Morrissey comments on Blossoms and Rick Astley's Smiths concerts

The Songs of The Smiths concerts took place over the weekend

Morrissey
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 11th Oct 2021

Morrissey has posted a statement on his official website about Blossoms and Rick Astley’s pair of concerts over the weekend covering songs of The Smiths.

The Songs of The Smiths concerts took place at Manchester Albert Hall on Friday (8th October) and London O2 Forum Kentish Town on Saturday (9th October), and they saw Rick Astley and Blossoms perform 19 songs from The Smiths’ fabled back catalogue.

In a post on Morrissey Central, 62-year-old Morrissey, who fronted The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, heaped praise on the unlikely pairing of Rick Astley and Blossoms.

"My sincere thanks to Rick and the Blossoms for their recent recentness,” Morrissey wrote. “Anything that generates interest in that tired old Smiths warhorse is testimony to the wallop it packed. THANK YOU!"

Blossoms and Rick Astley

Mozza also posted a photo of Blossoms and Rick Astley taking their final bow at the Manchester concert.

Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was less complimentary than Morrissey when he passed comment last month.

Sharing a video clip of Astley and Blossoms’ rendition of ‘This Charming Man’ at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on 13th September, Johnny Marr tweeted: “This is both funny and horrible at the same time.”

After criticising Blossoms for failing to tell him about the concerts, Johnny later told NME that the dispute was over.

“There was an M.O. there that just wasn’t very cool – but I’ve dealt with it,” Johnny said. “I think I’m a pretty reasonable person, and I’ve dealt with it.”

Back in August 2017, Rick Astley hit the headlines when he performed his signature song ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ with Foo Fighters at Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo. Rick and the Foos went on to join forces several times in the ensuing years.

Featuring the electro-tinged lead single ‘Spirit Power & Soul’, Johnny Marr recently announced his new double album ‘Fever Dreams Pts 1-4’. A new four track EP, ‘Fever Dreams Pt 1’. will be released on Friday 15th October via BMG.

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