The only "coup" in this is in Alice's surname.

As a Wolverhamptonian, I am shocked !!!!

Fair enough I don't have a newspaper at all, so I missed this story, but when exactly did the Civic turn him down?????? was it during the tour?
While we were all waiting for the dates to be announced, I went to Blast Off (read old git that refuses to get old (I'm 31))(oh and in my opinion yes Blast Off plays a lot of middle of the road indie, BUT it is the ONLY place that I know to in Wolverhampton that will play The Smiths and Joy Division on a Saturday night, and a fiver in and cheap beer too lol) anyway, I asked the rather helpful girl behind the ticket office if she had heard any news about the upcoming tour, as I personally narrowed it down to The Civic or The Academy, due to previous Midlands dates.
She said that the Civic hadn't been approached and that in her opinion it would more than likely be the Academy, now the way that she said this to me led me to believe that she knew for a fact that it was due to be held at the Academy.
Like I have said earlier I live in Wolverhampton (for my sins), and I would have loved to have seen Morrissey at the Civic (which happens to be about 2 miles away as the crow flies), but not only because it is where I live, but because of HISTORY !!!
Morrissey played his 1st ever solo gig (yes I know it wasn't just him) there, but in an old interview (don't ask me where I have forgotten in my old age), but he had stated that Wolverhampton was his favorite place in the U.K. (hard to believe I know). So I was hoping for this to be the case on the tour.
Now the Birmingham gig was on Wednesday 30th October last year, ( I still have an unused ticket if anyone wants to go?????), and on Saturday the 2nd of November he was in Blackburn, with no dates on the Friday.
So I can't see how the civic could have turned him down during the tour, as it didn't clash with either Cheeky Monkey (only go if you are desperate) or Blast Off.

But what if the Civic have been approached recently about the refurbishment, and Morrissey had offered to re-open it for them? If this is the case and they have turned him down, I for one will not be very happy, in fact I am going to contact the Civic myself to try and find out what it is all about, as I really can't understand why they would turn down a near guarenteed sell out gig, when they would benefit not only from the hire of the hall, but also the bars etc etc.
It is beyond me, and as you can probably tell, I am quite literally pissed off.

OK I will step down from my soap box now, but I do intend to try and find out what this is all about.

Gramp
Wolverhampton, UK
(Mozzless)

Maybe instead of contacting Woverhampton Civic Hall you could do something constructive and contact Morrissey and persuade him to pay the crew and band for the last tour, some people cant afford Clark Gables old house and dont have royalties coming in left right and center

Some people have to pay bills and and work all year round to do so and dont expect to get ripped off by artists

I find it quite strangely amusing that one of the most influential indie artist was turned down in favour of an indie CD compilation........oh the irony!!.....i'm sure morrissey would smirk at that

Well I said that I would try to find out the story, and here is an email that I recieved from the Civic Hall:

This is indeed something that happened last year. Unfortunately the only date that Morrissey had available to play in the Midlands was a Saturday, so we were unable to have him here as it would have clashed with Blast Off, the regular Saturday club night.
 
We desperately wanted him to play here again but unfortunately the dates could not be juggled around successfully.
 
Hope this is the information you need.

One question that does spring to mind is, Morrissey played at the Academy in Birmingham on the Wednesday, but played Blackburn on the Saturday???? so was Blackburn an unscheduled gig? and were there supposed to be 2 gigs in the Midlands?

Anyway, thanks to Rupert at the Civic for providing me with the information, and I hope that it is as interesting for you lot as it is for me.

Gramp
(still Mozless)
(but if Moz does want to play in Wolvo, then I could always stick a marquee up in my back garden.....)