> Well, living and breathing in LA can't have done anything for the man's
> health, with the amount of air pollution down there.
The most polluted state is now Texas. Hurrah. And metropolitan areas in the UK aren't exactly known for their astoundingly fresh air. Anyway, the air quality in L.A. seems to have improved dramatically over the last few years. As a child who grew up just outside L.A. in a town with an oil refinery, I have lots of memories of lock-ups. That's when the air quality would be so bad that there we'd have to lock ourselves inside classrooms and tape around the doors and windows. Most of the time, it was just a drill (I mean, seriously, it's not like during the summer, when it's hottest and the air is often worst, I was ever overcome by noxious fumes in the air and had to go into my house and tape up all the air vents!) But anyway, there has actually been a visible change in the L.A. skyline over the last half decade or so. The state is pretty serious about emissions laws. That's why so many businesses packed up and started polluting Texas (Bush's legacy of not giving a f*** about the environment continues). So yeah, what's my point? I don't think breathing the L.A. air is any worse for Morrissey than was breathing Mancunian or London air. But I could be wrong.
> And all that sun has certainly aged him dramatically. Give the poor fellow
> some sunscreen!
If he doesn't wear sunscreen, it's his own damn fault. I mean, I don't wear it either, but I'm not a big fan of the great outdoors either. But if I die of skin cancer, I'll know who to blame. Anyway, Morrissey has always been a sun worshiper. Remember those rare Smiths-era photos of him lounging poolside, shirtless and wearing swim trunks? Very sexy, but very un-miserable too. I also recall some interviews from that time period where he talks proudly of having achieved a good tan while in the States but having had to relinquish it at customs. He made some charming quip about it seeming to be illegal to have a tan in England. So again, not L.A.'s fault. This is just what he likes, or so it seems.
> Aside from that, who knows? Can his seemingly improved mood and outlook be
> attributed to his surroundings, or to a maturity that just comes with age,
> regardless of where one lives? Only he can really say.
But yes, I'm glad you are sensible and don't blame L.A. for Morrissey's alleged decline. Yay! And sorry for being so pedantic as per usual.