My lord and master, Morrissey, former frontman of The Smiths, after whose song “Shakespeare’s Sister” this blog is named, has been investigated as a possible threat.Singer MORRISSEY was quizzed by the FBI and British intelligence after speaking out against the American and British governments.The most outrageous thing I’ve ever heard him say at the nine gazillion concerts and public appearances I’ve attended (not to mention the eighty-three kajillion zillion articles I’ve read) was right after Reagan died (it may have been the actual day; I can’t recall). He said onstage, “I bet you’re disappointed it wasn’t your current president,” which received a big round of applause and some scattered boos, the latter of which prompted him to retort, “I can’t imagine what you’re doing at my show.”
The Brit is a famous critic of the US-led war in Iraq and has dubbed President GEORGE W BUSH a "terrorist" - but he was baffled to be hauled in by authorities.
Morrissey explains, "The FBI and the Special Branch have investigated me and I've been interviewed and taped and so forth.
"They were trying to determine if I was a threat to the government, and similarly in England. But it didn't take them very long to realise that I'm not.
"I don't belong to any political groups, I don't really say anything unless I'm asked directly and I don't even demonstrate in public. I always assume that so-called authoritarian figures just assume that pop/rock music is slightly insane and an untouchable platform for the working classes to stand up and say something noticeable.
"My view is that neither England or America are democratic societies. You can't really speak your mind and if you do you're investigated."
That said, I suspect songs like “America Is Not the World” and “Margaret on the Guillotine” haven’t exactly endeared him to the American and British governments. (“Margaret on the Guillotine,” which was about Margaret Thatcher’s conservative policies and ended with the sound of a guillotine falling, promted a police search of his house at the time of its release.) Nonetheless, he’s never exactly been Abbie Hoffman.
(Big hat tip to Creature and Ted at State of the Day.)
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