Morrissey’s Scrape With Cancer

He told Le Monde that doctors scraped cancerous tissues four times during his recent lengthy illness, but he’s now sufficiently recovered to set out on a European tour. “Right now I feel good. I am aware that in some of my recent photos I look somewhat unhealthy, but that’s what illness can do. I’m not going to worry about that, I’ll rest when I’m dead,” he said.

It’s some time since Morrissey has enjoyed rude health but this is the first time he’s mentioned cancer. As for his recent bill of health, the Guardian listed a bleeding ulcer in early 2013, double pneumonia in March 2013, food poisoning in July 2013 and then a respiratory infection in June 2014.

In February 2013 he told Rolling Stone that he was suffering from something called “Barrett’s esophagus,” explaining why he’d had to cancel six shows on a U.S. tour.

The RS piece was headed “Morrissey: Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Understated,” demonstrating that at times it’s hard to say how seriously he should be taken.

“Many composers of classical music died at age 34. And I’m still here, and nobody knows what to do with me,” he told Le Monde.

During the remainder of the interview, Morrissey railed against Harvest Records, the label that’s reportedly dropped him, the Beckhams, bullfighters, the British royal family and the BBC, complaining that the corporation was biased against Scotland voting for independence.

“The BBC did everything possible to tilt the vote toward no and never reported on the potential benefits of an independent Scotland,” he said. “They speak in the name of democracy only when it suits them.”