this is the best news so far ...

Isn't it a hoax? It's full of flaws.

YES official it's about time!

i 3 the pic, its already on my wallpaper.

Btw will he only be playing one gig this year?

He's playing a show on his birthday? That's good of him. I would just sit around and eat cake if it was my birthday.

Oh how jealous I am of those who live in the UK! What I would give to go to the gig. May 22? ON HIS BIRTHDAY! You lucky, lucky people. I can only imagine the mad rush there will be to get tickets.

I must have done something bad to not live in the UK.

i think the manchester gig could be genuine... the gig takes place 5 days after the release of the new album. Whats the betting that after the gig the new album will be available for purchase which will push the sales up for sure and hopefully take the album to the number one spot in the album charts!!
The manchester arena has a capacity of about 21000 so a lot of potential customers on the first week of release.
Im not sure if it was morrissey that said recently that the only way artists can make money now is by touring and selling merchandise there is very little to be made in the way of album sales these days.

I hope to god it is genuine and not a hoax.
Stuart

Yes, this is fantastic news. You can also do the entire trip for about $600 from the USA.

Let's break it down. 30 Pounds for a Ticket. = $50, be online the moment they go on sale, or have a friend in the UK by an extra tick for you.

Cheap flight via Travelocity, Priceline, etc., booked in March roundtrip to Manchester from USA = $400, and I've confirmed this price via LAX.

Stay with friends in the UK (free) or the Youth Hostel in Manchester = 15 Pounds or $25 USD per night. 3 Nights = $75.

Food: Chips & curry, Fish & Chips, Cadbury Chocolates, crisps, fruits, veggies, don't cost much.

Total Expenses = about $600 U.S.D.

Seeing Morrissey on his birthday in Manchester, Priceless.

Alas, with such a precise release time for the tickets, I don't much trust my luck. EVERYONE will be online at just the moment the tickets are available, leading to servers a-crashin', and some of the expectant thousands not getting tickets. I thoroughly expect to be among them...but then, they do say you should never meet your heroes. So perhaps that's alright.

This is all so exciting, I can't wait for the new album!

The Best news so far? No, not in my opinion. When I first read that there's now an official site I felt sad. I right away began to worry about the future of this site. I love this site, and I'd hate to see it soffocate itself dead in the shadow of something else.

I'm very glad that he finally has an official site :D. But there doesn't seem to be much to it for now... perhaps they will add a lot of interesting things that wouldn't be seen had it not been for the site~

Speaking of interesting things... I never would have expected to see Morrissey pose with a gun XD. I was always under the impression that maybe he was against them-- which conflicts with my opinion :P.

I've never seen that pic before, so I'm guessing it's new. Perhaps this is a sign of what's to come for the album cover?

An album and a tour - it's gonna be a great album, you can just tell.

The pose with the gun is definetly a classic Moz iconic pic. We know he has always liked the who whole gangster (no, not that trash ghetto music!) style, look. I think the suit looks great on him, and the gun fits the title. "You are The Quarry" and Morrissey is coming after you! This is great!

Jose

It must be a hoax. Here is my theory why.

I checked the registration information on the domain morrisseymusic.com

Registrant:
Sanctuary Records Group
ATTN: MORRISSEYMUSIC.COM
c/o Network Solutions
P.O. Box 447
Herndon, VA. 20172-0447

It is possible that a large company like Sanctuary would have a domain in care of network solutions but highly unlikely.

The site is being hosted by a company called Interland out of Atlanta, GA.

now, lets take a look at the actual sanctuary site. Hosted by a company called Ripe Net. Rarely would a company use different hosts for its sites.

Now, registration info for sanctuaryrecords

Registrant:

The Sanctuary Group Plc
Sanctuary House
45-53 Sinclair Road
London
W14 0NS
UK

Domain name: SANCTUARYRECORDSGROUP.COM

Created on: 2000-07-17
Expires on: 2005-07-17

Administrative contact:
Polly Polglase
45-53 Sinclair Road

London
W14 0NA
UK
+44 20 7603 5941
+44 20 7602 6351
newmedia@SANCTUARYGROUP.COM

different from the supposed Sanctuary registered domain for morrissey? mmm hmm.

Good to know my years as a network admin has finally paid off.

Anyone notice on the main page, it lists the single as being released in stores March 22nd, yet when you click on the press release, it lists the single as being released on May 10th?

"'You Are The Quarry', Morrissey's first album for seven years, is nearing completion in LA and will be released by Attack! Records, through Sanctuary on May 17, preceded by the single 'Irish Blood, English Heart' on May 10th."

This may be a legitimate site, but I would hope they clear up some of these minor issues to avoid being called out any further.

That is by far the worst promo pix Morrissey has ever done. It would be ok without the gun. Looks so silly. Also, if the first single is Irish Blood, that is a major letdown. First the songs is awful and we have all heard it. I have a bad feeling about this one...

Hmm, Ambitious Outsiders has a bold new look.

In my opinion, everyone believes, what he wants to believe.

I think, if this should be a hoax, it must be a very professional hoax from a person or a company, who has too much time to spend in life.

I prefer to believe, that this message is true. I think, Morrissey knows, that this record-deal is his last chance in his life. He is in good conditions (as we all have seen on the last tour) and now he wants the tribute from the audience, he thinks, he is worth to get.

He will try all, to push this record and why not a gig on his 45th birthday in his city?!

Finally we all wiser, when next Saturday is coming and we don't have the opportunity to order our tickets (so quickly, that we still don't need the Observer afterall).

But another thing: Has anyone tried, to download mp3's vie Kazaa or Emule in the last days?? There are many pseudo-files with songs from the new album (totally 11 or 12 different titles). But no one works. This seems very strange to me. Does anyone knows the original source of these files??

The Manchester Evening News Arena site doesn't mention Morrissey amongst their upcoming events...though this could because you can't book tickets yet. Still, it'd be nerve-calming to know what's really happening...

Can any of you good people put me up in Mozchester for the night?

I'm originally from Failsworth (North Manchester) but I now live in Newcastle, so I'll be coming down on the train / coach.

My family has moved away from the area, and I'd rather avoid staying with distant relatives for one night (I'm sure you understand!).

I know this post will get a score of -367, but if I find a friendly person who is willing to put me up, it'll be well worth it!

Cheers,
Stu.

If this is legitimate, then I will fly all the way from Australia to go to this show. It would be wonderful to see him on his birthday in Manchester.

this seems like suck a hoax yet i still believe it. the picture on the new site just doesn't like very moz-like.

so who did we hand over our email addresses to 0 for the mailing list??

I don't believe it to be a hoax,looks a bit professional and tends to hint that Moz realises this is probably his last chance to gain the applause of those that have missed out on him for the post-Smiths years.
It comes across that he and others are confident of the power and direction of the new album.
What WE need to do,hoax or not,is support it.If you can afford a couple of copies,get them-give them to your friends (though not your front row tickets if you're lucky enough!) and try to be part of the Morrissey extended family.It takes the capacity of the Manchester Theatre to get a No.1 single these days....let's do it.
Personally,I think the single is wicked.Being born in England of Irish parents it means so much more.

I love, love, LOVE the photo: it's so very CRAMPS' "Bikini Girls With Machine Gun"!!!
who does think it's a quote from the cover of their single?

News about the live night in Manchester has nowhere else but this site. It's not going to happen!

Here are the whois details for "bestest.co.uk", the domain name attached to the contact emails on the website:

Request: bestest.co.uk
whois server for *.uk is whois.nic.uk ...
connected to whois.nic.uk [195.66.240.106:43] ...

        Domain Name:
                bestest.co.uk

        Registrant:
                Zone Ltd

        Administrative Contact's Address:
                Albion Computers PLC
                53/55 Mortimer Street
                London
                United Kingdom
                W1N 7TD

        Registrant's Agent:
                Albion Computers PLC [Tag = ALBION]
                URL: http://www.albion.co.uk/

        Relevant Dates:
                Registered on: 24-Jul-1999
                Renewal Date: 24-Jul-2005
                Last updated: 07-Aug-2001

        Registration Status:
                Registered until renewal date.

Just a pointer that might not help anyone...

Last year Moz pointed out in an interview with Citylife magazine that he had been given an offer to do the MEN. He said he would "Love to do it".

Instead of contacting the MEN arena, has anyone contacted gigs and tours?

Seems the folk at ambitious-outsiders are taking the site and news seriously, they don't seem to doubt it for a minute. It's also true that Moz was approached to play the Evening News Arena quite a while back, it does make sense and the site does belong to Sanctuary, so............just maybe?

well, according to domino records

http://www.dominorecordco.com/artist.php?artist=171

07/05 Coronet, London, UK
10/05 Columbia Fritz, Berlin, Germany
11/05 John Dee, Oslo, Norway
12/05 Kagelbanan, Stockholm ,Sweden
13/05 Loppen, Coopenhagen, Denmark
14/05 Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg, Germany - with Sportfreunde Stiller
15/05 Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg, Germany - with Sportfreunde Stiller
16/05 Capitol, Hanover, Germany - with Sportfreunde Stiller
18/05 Gerwerkschaftshaus, Erfurt, Germany - with Sportfreunde Stiller
19/05 Jolly Joker, Braunschweig, Germany - with Sportfreunde Stiller
21/05 Metropolis, Munich, Germany
22/05 Flex, Vienna, Austria
23/05 Rockhouse, Salzberg, Austria
24/05 Abart Music Club, Zurich, Switzerland
25/05 Fri-Son, Fribourg, Switzerland
28/05 Primavera Sound Festival, Barcelona, Spain
29/05 TBC, Bordeaux, France
30/05 Palace Poulain Corbian, Saint Brieuc, France

Let's think about this seriously. What reason would anyone have to pull a hoax like this? It's fairly elaborate (considering the inclusion of all details relating to the event, the involvement of Best Est, the supposedly "fake" pic, etc.) and there's nothing to gain but some satisfaction from having made some Morrissey fans rather angry. The tickets are set to be peddled through a known vendor, so it's non-profit-making. Why would anyone bother? It might be natural to be wary when there's so much high emotion at stake for some, but it seems very unlikely to be a hoax. If proven wrong, I will feel humbled. If proven right, I will pity those who said Morrissey's head looked too big for his body.

I don't want to spend lots of money on a ticket, then arrange train tickets and book accommodation for an event which isn't going to happen!

Given that tickets - allegedly - go on sale within the next seven days, "Sanctuary Records" must do something, without delay, to allay our concerns.

ps. Isn't £27.50 more than a little excessive? (more to the point, is it justifiable?)

Dear all

I have just called the ticket line for the Manchester Evening News Arena (tel +44 (0)870 190 8000) and asked whether they could confirm Moz is playing the MEN Arena on May 22 - they said it wasn't on their computer system BUT that it probably wouldn't be until a few days before the tickets go on sale.

Only thing for it is to contact them later on in the week to check. I will keep you posted...

Carlos_Blakos

PS. For the record, I think the whole thing (website, gig etc) is genuine, but I WANT to believe! I'll be having a party after the show in the hotel bar if anyone wants to meet up - I'll bring my iPod with every Moz/Smiths record too so we can have a proper aftershow party!

The official website (obviously sponsored by Sanctuary) doesn't have the speed as David's site nor the unbiased quality content (eg rumours, events, news, etc). I will continue to visit solo daily and congratulate David on his ongoing (and selfless) effort.

But there are tears in my eyes now! I can't believe it has been 7 years. This is the happiest day of my life. Oh Manchester, so much to answer for.

For those who remember... was also the US release date of Viva Hate.

I remember rushing to the store to buy it (on vinyl)and reading the lyric sheet on the way home.

all I have to say is...this must be where pies go when they die...

the new single and album with dates is the best post for a long time........easily............wow

http://www.nme.com/news/107612.htm

When I see the Tommy Gun I do a word association and I think of the episode of "Dad's Army" where that 'stupid boy' Pike always wants to be the one to hold the gun because he has seen them in gangster films. "Who do you think you're kidding?....."

I'm worried I've got 2 hopes of getting a ticket (as above) and no effing hope.
I'll be ther with my little pick and shovel Saturday morning phoning, internetting (what a great new word) and panicking. I bet loads of people get tix who aren't even fans (like some of the crowd at The Albert Hall. I remmeber) Its just not fair guv!

Manchester online now are reporting the gig is a definite

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/music/indieandrock/stories/Detai l_LinkStory=81192.html

Belligerent ghouls run Manchester Evening News (ARENA)... one hopes not!

BLUEBIRDS...

Has anybody noticed, that they had added the Attack label to this site?!

That's my birthday too, so that would make a nice present. Already in negotiation with potential companion to the gig (if it happens), hope it's not all a hoax, what a waste of planning.... nice to fantasise, though:)

I'm living in Hamburg, Germany and i'm just planning how to get there. Just like it was already said, even if it turns out false then it was at least a nice dream....

....Paul Cockerton of ManchesterOnline

I posted a reply to the piece in their site and Paul kindly responded immediately. Here's his reply:

--don't worry. I've just spoken to the promoters of the gig and it's definitely for real.
Paul Cockerton, ManchesterOnline
23/02/04 at 12:59

Morrissey does not announce any other European dates for a few weeks so that, like the Albert Hall shows, all the European fans and UK fans from other parts of the country will trek all the way to Manchester.
But I can't believe this will be a one-off show. The first nights of Morrissey tours tend not to go particularly well (technical problems, songs immediately dropped from set lists etc) and I can't believe Moz would risk all this at such a high profile gig. Believe you me, there'll be other shows alright!
John, England

Anyone not from the UK looking for a hotel near the MEN Arena might start with:

http://www.allukhotels.com/en/arenas/manchester_evening_news_arena-hotels.html

You're probably better placed than me to sort out flights from your home towns but if you can only get to London, then take a look at flights from London to Manchester on 22 May at:

www.opodo.co.uk

Flights are about £60.

See you all there!

Carlos_Blakos

Anyone try to link to 'Sanctuary Records Group' from the website? The web address used is sancuaryrecords.com when in fact it is sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com.