Richard BodinFrom Skeptic to Devotee
Morrissey, like The Smiths before him, is the kind of act you either love or loathe… I’ve rarely met someone who casually likes them. They don’t leave people indifferent. I should know—I used to hate them. And then one day, I saw Morrissey play at a festival. I could have gone to see a different band on another stage, but the people I was with wanted to see him, and I was waiting for the next band. Seeing him live—moving on stage, singing with that fantastic voice… his presence was simply impressive. Mesmerising, even. His aura seduced me—there’s no other word for it. I was hooked. And since that day, I’ve loved The Smiths and Morrissey. So when I found out he was coming to Dublin, it was obvious I would get tickets—and bring my son along to introduce him to the experience.
Late Arrival and Limited Options
We’d had a busy and eventful day, so we arrived in Dublin quite late, and by the time we passed through the gates of the 3Arena, Brigitte Calls Me Baby—the opening act—had already left the stage.
First stop, obviously: the merch stand. I love coming out of a gig with a signed LP when the opportunity arises, and my son enjoys his customary t-shirt. Well, suffice to say my son got what he wanted, but I abstained when faced with prohibitive prices. A few signed LPs—which weren’t even LPs but just singles—were up for grabs at the modest sum of €500 or €700. Not for me. I was famished anyway, so I headed to the food stand, fancying a nice, juicy hot dog… However, I walked away with only a bag of crisps and a chocolate bar. Of course—“Meat is Murder!” The venue was not providing any meat, at the request of the artist.
Setting the Stage
Slightly annoyed, I made my way to the arena to enjoy the show. The screen above the stage played videos of various bands and film clips. Among footage from The Runaways, Sham 69, and Bowie, I recognised a scene from The Unvanquished, where Alain Delon dies—a moment used for The Queen Is Dead album cover.
Then, as an American flag rotated vertically, transforming into prison bars over a looped clip of James Baldwin, Morrissey and his band entered the stage.
Bigmouth Strikes Again
The audience cheered as the main event began. Morrissey opened with Hand in Glove—one of only four Smiths songs featured in the set. Between tracks, the singer regularly addressed the crowd, introducing songs… but also expressing complaints.
It’s no secret that Morrissey—aka Bigmouth—has sparked controversy countless times. His ego and sulphuric personality have often led to snowballing comments and created rifts, especially with former bandmate Johnny Marr. He’s been caught in the media crosshairs repeatedly, accused of various -isms. Whether those claims are grounded or not, they’ve damaged both his reputation and his ego.
Throughout the evening, he made several remarks about freedom of speech and bemoaned how Irish television never invites him—“in case I might say something clever,” he quipped.
The Lost Album, Alive on Stage
According to Morrissey, public backlash also led to conflict with Columbia Records, who shelved his album Bonfire of Teenagers, recorded in 2020. Though he’s since bought back the rights, the album remains unreleased. That didn’t stop him from performing three of its songs live: I Ex-love You, Rebels Without Applause, and Sure Enough, the Telephone Rings. The crowd was thrilled, cheering loudly each time.
Highs, Lows, and Pigsties
The concert overall was really good. It’s hard to pick out standout moments, as there were no real lulls. The audience stayed reactive and cheerful, while the tongue-in-cheek singer kept spirits high. If I had to point out highlights, maybe Everyday Is Like Sunday or I Will See You in Far-Off Places stood out, as the showman shared the spotlight with the entire arena in a moment of communal singing.
But ultimately, picking standout moments is subjective—it depends on one’s personal connection to particular songs, especially with an artist like Morrissey. For me, Shoplifters of the World Unite and the new Rebels Without Applause stood out. But above all, my personal high point was the slow, intense Life Is a Pigsty, which always takes me places—more so when performed live.
Encore and Farewell
Eventually, Morrissey left the stage. After a surprisingly tame call for an encore, he returned, trading his black, open-chested shirt for a red t-shirt and jacket. Before the next song, he let each band member speak a few words to the crowd—in Spanish, Italian, and English.
Then came the final Smiths track of the night: Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me, followed by Irish Blood, English Heart, with a cheerful crowd singing along. As tradition demands, Morrissey removed his shirt and threw it into the audience for fans to fight over.
Morrissey Never Leaves You Indifferent
What began with frustration and disappointment ended up being a fine evening of great music. Yes, Morrissey’s ego, narcissism, and what can sometimes seem like pervasive paranoia can be irritating.
But I can’t help loving his music—and his art—which can’t possibly exist without that personality. Like I said at the start, Morrissey doesn’t leave people indifferent.
His concert in Dublin was the kickoff of a new European tour running through August in Italy. Without a doubt, his audience will be there every time—cheering him, sharing the love, and fighting over his shirts, perhaps even shredding them to pieces to divide the prize among fans.
