Morrissey postponed three more shows on his ill-fated North American tour which is now scheduled to resume February 27th in San Diego (though his live return will be the night before, February 26th, on Jimmy Kimmel). According to his official statement posted on True To You, Mozzer spent the last three weeks in a Los Angeles hospital where he was treated for anemia secondary to bleeding ulcers and Barrett's Esophagus. He reveals he was recently discharged and warned fans that he may be seen "out and about this week in the Hollywood area." Apparently he's already been out and about, because according to a fan posting on a Morrissey fansite forum, he was spotted last night outside Soundgarden's show in Los Angeles at the Wiltern (with pics to prove it!)
Detroit fans should also take heart, because as part of today's statement, Morrissey once again made reference to Flint, which combined with his previous comments about the city, seem to point to a high likelihood of a new show being announced shortly. Though the January 24th show in Flint has officially been canceled (not postponed) it seems likely a new show will be added, so stay tuned. In the meantime, read Mozzer's full statement below along with the latest tour itinerary:
(statement broken up into paragraphs for ease of reading)
"I am terribly sorry that the next three shows have been moved back. The worst is for the best. I am certainly on the road to recovery, but caution and prevention demand further IV blood work lest I keel over and die before your very eyes. I apologize to an almost annoying degree for any trouble I've caused to anyone by way of travel plans and dog-sitters and ticket-outlay and re-molded hairstyles. I should be as fit as a ferret for San Diego. Please don't be too appalled if you see me out and about this week in the Hollywood area. Perversely, it's all in accordance with doctor's orders: to have myself re-integrated with the call of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd; the flash of light and the full thrust of mosh-pit sound. Illness turns the body into a complete stranger, and I'll be testing the capabilities of my strides at the most unlikely music shows this week.
The will to get on with it runs strong. Even death can be used as a springboard. For those scholars who are heatedly curious, my ulcer is now under reins, even if neither asleep nor dead, but the continued cause for concern is a slightly embarrassing absence of blood – most of which the bleeding ulcer relieved me of. Anemia sets its own terms with quite obvious biological conclusions, and I have spent these last weeks under expert medical care in Los Angeles with an almost erotic dependency on various IV drips. Sitting around reading indecent books is no substitute for continuing the tour, but my progress holds great promise and Flint shall not escape quite so lightly. We are all at the mercy of biological chance, and I once again beg for your liberal tolerance. If you bump into me this week at a heavy rock show, please understand that I'm lowering myself into the cut and thrust after weeks on ice - horizontal, with sockets empty of eyes.
In the midst of the abyss, I'm saved by the news that tickets for the tour continue to sell very well, and my straightjacket twitches with excited gratitude. But the patient must be patient. Our goal, now, is San Diego, by which time my blood-work shall have finally taken its course and I shall be shot from a cannon and might even be equipped with an extra eye. We just never know, do we? Being on life's danger list, I've found, actually prevents you from thinking about how you are, and there's a bread-like warmth in giving in to whatever was meant for you and whatever wasn't. The only critical mistake might be to confuse your pre-med with creativity - which is certainly worth the confusion if it renders you not fully present in your own life.
Finally, I gorge myself on thanks for the many and varied messages of support that I've received over these recent four weeks. They have yanked me out of prolonged mood dips and cured a crisis of spirits. I fully realize that the word 'cancellation' in every known dictionary is followed by my own name, but no morale drops as low as my own at the mere suggestion of re-jigging shows. I sincerely ask for your pardon and your understanding. As for those of you who claim to now be officially sick to death of me - if this is really true, then why exactly are you reading this? As a matter of fact, I am even prepared to humble myself to nothing before those who carp; you see, any hospital-stay leaves us in danger of becoming unnecessarily agreeable. Life will right itself.
Whatever happens, I love you."
"How Soon Is Now?" (filmed in Columbus on January 22nd, the last song from his last show)
Postponed shows (new dates to be announced shortly)
1/25 Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theater
1/27 Chicago, IL @ Chigago Theater (sold out)
1/28 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel (sold out)
1/29 Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium (sold out)
1/31 Atlanta, GA @ Cobb Energy Center for the Performing Arts (sold out)
2/02 Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall (sold out)
2/05 Clear Lake, IA @ Surf Ballroom
2/06 Lincoln, NE @ Rococo Theatre (sold out)
2/09 Las Vegas, NV @ The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
2/10 Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
2/12 El Paso, TX @ Tricky Falls
2/13 Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall
2/15 Pharr, TX @ Pharr Events Center
2/16 Beaumont, TX @ Jefferson Theater (sold out)
2/18 Dallas, TX @ Palladium
2/21 Denver, CO @ Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre
2/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kingsbury Hall
2/24 San Francisco, CA @ Davies Symphony Hall (sold out)
Tour set to resume:
2/27 San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theater
3/01 Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center (sold out)
3/02 Sparks, NV @ John Ascuaga's Nugget - Rose Ballroom
3/04 Davis, CA @ Robert Mondavi Center at UC Davis
3/06 Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
3/08 Portland, OR @ Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
3/09 San Francisco @ Regency Ballroom
*The January 24th show at Whiting Auditorium in Flint has been canceled.