Morrissey Cancels US Tour After Blaming Cold On Opening Act

It's no secret that if moping had a human face, it would look a hell of a lot like British singer and lyricist Morrissey. The former frontman of The Smiths has taken another step towards being a permanent resident of Tantrumville, though, with news surfacing that he has been forced to totally cancel his already beleaguered US tour.

"It is with great sadness that the remainder of the US Tour has been cancelled," read a post on the indie icon's Facebook page. "The respiratory infection Morrissey contracted in Miami has worsened, and in the interest of making a full recovery, all further touring plans have been halted."

You can read the full post here:

American fans are no strangers to Morrissey cancellations - the performer has had to kill three previously planned tours there for health reasons and (you can forgive him this one) to look after his ageing mother - but this one in particular has taken a turn for the truly demented following another statement from the Morrissey camp, this one posted to Morrissey fan zine True To You, that essentially lays the blame for the cancellation squarely on the shoulders of opening act Kristeen Young:

"On Saturday, June 7th, following the show at Boston Opera House, Morrissey collapsed and was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital where doctors treated Morrissey for 'acute fever'. Difficulties had arisen on May 31st following Kristeen Young's opening set at the Miami Knight Concert Hall, after which Kristeen confessed to 'a horrendous cold', the symptoms of which were passed on to Morrissey resulting in the cancellation of the next show in Atlanta.

"For the good of all, Kristeen was asked to step down from the immediate upcoming shows, but instead she decided to leave the tour entirely. Morrissey and the band wish her well and hope she is now in good health."

Young - a Missouri-born singer-songwriter and previous collaborator of Morrissey's - was indeed mysteriously removed from the tour with minimal explanation recently, though she wasted no time in denying that she was the root of the singer's health woes on this tour.

In a post since removed from Facebook (but transcribed for posterity by Slicing Up Eyeballs), Young states her case: "Regarding the recent True-to-you statement from Morrissey: I did not 'confess to a horrendous cold'. On Monday, June 2nd, I had an allergy attack that was over within 16 hours. I went to a doctor (on Monday, June 2nd), an allergy specialist, who gave me drugs for allergies…and they worked. I explained this (early on Tuesday, June 3rd) and offered this doctor's phone number to Morrissey personally, via email, and the tour manager, Donnie Knutson (for proof….since they seemed to doubt me). But, they NEVER followed up with me or said doctor.

"Also….it is incorrect that I 'decided to leave the tour completely'. I was asked to leave. Was called (in the presence of my band as witnesses) by Morrissey's booking agent, Dave Tamaroff, and told that there would be a new support band in Boston. I am very sorry that Morrissey is not feeling well. But I will not tolerate these lies….particularly about my health. This is really too much and bizarre."

Maybe Morrissey just really, really doesn't like touring the States. Either way, he was there in support of his forthcoming full-length World Peace Is None Of Your Business, and presumably he feels the same way about personal health matters, so it mightn't be prescient to hold your breath for a further rebuttal from the man with a perennial thorn in his side.