Morrissey’s South American Tour Sidelined By Food Poisoning

To give you a refresher on how Moz’s medical history has recently affected his tour plans, this year he’s canceled or postponed many, many gigs because of health issues including a concussion, double pneumonia, a bleeding ulcer and a case of Barrett’s esophagus.

The South America tour was supposed to begin this week with two nights in Lima, Peru, at the Jockey Club July 9-10. With gigs booked through early August, stops included more than half a dozen nights in Chile, a gig in Argentina, and multiple shows in Brazil.

There are conflicting reports about how many dates have been pulled from the former Smiths frontman’s schedule.

A translation from Peruvian newspaper El Comercio (via Consequence of Sound) indicated that the entire tour was postponed. The story included a statement from promoter Colors saying, “Due to severe food poisoning suffered by the artist and part of his accompanying team in Lima, Latin concerts scheduled for July and August will be postponed for the next few months. The new dates will be communicated shortly.”

The Guardian pointed to an interview Rodrigo Perez, Morrissey’s Chilean concert promoter, did with Radio Cooperativa.         

“On Sunday, Morrissey and an entourage of about eight people ate at a restaurant that we had not recommended, with regrettable consequences,” Perez said. “Within hours, all of them fell sick with severe gastric problems … The hotel has become like an outpatient clinic. There are people who have not been able to get out of bed for 48 hours.”

The Guardian added that the Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile, which Morrissey was scheduled to play July 26, also said Moz was forced to postpone all dates in South America because of food poisoning. A translation of the venue’s statement says, “for increased safety and confidence in the evolution of his health, the artist traveled to England” after falling ill so he could be treated by his personal physician.

But, according to music blog SlicingUpEyeballs.com, the gigs in Argentina and Brazil are reportedly still good to go.

A translation of a July 10 tweet from promoter Time For Fun (T4F) says, “Attention! # Morrissey’s show in Buenos Aires continues and tickets are on sale # MorrisseyArg” The promoter also posted on Facebook that tickets for the July 28 show at Buenos Aires’ Tecnopolis were still available.

As for the gigs in Brazil, Time For Fun posted an announcement on its Facebook page July 10 about the shows scheduled July 30, Aug. 2 and Aug. 4. A translation from Bing says, “The shows of MORRISSEY in Brazil were NOT CANCELLED. Despite the news of malaise of the musician and his team in Lima, please be advised that the singer-songwriter shows in Brazil were not cancelled.”

As of the time of this post, Morrissey hasn’t addressed the reports of his illness or the status of his tour on either his Facebook page or through the fan site True-To-You.net.

When Moz most recently checked in with True To You July 5, he was apparently enjoying Lima.

“I am humbled beyond belief by the reception here in Lima, Peru, and also by the ongoing welcome. For me, it is incredible – once more. If Chile, Argentina and Brazil are as giving, I shall ask no more and die happy. Peru, Peru – my heart’s lighthouse.”