Morrissey has always been an icon in my eyes. He was stylish in diction and fashion, but these days...the wardrobe has been an afterthought. and to see him in ill fitting clothes is just not pleasing to the eye. Comfort in its most crass form.
It is difficult for those of a certain age that remember how he dressed the stage in a way that left you awestruck before he opened his mouth to sing. To me his desire to deliver as an entertainer may have exceeded his ability to do so. Such memories of past greatness. It is hard to witness, but still he presses on. It is always nice to hear him sing just not the same pleasure to watch him do so.
I dont have any heroes or hold anyone up as an icon, but Morrissey has had a special distinctness from everyone else from the beginning. For me it's never been about the wardrobe style. but his style as an artist and how he uses that to comment on the world.
I've only seen him a handful of times but have never been disappointed.
I dont mean you necessary but I think a lot of his "followers" have become jaded(if not downright bitter) rather than Morrissey himself, who seems to be held to blame. I know cancellations can be an awful experience but they can be the lesser of two evils. I went to see John Martin in London once, two hours late he came out on stage, opened his mouth to sing and vomited, then left. We had a good night out after anyway
Everyone gets older and if they're fully present they evolve. Morrissey is still evolving which keeps my interest. Maybe like Jordan Petersen, he's not everyone's cup of tea, but I've never seen him be rude or offensive in an interview. Like Petersen he's baited and taken out of context. I don't endorse everything he says but he doesn't deserve the vitriolic attacks by former "fans". I suppose that's why fan is in fanatic and it can go either direction.
I like Morrissey now as much as I like Morrissey then and both are present to their fans simultaneously, which is a problem and a blessing.
I don't think his desire to deliver is any less when he's on stage, he has a different style to younger Morrissey and I don't think I would just call him an entertainer, he's an artist. He's not going to be standing on speakers or hurling himself violently around stage(much) anymore but he has a presence and he most certainly has a better voice than then.
I think he's miles above any of his contemporaries from the same era or even today. I'm going to see Johnny Marr on 2nd November more out of interest than passion and there are still plenty of tickets left for the National Stadium, as ticket sales do seem to be a preoccupation with some on here.
I love to look at concert footage of The Smiths and see their chemistry and interaction, but I don't expect to see the same sort of energy or style. It will be nice to see him though.
