· Hugh
· Heaven knows I'm Middle Eastern now
· "Forget Blair: Morrissey's the man to heal Middle East" - The Independent
· More News/Media stories
· More Index stories
· Also by davidt
Morrissey-solo
Archive
|
|
|||||||||
posted by
davidt
on Monday January 07 2008, @01:00AM
Hugh sends the link:
Heaven knows I'm Middle Eastern now - The Independent By Oliver Duff Published: 07 January 2008 Shake your robes! Three weeks ago, there came news that the heavy-eyebrowed balladeer Chris de Burgh will perform in Iran this summer with local pop group Arian – making him the first Western artist to take to a stage in the country since the 1979 revolution. The musician Morrissey is also in negotiations with the Iranian government to play a concert in the republic later this year. His camp would like their man to agree a date in Tehran this June, ideally with the internationally-acclaimed Arab pop singer Kazem al-Sahir, were he amenable. Morrissey has called George Bush and Tony Blair "terrorists", and is less bland than the inoffensive de Burgh. The Mancunian's management awaits a formal response from Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which is charged with suppressing "decadent" influences from the West. Western pop lyrics are banned. Plans are, apparently, being drawn up for Morrissey, 48, to tour the Middle East this summer. "It's a major priority for us," said manager Merck Mercuriadis, when Pandora called his mobile and found him reclined in a dentist's chair, undergoing root canal work. "One way or another we will tour the Middle East – in terms of places like Jerusalem and Beirut. And we hope to play Iran." Of al-Sahir, Mercuriadis added: "He's a hero for Morrissey and Morrissey admires his work." ---
This discussion has been archived.
No new comments can be posted.
Morrissey to tour Middle East this summer? Jerusalem, Beirut, Iran mentioned
| Top
| 120 comments
| Search Discussion
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
|
|||||||||
|
First from Asian! Moz an ambassador of peace! (Score:1)
peace forever!
(User #17077 Info)
Felicitations Morrissey ! M O O N E Y 2012 A.D (Score:1)
Pax Vobiscum...
May the road rise with you......
Anger Is An Energy.
(User #11602 Info)
Hearts and Minds (Score:1)
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.
(User #14203 Info)
This story is old, I know... (Score:1)
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!
(User #11477 Info)
israel (Score:0)
What a load of shite... (Score:1)
Instead of an opening act, maybe they can hang a couple of gay young men.
That should get the crowd going!
(User #5103 Info | http://www.patcondell.net/)
"I'll play as long as you don't come to England!" (Score:0)
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.
Would love to go to this gig (Score:1)
it will be... interesting..
email me [email protected]
(User #20670 Info)
Did I miss something? (Score:1)
(User #864 Info | http://www.bozboorer.com/)
Bush and Blair are terrorists... (Score:0)
Bizarre.
Moz... (Score:0)
Is he a Daredevil or a Devil-May-Care? (Score:1)
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.
(User #14157 Info)
also.. (Score:0)
found a poll about it already (Score:1)
http://www.pollsb.com/polls/poll/5341/morrissey-i
(User #20672 Info)
Holy shit! (Score:0)
Good luck Julia!
way to go! (Score:0)
Set List Middle Eastern Tour (Score:0)
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)
he could cover siouxie's 'jerusalem' (Score:1)
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.
(User #149 Info)
An asshole says he is nevertheless a racist... (Score:0)
Aidan Williamson, you are a BIG LOSER!
death wish (Score:0)
Go play Dubai or North Africa, but stay out of the not safe zone for now.
Wait till things die down..like..never..
hajjapalooza (Score:1)
(User #401 Info | http://www.omgmyblog.com/)
Let Me Get This Straight... (Score:0)
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.
Why play those countries? (Score:0)
- They kill gay people.
- They commit suicide for their religion.
Morrissey why?
What an idiot (Score:0)
"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.
umm, homosexuality? (Score:0)
Extemist Muslims tend not to like homosexuals.
He will be harmed if he goes over there. Let's hope this is a rumour.
Truth About Morrissey (Score:0)
Bobby Sands Street, Tehran (Score:0)
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.
peace and harmony (Score:1)
Let's just hope security getting into the venues is a hell of a lot tighter than the US shows.
(User #19739 Info | http://www.facebook.com/nowherefast944)
I'd love to see Julia wearing a burkha (Score:1)
(User #1191 Info | http://www.handsomedevilpress.com/)
i dunno if i want to believe this.... (Score:1)
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.
One has so much stuff in their mouth, it's kinda hard to get a word out.
(User #13859 Info | http://myspace.com/ella_reflex)
Persepolis (Score:1)
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/25per
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
(User #16722 Info)
Jesus Christ!!! (Score:1)
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.
(User #12253 Info)
Forget Tehran..... (Score:0)
(User #17605 Info)
Think, Think about it (Score:0)
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"
Re:I'm worried (Score:0)
Parent