Odds & Ends: Morrissey, Lars Ulrich, Life Is Beautiful

So, about that Morrissey tour cancellation we reported on earlier today. Apparently Moz had more to say about the matter than the brief statement on Facebook blaming a respiratory infection “contracted in Miami.”  

Fan site True To You gets into the nitty gritty of the illness and says that opening act Kristeen Young’s germs are the culprit.  

“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 says True To You is full of baloney. Rolling Stone points to a Facebook post by the singer/songwriter in which the singer said she never had a cold and that she was “asked to leave” the tour.

“On Monday, June 2nd, I had an allergy attack that was over within 16 hours. I went to a doctor, 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).”

She added, “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.” Young’s Facebook post has since been deleted.

The Washington Post reminds us that the longtime tour mates have had issues in the past. Young, who had toured with Morrissey since 2006, was fired in 2007 after she made some uncouth stage banter about his sex life. She was invited back to his tour in 2011.  

Life Is Beautiful Festival returns to downtown Las Vegas for its second year Oct. 24-26. Although the lineup isn’t here yet, that shouldn’t stop you from buying early bird tickets when they go on sale Thursday, June 12 at 10 a.m. PDT. After all, judging from last year’s roster, 2014 should also be pretty stellar.

The debut fest featured The Killers, Kings Of Leon, Beck, Imagine Dragons, Pretty Lights, Jurassic 5, Haim and many more acts.

Three-day early bird tix are priced at $159.50.

For more information visit LifeIsBeautiful.com.        

Could anything really top last month’s drum battle between Will Ferrell and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith?  The epic drum-off on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” featured matching outfits, an appearance from the rest of the Chili Peppers and a giant, golden cowbell trophy.

Ferrell and Smith have an idea for a follow-up drum-off with Metallica’s Lars Ulrich.

“Lars gets pissed because he gets mistaken for both me and Chad Smith. He can settle that score now, too,” Ferrell told Spin.

Smith added, “There it is. The gauntlet is down.”

Who do you think would win? And do you think Lars actually looks like Will and/or Chad?