Morrissey :: Autobiography

It might have been expected that anything coming from the former Smiths frontman Morrissey would be bound to be controversial. And he doesn't disappoint. In the book, titled 'Autobiography', the 54-year-old not only unleashes some quotes to be relished, but details accounts which include being touched ‘inappropriately’ by a teacher, attempts to have a child with a woman, and revealing his first serious relationship was not until the age of 35. These are just a few of the revelations in the 457-page memoir, published today by Penguin.

The publication comes after the singer resolved a dispute with his publisher that had threatened to block the book's release. Originally scheduled for print last month, Morrissey claimed "a last-minute content disagreement" with Penguin had led the deal to "collapse". However, despite saying he was seeking a new publisher, relations were restored with Penguin.

Not only is his personal life laid bare, but Morrissey also blasts the British music industry, the UK justice system (covered as part of his legal battle in 1996 with former Smiths bandmate, drummer Mike Joyce; which left Judge John Weeks describing him as ‘devious, truculent and unrealiable,’) and the Manchester-born singer's move to the US in the late 90s.

Some of the Morrissey quotes from the book:

"We all live in a murderous world, as the events in Norway have shown, with 97 dead. Though that is nothing compared to what happens in McDonald's and Kentucky Fried S--t every day."

“I once bought a Manchester United hat, and somebody ran up behind me and pulled it off and just ran ahead. I thought, 'It's a very cruel world, I'm not prepared for this'. And I decided to get my revenge on society."

"I don't have very cast iron opinions on black music other than black modern music which I detest. I detest Stevie Wonder. I think Diana Ross is awful. I think they're vile in the extreme."

“Long hair is an unpardonable offense which should be punishable by death.”

Steven Patrick Morrissey was born in Manchester on May 22 1959. Singer-songwriter and co-founder of the Smiths (1982-1987), Morrissey has been a solo artist for twenty-six years, during which time he has had three number 1 albums in England in three different decades.

Achieving eleven Top 10 albums (plus nine with the Smiths), his songs have been recorded by David Bowie, Nancy Sinatra, Marianne Faithfull, Chrissie Hynde, Thelma Houston, My Chemical Romance and Christy Moore, amongst others.

An animal protectionist, in 2006 Morrissey was voted the second greatest living British icon by viewers of the BBC, losing out to Sir David Attenborough. In 2007 Morrissey was voted the greatest northern male, past or present, in a nationwide newspaper poll. In 2012, Morrissey was awarded the Keys to the City of Tel-Aviv.

It has been said ‘Most pop stars have to be dead before they reach the iconic status that Morrissey has reached in his lifetime.’