Morrissey's Cold-Cancellation-Blame-Game Saga Continues
The Moz is sick again
What’s going on exactly with the Morrissey saga? First, it was announced that his tour opener Kristeen Young was out, then the whole tour got canceled due to sickness. Morrissey announced the news declaring he had contracted the disase from Kristeen since she was herself suffering from a ‘horrendous cold’.
On June 10th, Kristeen wrote this on her Facebook page:
‘Ok. 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.’
It is very bizarre indeed, and because it is never simple with Morrissey, his guitarist Jesse Tobias has now responded to Kristeen via Morrissey’s True To You website:
‘It’s been quite Disheartening to see the ‘Facebook’ Hatred thrown about by Our Former Friends/ Working Partners Kristeen Young and Tony Visconti. I do feel that Someone needs to Speak Up for Moz in this situation as it is unbearable to watch people you once trusted, Attack and Pick Away at your Friend. In my experience ANYONE associated with the Morrissey Camp know they are solely there because of Morrissey himself. He chooses to tour/ work with certain people. For Kristeen and Tony Visconti to go on about Her being better off now, without considering Morrissey’s 9 years of help and promotion is Very Disappointing. Only speaking from my experience, with the crew and Moz falling ill in Miami, for Kristeen to deny she was truly sick seems disingenuous. I was told after the show in Miami by Crew and Security that there was some concern because Kristeen was obviously unwell. Our crew then tried to keep her at a reasonable distance but being in such close quarters for months these things sometimes happen. I am Upset that in this situation Kristeen could not take the tour as a whole into consideration and just comply with the postponement announcement. One could only assume it was necessary for her to justify herself and ultimately receive some promotion out of the matter. This combined with Tony Visconti’s Parrot Like affirmation on “Facebook” that “she is better off, is Morrissey Capable of being handled?” is Repulsive. This is a MAN who worked closely with us on a record and several sessions that Suddenly flips into Schoolgirl mode with “yeah you tell em” Chatter…??’
So who is telling the truth? Was Kristeen really sick or not? In any case, a cold is not a serious illness, a cold is not the flu and I would not consider it a reason to cancel a whole tour. By the way, Jesse Tobias is mentioning producer Tony Visconti because Visconti has ‘liked’ Young’ s post on Facebook, and has posted this comment ‘We have a doctor’s note and the list of medicines prescribed for severe allergic reaction. She is innocent and we can prove it’… So he has visibly chosen his camp.
Rolling Stone notes that this is not the first time Kristeen is fired as the opening act, she already was during Morrissey’s tour in 2007, after making some sexual remarks about the Moz! Again, a LOT of drama for nothing? But Morrissey’s fans have to be used to it by now. Morrissey can be sick every time he is starting a tour, but why the need to blame another person to justify a cancelation? Even if Kristeen was sick, and passed him a cold, it’s not her fault! I actually found the whole story quite funny and very childish.
