Mozzer Matters: Top Ten Morrissey Moments 2021

Here are our Top Ten Morrissey Moments for 2021!

Morrissey in Las Vegas

As 2021 wraps up, I can’t tell if this year dragged on or passed by in a blur, but there were at least some good things that happened in a world where little feels certain: namely, the return of live music. We can only hope, moving into 2022, that we will see more of a return to our previous lives, or some sense of normalcy resume, but undoubtedly, life still feel precarious.
Thankfully, we have Morrissey’s words to guide us, and I can’t think of many lines that could be more fitting than “stop watching the news.” The mental health toll of this pandemic is something that many don’t seem to consider, or pay attention to, but with lockdowns, losses, restrictions, and news sites peddling today’s latest terror, it must be monumental. At some point, at least for sensitive souls, it becomes too much to take in.

But, my purpose here today is not to discuss covid, or politics, as difficult as such topics are to escape lately, but to take a look at the Top Ten Morrissey moments of 2021:

Let’s get started!

10. Give Us A Drink, And Make It Quick

Why not start out our New Years party with a few drinks?

Back in September, Alison Martino posted photos on Instagram from an evening out with Morrissey, where he looked ultra-handsome-devil and possibly a bit buzzed on champagne. The pics caused a sensation amongst fans, as we tasted a delicious moment of living vicariously – oh to share a few bevvies with our idol! Later in the year, also on Instagram, Alison replied to a photo Linda Ramone posted with Morrissey, noting “I partied with him recently. He’s fun to cocktail with,” no doubt leading to peals of squeals from us fans, all aflutter in vicarious excitement.

via Alison Martino, Instagram

9. Morrissey Appears To Rank His Own Albums

On September 29^th, a post appeared on Morrissey Central, titled “Say It Loud, I’m Me And I’m Proud,” with a numbered list of 30 Morrissey and Smiths albums. While the meaning of the list was never directly explained, stirring some debate, many fans believed it was Morrissey ranking his own releases. As an aside, I was rather excited to see his top 3, are also my top 3, although in a slightly different order. For the full rankings, click the link below:

https://www.morrisseycentral.com/messagesfrommorrissey/say-it-loud-i-m-me-and-i-m-proud

8. Good Looking Man About Manchester

Morrissey was spotted out and about in Manchester a few times this year. Back in the summer, some photos emerged of him at the pub, looking sleek casual in a navy blue jacket and jeans. Post-tour, in October, Mozzer was back putting the M in his hometown, photographed donning elegant all black at an Echobelly concert, and then in pinstripes and a printed scarf at a Joan Collins book signing. Divine!

Images via Twitter

7. Morrissey works with A$AP Rocky

In May, rapper A$AP Rocky announced that Morrissey will be involved in his upcoming album, All Smiles, contributing vocals, writing, and production. “Anything you need him to do, he show up and do,” Rocky said of Moz, in an interview with GQ. Brilliant news, as the hip hop community boasts a number of Morrissey fans, with artists such as Rihanna, Lil’ Wayne, and 2 Chainz all seen sporting Morrissey tees over the last few years. We are definitely looking forward to hearing more about this collab!

Via Rolling Stone

6. Fashion Galore!

It’s always exciting to see what looks Morrissey will step out in, especially when he appears on stage. For dazzling fashion moments, this year was no exception, as Morrissey donned some fabulous threads, including a number of dashing suits, to which he added unique touches of “Mozness,” highlighting his skill for working with patterns, colour, and accessorization. We loved how he paired a tawny dress shirt with this floral Prada tie in Vegas, and how he juxtaposed rock n roll DIY glam with elegance, sporting a customized New York Dolls tee and tailored dark blue-grey suit in Chicago. Our fave? It just might be this exquisitely embroidered Dries Van Noten suit he wore on night 2 of his Vegas residency. Super ultra-dreamy!

Photo by alesolcasas Instagram

5. A Trio of Demos

In late October, three never-before-heard demos were posted on Morrissey Central and Sam Esty Rayner’s YouTube page. The first of the trio, If Saturday Ever Comes, a Morrissey/Mando Lopez track, beckons late 50’s/early 60’s rock instrumentals, with lyrics taking the listener through the existential journey of mourning a brother and subsequent stirrings of one’s own looming mortality. Morrissey’s vocals are exquisite emotion-filled croonership at its best, transporting the listener to the narrator’s struggle, in another time and place.

The following day, another track was uploaded to Central, this time a Morrissey/Tobias composition – Once Upon A Woman’s Body. Far from a generic poppy lovestruck tune about first love, Once Upon A Woman’s Body tackles disappointment in early romantic and sexual endeavours, as well as the resulting psychological confusion and torment. Haunting melodies and rippling guitar riffs accent the hard-hitting lyrics. Finally, for the third day in a row, fans were gifted yet another demo, also a Morrissey/Tobias number, You Don’t Need Their Approval, a song about living on one’s own terms without requiring the approval of others. While still a fairly rough recording, the lost demo harkens a sense of nostalgia, or touch of vintage Hollywood, with jaunty keyboard flourishes contrasting dreamy vocals.

To listen to the tracks, click the links below:

If Saturday Ever Comes

Once Upon A Woman's Body

You Don't Need Their Approval

4. Setlist Rarities

Morrissey returning to the stage made 2021 feel magical – and in those moments, life seemed to make sense again. Over his successful 5-show Las Vegas residency, and at Chicago’s Riot Fest, Morrissey treated fans to special live debuts of songs, including those from his latest release, I Am Not A Dog On A Chain, as well as a number of solo and Smiths songs that haven’t been played live in decades. He certainly packed as much excitement as he could into those 6 nights, including opening the tour with Never Had No One Ever, which hadn’t been played live since the Smiths days of 1986! Let’s take a look at some highlights:

Never Had No One Ever (first time live since 1986)

What Kind of People Live in These Houses (live debut)
The Lazy Sunbathers (live debut)
Knockabout World (live debut)
This Night Has Opened My Eyes (first time live since 1986)
Tomorrow (first time live since 2008)
The Loop (first time live since 2009)

3. Bonfire Of Teenagers

On May 30^th, Morrissey announced he had finished recording a new album, Bonfire Of Teenagers, in Los Angeles, and posted the track listing on Morrissey Central. Fans were aglow with anticipation on hearing the news, and we are hoping a great record deal is on the horizon so our hungry ears can feast on all 11 tracks sometime in 2022! The track list, as posted on Central, is:

1. I Am Veronica
2. Rebels Without Applause
3. Kerouac’s Crack
4. Ha Ha Harlem
5. I Live In Oblivion
6. Bonfire Of Teenagers
7. My Funeral
8. Diana Dors
9. I Ex-Love You
10. Sure Enough, The Telephone Rings
11. Saint In A Stained-Glass Window

2. Morrissey headlines Riot Fest

On September 16^th, Morrissey kicked off Chicago’s Riot Fest, curating his very own lineup, including artists Kristeen Young, WDRL, Joyce Manor, Patti Smith, and Alkaline Trio. Moz himself then took the stage as headliner, singing for an audience of 40,000. From all accounts, it was a magical evening, with fans in attendance noting the night's "energy was crazy good - exceptional for a festival," describing Patti Smith as "a goddess of positive energy," and Morrissey's set as a "complete and total happiness fog" and "heart dissolving."

Photo by Armando L. Sanchez

1. Morrissey’s 5 Night Las Vegas Residency

On August 28^th, Morrissey was reunited with fans once again, as he opened a dazzling 5-Night residency at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. During those late summer nights, Vegas was exquisitely ablaze, with Mozzer showcasing a diverse career-spanning setlist, complete with a new band lineup, including the return of past band members Alain Whyte and Solomon Walker, drummer Brendan Buckley, and long-time band members Jesse Tobias and Gustavo Manzur. On opening night, the residency shattered all records for merch sales in the history of Caesar’s Palace. I was lucky enough (beyond lucky, truly) to attend the first three nights of the residency. For many of us, it meant the world to be reunited with Morrissey and to once again be part of live music, and the nights were surreal, beautiful, invigorating. We hope that 2022 blesses us with more moments to remember for life, such as these, with fans on Twitter commenting how cool it would be for Morrissey to possibly do a yearly Vegas residency.

Thank you for running through these memories with me, and while times can be stressful, confusing, and depressing, I am so thankful for all Morrissey and his music give us, as fans, including the friendships and memories that keep us going!

Let’s hope for good things in 2022 -

Viva Moz – and Happy New Year!

*edit December 29th, 2021:

Our new year's party gets another round of drinks!

A late addition, but there were a number of cute photos of Morrissey (circa 2000?) uploaded to Morrissey Central today, and we thought they absolutely deserve an honourable mention on our Top Moments of 2021! Social media was buzzing with delight over these charmingly cheeky pics of Moz out on the town! Photo credit: Tina Dehghani.