的說法[120]；其他報導，如芭芭拉·亞倫（Barbara Ellen）在NME上的評論，則更接近人身攻擊而非音樂評論[121]。NME聲稱他取消演出是對歌迷的不尊重表現[122]。他愈來愈不願接受英國音樂記者的採訪[123]，對他們不斷將他的個人作品與The Smiths比較感到沮喪；他表示：「我的過去幾乎讓我沒有未來」[124]。他曾告訴一位訪問者，當時與他合作的樂團成員在技術上比The Smiths更為優秀[124]。
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In July 1992, Morrissey released the album Your Arsenal, which peaked at number 2 in the album chart.[125] It was the final release from producer Mick Ronson; Morrissey related that working with Ronson had been "the greatest privilege of my life".[126] Your Arsenal reflected Morrissey's lament for what he regarded as the decline of British culture in the face of increasing Americanisation.[127] He told one interviewer that "everything is informed by American culture—everyone under fifty speaks American—and that's sad. We once had a strong identity and now that's gone completely".[127] A number of the tracks on the album, most notably "Certain People I Know" and "The National Front Disco", dealt with the lives and experiences of tough, working-class youths.[128] Your Arsenal was critically well received,[129] and often described as his best album since Viva Hate.[125] The first single, "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful", had been released in April 1992 and peaked at number 17;[130] this was followed by "You're the One for Me, Fatty", which reached number 19 and "Certain People I Know", which reached number 34.[131] From September to December, Morrissey embarked on a 53-date Your Arsenal tour in which he varyingly decorated the stage with backdrops of skinhead girls,[132]Diana Dors, Elvis Presley, and Charlie Richardson.[133] One of the performances was recorded and released as Beethoven Was Deaf (1993).[134]
By the release of Your Arsenal, Morrissey's image had changed; according to Simpson, the singer had converted "from the aesthete interested in rough lads into a rough lad interested in aestheticism (and rough lads)".[135] According to Woods, Morrissey developed an air of "quietly assured masculinity", representing "a more robust, burlier, beefier version of himself",[136] while the poet and Morrissey fan Simon Armitage described the transition as being one from that of "stick-thin, knock-me-over-with-a-feather campness" to that of a "mobster and bare-knuckle boxer image".[137]This new image was reflected in the cover art for Your Arsenal; a photograph taken by Sterling, it featured Morrissey onstage with his shirt open, displaying a muscular torso beneath.[135]
In mid-1993, Morrissey co-wrote his fifth album, Vauxhall and I, with Whyte and Boorer; it was produced by Steve Lillywhite.[138] Morrissey described the album as "the best I've ever made",[139] and at the time believed it would be either his final or penultimate work.[140] It was both a critical and commercial success,[141] topping the UK album chart in March 1994.[142] The album had been named after Vauxhall, a district of South West London famous for the Royal Vauxhall Tavern gay pub.[139] One of the album's songs, "The More You Ignore Me, the Closer I Get", was released as a single at the time and reached number 8 in the UK.[139] The single's sleeve featured images of Jake Walters, a skinhead in his twenties, who was living with Morrissey at the time.[143] Walters had introduced Morrissey to York Hall, a boxing venue in Bethnal Green, part of London's East End, with the singer spending an increasing amount of time there.[144]
That year, he also released a non-album single, "Interlude", a duet with Siouxsie Sioux: the track was a cover of a Timi Yuro song. The record was published under the banner "Morrissey & Siouxsie"; due to record company issues, "Interlude" was only available on import outside Europe.[145]
In the autumn of 1994, Morrissey recorded five songs at South London's Olympic Studios.[146] In January 1995 the single "Boxers" was released, reaching number 23 on the singles chart.[147] In February 1995, he embarked on the Boxers tour, supported by the band Marion and featuring a backdrop depiction of the boxer Cornelius Carr.[148] One of these performances was filmed by James O'Brien and released as the VHS Introducing Morrissey.[149] In December 1995, the song "Sunny" was released as a single; a lament for Morrissey's terminated relationship with Walters, the song was the first of Morrissey's singles not to chart.[146] In 1995 the compilation album World of Morrissey was released, containing largely B-sides.[150]
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After his contract with EMI expired, Morrissey signed to RCA.[151] On this label he recorded his next album, Southpaw Grammar, at the Miraval Studios in southern France before releasing it in August 1995.[152] Its cover art featured an image of the boxer Kenny Lane.[153] It reached number 4 in the UK album charts,[153] but made little impact compared to its two predecessors.[154] In September 1995, Morrissey served as the support act for the British leg of Bowie's Outside Tour.[155] Backstage at the Aberdeen gig, Morrissey was taken ill and taken to hospital; he did not return for the rest of the tour.[156] Later referring to the tour critically, he said that when you become involved with Bowie, "you have to worship at the Temple of David".[157]
In December 1996, a legal case against Morrissey and Marr brought by Smiths' drummer Mike Joyce arrived at the High Court. Joyce alleged that he had not received his fair share of recording and performance royalties from his time with the band, calling for at least £1 million in damages and 25% of all future Smiths album sales. After a seven-day hearing, the judge ruled in favour of Joyce.[158][159]In summing up the case, Judge Justice Weeks referred to Morrissey as "devious, truculent and unreliable when his own interests were at stake", with the words "devious" and "truculent" being widely used in press coverage of the ruling.[160] Marr paid the money legally owed to Joyce but Morrissey launched an appeal against the ruling.[161] He said that the judge had been biased against him from the start of the proceedings because of his public criticisms of Thatcher and her government.[162] Morrissey lost his appeal in July 1998, although he launched another soon after;[162] this too was unsuccessful.[163]In a November 2005 statement, Morrissey said that Joyce had cost him £600,000 in legal fees alone and approximately £1,515,000 in total.[164]
Morrissey returned on Island Records in 1997, releasing the single "Alma Matters" in July,[來源請求] followed by his next album Maladjusted in August.[165] The album peaked at number 8 in the UK album charts. Its further two singles, "Roy's Keen" and "Satan Rejected My Soul", both peaked outside the top 30 on the UK singles chart.[112]Having been unhappy with the cover design for Southpaw Grammar, Morrissey left control of cover art of Maladjusted to his record company, but again was unsatisfied with the result.[166]
Uncut reported in 1998 that Morrissey no longer had a record deal.[167]The following year, he embarked on the Oye Esteban Tour, and was one of the headliners of the Coachella Festival in California.[168]
The England that I have loved, and I have sung about, and whose death I have sung about, I felt had finally slipped away. And so I was no longer saying, "England is dying." I was beginning to say, "Well, yes, it has died and here's the carcass"—so why hang around?
— Morrissey, on his move to Los Angeles.[169]
Leaving Britain, Morrissey purchased a house in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles. It had formerly been the residence of Carole Lombard and had been re-designed by William Haines.[170] Over the next few years he rarely returned to Britain.[170] In 2002, Morrissey returned with a world tour, culminating in two sold-out nights at the Royal Albert Hall, during which he played as-yet unreleased songs.[171]Outside the US and Europe, concerts also took place in Australia and Japan.[172]During this time, Channel 4 filmed The Importance of Being Morrissey, a documentary which aired in 2003; it was Morrissey's first major screen interview to appear on British television.[173][174]He told interviewers that he was working on an autobiography,[175] and expressed criticism of reality television music shows like Pop Idol which were then in their infancy.[176]
In 2003, Morrissey signed to Sanctuary Records, where he was given the defunct reggae label Attack Records to use for his next project.[177][178]Produced by Jerry Finn and recorded in both Los Angeles and Berkshire, Morrissey's seventh solo album was You Are the Quarry; it was released in May 2004.[179] The album's cover art featured an image of Morrissey carrying a Tommy gun.[180] It peaked at number 2 on the UK album chart and number 11 on the U.S. Billboard album chart.[112]The first single, "Irish Blood, English Heart", reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, the highest ranked single of his career.[181] Promoting the album, he made appearances on both Top of the Pops and Later with Jools Holland,[182] and gave his first television interview in 17 years on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross; Morrissey was visibly uncomfortable with Jonathan Ross' questions.[183] He also agreed to interviews with various press outlets, including the NME, stating that "the nasty old guard" who controlled the magazine in the 1990s were gone and that it was not "the smelly NME any more".[184]
To promote the album, Morrissey embarked on a world tour from April to November.[185]He marked his 45th birthday with a concert at the Manchester Arena, supported by Franz Ferdinand;[186] it was recorded for release as the DVD Who Put the M in Manchester?.[來源請求] Morrissey was also invited to curate that year's Meltdown festival at London's Southbank Centre. Among the acts he secured were Sparks, Loudon Wainwright III, Ennio Marchetto, Nancy Sinatra, the Cockney Rejects, Lypsinka, the Ordinary Boys, the Libertines, and playwright Alan Bennett.[187] He had unsuccessfully attempted to secure appearances from Brigitte Bardot and Maya Angelou.[188] That year he also performed at several UK music festivals, including Leeds, Reading, and Glastonbury.[189]
Morrissey's eighth studio album, Ringleader of the Tormentors, was recorded in Rome and released in April 2006. It debuted at number 1 in the UK album charts and number 27 in the US.[190][191]The album yielded four singles: "You Have Killed Me", "The Youngest Was the Most Loved", "In the Future When All's Well", and "I Just Want to See the Boy Happy".[來源請求] The album was produced by Tony Visconti; Morrissey called the album "the most beautiful—perhaps the most gentle—so far". Billboard described the album as showcasing "a thicker, more rock-driven sound".[192]
In December 2007, Morrissey signed a new deal with Decca Records, which included a Greatest Hits album and a new studio album.[193]Greatest Hits charted at number 5 in the UK album chart.[190]"That's How People Grow Up" was the first single from Greatest Hits, reaching number 14 in the UK charts.[190]A second single from the album, "All You Need Is Me", followed.
His ninth studio album, Years of Refusal, originally due in September, was postponed until February 2009, as a result of the death of producer Jerry Finn,[194]and the lack of an American label to distribute the album.[195]When released by the Universal Music Group, it reached number 3 in the UK Albums Chart[196]and 11 in the US Billboard 200.[197]The record was widely acclaimed by critics,[198]with comparisons made to Your Arsenal[199]and Vauxhall and I.[200]A review from Pitchfork Media noted that with Years of Refusal, Morrissey "has rediscovered himself, finding new potency in his familiar arsenal. Morrissey's rejuvenation is most obvious in the renewed strength of his vocals" and called it his "most venomous, score-settling album, and in a perverse way that makes it his most engaging".[200]"I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" and "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" were released as the record's singles. The song "Black Cloud" features the guitar playing of Jeff Beck. Throughout 2009, Morrissey toured to promote the album. As part of the extensive Tour of Refusal, Morrissey followed a lengthy US tour with concerts booked in Ireland, the UK, and Russia.[201]
In October 2009, Swords, a B-sides collection of material released between 2004 and 2009, was released.[202]It peaked at 55 on the UK albums chart, and Morrissey later called it "a meek disaster".[203]On the second date of the UK tour to promote Swords, Morrissey collapsed onstage in Swindon,[204]and was briefly hospitalised.[205]Following the Swords tour, Morrissey had fulfilled his contractual obligation to Universal Records and was without a record company.[206]
In April 2011, EMI issued a new compilation, Very Best of Morrissey, for which the singer had chosen the track list and artwork.[207]In March 2011, Morrissey took Ron Laffitte as his manager.[208]In June and July 2011, Morrissey played a UK tour;[209]during his 2011 performance at Glastonbury Festival, Morrissey criticised UK Prime Minister David Cameron for attempting to prevent a ban on wild animals performing in circuses, calling him a "silly twit".[210]This was followed by several dates elsewhere in Europe.[211]Morrissey's 2012 tour started in South America and continued through Asia and North America. Morrissey played concerts in Belgium, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Portugal, England, and Scotland. In late September, while visiting Strand Bookstore in Manhattan, he saved an elderly lady who had fainted beside him.[212]Between January and March 2013, Morrissey toured 32 North American cities, beginning in Greenvale, New York and ending in Portland, Oregon.[213]Patti Smith and her band were special guests at the Staples Center concert in Los Angeles, and Kristeen Young opened on all nights.[214]
In January 2013, Morrissey was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer and several engagements were rescheduled.[215]On 7 March, Morrissey was hospitalised again, this time with pneumonia in both lungs.[216]One week later, the rest of the tour was cancelled.[217]During his rehabilitation he spent time in Ireland, where he watched the country's football team play a match against Austria in the company of his cousin Robbie Keane.[218][219]
In April, EMI reissued the single "The Last of the Famous International Playboys", backed by three new songs: "People Are the Same Everywhere", "Action Is My Middle Name", and "The Kid's a Looker", all recorded live in 2011.[220]Starting in June, Morrissey performed in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile.[221]In August, Morrissey's concert at Hollywood High School on 2 March 2013, had a worldwide cinema release.[需要解釋] Morrissey: 25 Live marks Morrissey's 25th year as a solo artist, and was the first authorised live Morrissey DVD in nine years.[222]In July, Morrissey cancelled the South American leg of his tour due to a "lack of funding", saying it was "the last of many final straws".[223]
In October 2013, Morrissey's autobiography, titled Autobiography, was released after a "content dispute" had delayed it from the initial release date of 16 September 2013.[224]The book's release caused controversy as it was published as a "contemporary classic" under the Penguin Classics label at Morrissey's request, which some critics felt devalued the Penguin Classics label.[225][226]Morrissey had completed the 660-page book in 2011,[227]before shopping it to publishers such as Penguin Books[228]and Faber and Faber.[229]The book received divergent reviews: The Daily Telegraph giving it a five-star review that described it as "the best written musical autobiography since Bob Dylan's Chronicles", while The Independent criticised the book's "droning narcissism" as well as its status as a Penguin Classic.[230]The book entered the UK book charts at number 1, nearly 35,000 copies being sold in its first week.[231]In December, a 2011 live cover version of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love", was released as a single.[232]
In January 2014, Morrissey signed a two-record deal with Capitol Music.[233]His tenth studio album, World Peace Is None of Your Business, was released in July.[234]Prior to its release, he embarked on a US tour in May,[235]but was hospitalised in Boston in early June, cancelling the remaining nine tour dates.[236]After finishing a six date tour in the UK, he did a US tour during June and July, including a concert in New York with special guest Blondie at Madison Square Garden.[237]In July 2015, he publicly claimed that an airport security guard had groped him at San Francisco International Airport. He filed a sexual assault complaint; the Transportation Security Administration found no supporting evidence to act on the allegation.[238]In August, Capitol Music and Harvest Records ended their contracts with Morrissey.[239]In October, he disclosed he had received treatment for Barrett's oesophageal cancer.[238][240]
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In September 2015, Penguin Books published Morrissey's first novel, List of the Lost.[241][242]
In November 2017, his eleventh studio album, Low in High School, was released through BMG and Morrissey's own Etienne record label.[243]That same month, Morrissey attracted press attention and criticism for comments made in an interview with Der Spiegel: he stated that it was "quite sad" that distinct national identities in Europe were being undermined by politicians trying "to introduce a multicultural aspect to everything",[244][245][246]and that some individuals claiming victimhood as part of the Me Too movement were not genuine victims of sexual assault but were "simply disappointed".[244][247]Morrissey accused Der Spiegel of misquoting him and said it would be his last print interview.[248][249]He played two shows at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl in November.[250]Morrissey's first UK tour since 2015 began in Aberdeen and concluded in London.[251]
In November 2018, Morrissey released a cover of the Pretenders' "Back on the Chain Gang",[252]performing it on The Late Late Show with James Corden.[253]In May 2019, Morrissey played a seven-night residency at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on Broadway,[254]prior to the release of his twelfth studio album, a covers album titled California Son.
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Morrissey released an 11-track album I Am Not a Dog on a Chain in late March 2020. The lead single, "Bobby, Don't You Think They Know?" featuring Motown soul singer Thelma Houston, was also made available on streaming sites.[255]
In November 2020, Morrissey's deal with BMG expired and was not renewed.[256]Morrissey completed a Las Vegas residency in July 2022 titled "Viva Moz Vegas" for the second year in a row.[257]He completed tour dates in the UK and Ireland.[258][259]
The initial plan to release his fourteenth solo album Bonfire of Teenagers in 2023 on Capitol Records in the US, although he did not sign with a label for a UK release, was scrapped.[260]The album has eleven songs produced by Andrew Watt and features Red Hot Chili Peppers members Chad Smith and Flea alongside their former bandmate Josh Klinghoffer. Guests also included singers Miley Cyrus and Iggy Pop who contributed backing vocals.[261]In addition, Capitol planned to re-issue several of Morrissey's albums released between 1995 and 2014, with the exception of Maladjusted.[262]On 15 November, it was announced that Bonfire of Teenagers was no longer scheduled to release in February, with Morrissey saying that the fate of the album was exclusively in the hands of the label.[263]
On 25 November 2022, the album's lead single, "Rebels Without Applause", was released by Capitol Records worldwide.[264]On 23 and 24 December, Morrissey announced that he had voluntarily parted ways with his current management companies, Maverick and Quest, withdrew any association with Capitol Records, and revealed that Cyrus requested to have her vocals removed from the album, which still remains under the control of Capitol and would no longer be releasing it.[265][266][267][268]He later confirmed in February 2023 that Capitol, while still maintaining control of the album, will not release Bonfire of Teenagers; he also suggested that the album had been "sabotaged" by Capitol.[269]
On 8 December 2022, Morrissey announced that in January and February 2023, he would record a new album, titled Without Music the World Dies.[270]On 20 February 2023, he announced the album had been completed and unveiled its tracklist, before offering the album to any record labels or private investors who would be willing to distribute it.[271]
In 2024, "Interlude", Morrissey's duet with Siouxsie, was re-released on 12-inch gold vinyl for Record Store Day on 20 April 2024; it was available in the UK and other parts of Europe only.[272]
In August 2024, Morrissey said in a post on his website that he and Marr had received a "lucrative offer" to tour as the Smiths in 2025.[273]The singer said he accepted the invitation, but Marr did not respond. Marr did not publicly comment, but had then-recently posted a picture of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to dismiss calls to reunite in the aftermath of Oasis's reunion. Marr previously said in 2016 that Morrissey's politics aligned with Farage's, joking that any potential Smiths reunion would feature the politician as their replacement guitarist.[274]
Marr's statement also clarified other claims made by Morrissey's team on Morrissey's website such as that Marr had filed for 100% ownership of the Smiths' intellectual property and trademark rights without having consulted with Morrissey despite the fact that "Morrissey alone created the musical unit name 'The Smiths' in May 1982".[275]In Marr's statement, it was clarified that Marr discovered that the band did not own the trademark, and in an effort to protect the trademark from a third party attempt made in 2018 to use the band's name, Marr registered the trademark solely under his name after a failure to receive a response from Morrissey and his representatives. In January 2024, Marr signed an agreement to share ownership of the name with Morrissey, an agreement Morrissey has yet to follow up on. Marr further clarified that the efforts to take the trademark were not to tour under the Smiths' name with a singer of Marr's choice (contrary to the claims made by Morrissey's team), but rather simply to protect the band's name and use of the name.[276]
In February 2025, Morrissey announced tour dates in the UK and Ireland, later followed by dates across Europe throughout the year.[277][278]Shows in Dublin and Manchester were opened by Brigitte Calls Me Baby.[277]
In March 2025 he instructed his law firm, Levy & McRae to pursue legal action against a UK-based individual for "distressing, harmful and libellous content" about him as reported by Music Business Worldwide.[279]The Times newspaper in April 2025 also concurred with his actions arguing it wasn't parody but stalking.[280]
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