it will be a historical if morrissey can play at Iran ('Mullah land'), and also Jerusalem or Beirut (if the situation safety). these 3 places used to be a heaven for Islam, Christian, and Jews to live together, before WW I. i believe Moz can spread the peaceful message more effectively than Bush and the gangs!

peace forever!

Assalamu 'Alaikum

Pax Vobiscum...

May the road rise with you......

Anger Is An Energy.

I thought this was a wind-up, when it was first mentioned last year. There are so many reasons why a Morrissey show in Tehran would be difficult, if not impossible to pull off. Ahmadinejad's Iran is hostile, to say the least, to Western influences. There is also the matter of the death penalty for homosexuality, and a fatwah issued against gays and "effeminate men" by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani a few years ago. There have been widespread beatings and murders there, or at least that is what I have read. This is very hostile territory. Morrissey is aware of the problems there, he has said as much. I think it is an amazing gesture on his part, if it is true.

There is also a strong cultural/artistic underground in places like Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Things are better in Israel but I do remember that amazing moment, a few years ago, when the Jewish, Christian and Muslim authorities found common ground - they wished to stop a gay pride parade in Jerusalem. Tolerance is not very well tolerated.

People are going to joke about this - the press will be catty, I'm sure, if anything actually comes of it. It is a beautiful attempt, in this day and age, to build a bridge. Morrissey is going to go where he may be least wanted by the authorities - this is carrying his ethos to the furthest degree.

I listened to Kazem al-Sahir after Morrissey mentioned him. It would be amazing for the two of them to appear together. Not only for socio/politcal reasons, but for artistic reasons as well.

I hope it happens. It would be an incredibly positive thing, after all the negativity of the recent past.

Kudos to Merck for giving an interview during a root canal. Interesting fellow.

...but I can't hold my tongue for this one, sorry.

How in the name of Ronald Reagan's finger fungus can Morrissey play nations like Iran whilst boycotting that sweet, innocent country north of the American border?

Last I checked the CBC didn't Al Jazeera itself by showing footage of shoplifters being hung in Nathan Philip Square!

Oh somebody please hand me a bat, I've an asshole celebrity to club!

There's an international cultural and academic boycott of Israel, which means Morrissey must avoid performing in Israel. Jerusalem is not legally within Israel, but Palestinians do not have freedom to travel to Israel. If Morrissey visits Israel or performs in Jewish only venues in Jerusalem, my 25 year interest in his music is over. I have no time for artists who support apartheid.

Morrissey playing in Iran?

Instead of an opening act, maybe they can hang a couple of gay young men.

That should get the crowd going!

The only place that Morrissey could realistically end up playing is Israel.

It's infinitely more democratic than any of the Theocracies currently dotted in the region. Of course, that's why its not wanted there.

Morrissey should have Iran recognize Israel's right to exist, and use that as a stipulation. Otherwise, the attempt is an exercise in narcissism.

If the Tehran gig goes ahead, and you want to go, and you're from the UK (or maybe europe), let me know and maybe we can form a traveling group...

it will be... interesting..

email me kristophermorrissey@googlemail.com

Thought I was watching the news regularly enough. Aren't these the countries where you're advised to avoid large crowds of people??

But the powers at be in Iran just need a hug, and maybe the reminder that Morrissey has explosive kegs between his legs.

Bizarre.

Is this cat crazy?

Anyway, none of these terms make the slightest difference to me and to how proud I feel to be his fan. If some people her manage to put aside, even if for a few seconds, the images of danger so chronically associated with the Middle East - suicide bombers, street demonstrators shouting "death to America", and the disturbing mess that Bin Laden's hairdo is - this someone might be able to so with the help of a good Morrissey show. While it is quite understandable that some may think that Morrissey may have crossed the line of good sense by taking himself and his team to such "a fearful" place, I am truly convinced he is crossing the line of common cowardliness too. By going to all these places in the Middle East, he could be playing with fire, but he could also be undoing the stigmatizing concept that the Middle East is nothing but blazing hell on earth. Dodging the emotional bullets - of fear and hatred associated with the Middle East - takes just as much courage (or more) as the dodging physical ones.

I am very aware that comments from the most clever minds will "rightfully" expose the stupidity of my "irrational", "zealot-like" admiration for him. I won't bother to reply, because I can't teach a course on the Middle East on the post board of Morrissey-solo.

My only recommendation (while I keep in mind all this hard-to-undo negativity built around the Middle East by the Television and the Newspaper Media) is to go watch a Cannes award-winner film made in Pakistan or Iran. There are plenty of them on www.filmmovement.com.

..he should play Amman, Damascus, Islamabad and Delhi too....

i personally don't think they will let him play in Iran, but that's me. What do you think?
http://www.pollsb.com/polls/poll/5341/morrissey-is -reportedly-in-negotiations-with-the-government-of -iran-to-play-a-concert-in-tehran-in-2008-do-you-t hink-iran-will-follow-through-and-let-him-perform

I've travelled thousands of miles to watch Mozzer but no way would I go to a gig in any of those places.
Good luck Julia!

morrissey supports terrorism.yay.

The World Is Full Of Crashing Bombs
You Will Kill Me
In the Future when Ali's Well
The Muslim Who Must Be Killed
Song From Under The Yarmulka
Terrorists Of The World Unite
Reader Meet Uzi
I'm Not Sorry … (There's No Woman Allowed Here)
Yes I am Blind (to Human Rights)
You Must Please Remember … The Baby Seals
Oh Phoney

Encore:
I Have Forgiven Jesus (But Could He Forgive Me)

of course, not in tehran; in spite of that daffy amadinejad's threat to destroy israel, i think he should play in iran if only to encourage or strengthen the resolve of moderates there.

as to incindiary accusation of 'apartheid' lobbed at israel: it's an ignorant, cheap shot that is of no use to interested parties, israelies nor palestinians. no apatheid state would adopt laws to prevent discrimination against arabs as israel has.

http://strangeglue.com/morrissey-awaiting-iran-dec ision/3151/
Aidan Williamson, you are a BIG LOSER!

Is he fucking nuts.
Go play Dubai or North Africa, but stay out of the not safe zone for now.
Wait till things die down..like..never..

I heard he is playing hajjapalooza and he has to wear open toe sandals! See you there!

Moz refuses anything to do with Canada because of a seal hunt yet he has no problem with a country (Iran) that beats and brutalizes women and summarily executes homosexuals and anyone who dares stand for a free and democratized Iran?
Not to mention all the state sponsored Islamo-facist terrorism that kills Brits,Yanks and anyone else who object to the obscenity of Islamic fanatical-ism.
Morrissey needs a good slap to the head to wake him up.
He's on the wrong side of this one, for sure.
SHAME.

- They Hate women.
- They kill gay people.
- They commit suicide for their religion.
Morrissey why?

He said this about Canada:

"Canada has placed itself alongside China as the cruelest and most self-serving nation."

He refuses to play there. But a nation like Iran that sponsors terrorism on Western countries and thinks it's okay to beat women and kill homosexuals isn't quite as bad as Canada, the country that started the U.N Peace Keeping force?

I give up on Morrissey, he's lost his mind. What an idiot.

Who knows what sexualty Morrissey is, BUT as far as the media is concerned, HE'S GAY.

Extemist Muslims tend not to like homosexuals.
He will be harmed if he goes over there. Let's hope this is a rumour.

He's a brilliant singer/songwriter/entertainer and no one can ever question his accomplishments. However, he has always been something of a mental midget when it comes to the ways of the world. He's almost bizarrely out of touch and lives in a world of empty statements and buzz words.

I would see Moz in Iran and would love to visit Bobby Sands Street in Tehran while I was there as well (if it is still there). The street's name is a reminder that oppressive right wing governments have a habit of labelling people who fight or oppose them terrorists. (Bobby Sands, a democratically elected MP, was allowed to die by Thatcher and her henchmen in 1981 in case you have forgotten or are unaware.)

Don't believe all the American hype about Iran. It may be currently run by an Islamic nutcase and his government but I have a close friend who has visited Iran recently and said it is a vibrant, young country and most of the people there are opposed to the government. Also, look at Iranian cinema (e.g. the films of Makhmalbaf), art, music...this is a culturally rich country whose people should not be massacred by the US and UK. By playing in Iran, Morrissey would be showing solidarity for the people and their culture.

Don't allow Tehran to become another Baghdad or Fallujah. Don't believe the US and UK propaganda on this or we will have another disaster like Iraq.

Morrissey forever!
Bobby Sands RIP.

i think it's a little strange that he'd be so into playing in that area. I wish him the best.
Let's just hope security getting into the venues is a hell of a lot tighter than the US shows.

All kidding aside, I'd be thoroughly disgusted if Moz played Iran, where they hang homosexuals for simply being who they are.

I've been working in dentistry for about 5 years now, and to hear that merck confirmed this while he was getting this done=> http://www.sashadesign.com/img/photos/dentist/02.j pg [sashadesign.com], it's just too fishy to me.

One has so much stuff in their mouth, it's kinda hard to get a word out.

If anyone here is really interested to actually learn something about this country, there is a great movie called "PERSEPOLIS". I seriously think this is one of the best movies i've seen last year.

I've never been really interested in the Middle East, since everybody living there is a women beater and terrorist-nut-case anyway... but a friend suggested it and i just went along...

SURPRISE, surprise... there are actual people living there... among the terrorists who have fought this governement for years...

It is a very unusual animated movie, told from the point of view of a little girl who grows up in a very western-oriented and intellectual family and is sent away by her parents when the radical Mullahs take over the country.

The movie is hilariously funny and very sad at the same time and somehow I'm suspecting MOZ made up his mind to tour Iran after watching this...

Here's a great review:
http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/movies/25pers .html

Nevertheless, I completely agree that it would be extremely dangerous to play a show there... as any sensible person would...
but i would admire somehow him for taking the risk

Morrissey is touring the Midle East but he will not come to Brazil, even with the great many hordes of fans he has here??!!??
Just a couple of dates would be a sensation in my country. He must remember how it was in 2000, with absolutely no new releases to promote, no strong marketing BUT we went because we love him, we will always support him no matter what!

That's it, I'm very upset, man.

How come Moz is not facing any protest for playing Sunderland? Iran is one thing, but Sunderland?

Hey, you americans, I've heard you feel discouraged sometimes because you think people in the world don't like you. So, why would they hate americans? Because of the government, maybe?

So, why hate Iran and Iranians, when as some have pointed out (but all too few, shame on you) in Iran there is humans who needs to be loved, just like everybody else does.

In Iran there are young people with loves, and hates, and passions just like yours.

You may hate the government, but don't hate the ordinary people of Iran. You are far too handsome and intelligent to do that.

If you were living in Iran, Morrissey coming there would be larger than life, really really larger than life.

as the old soul song i just listened to went:
"hate is taking over
even though we're lost without love"

p.s. I wasn't trying to be a troll, i was trying to explain about you-know-who, he really pisses me off, but fine, sheesh.