The MEN report - completely missing the sarcasm in his ''request'' for a local award by the council.....
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Manchester music legend Morrissey has hit out at the town hall’s top brass during his huge homecoming gig for ‘offering me absolutely nothing’.
Morrissey entertained a sold-out crowd at Manchester Arena. But during the gig he highlighted to fans the lack of any official honour bestowed on him from his home city.
He said: "We’ve recently been to Israel where I was given the key to the city of Tel Aviv. It’s worth pointing out that the governing bodies of Manchester city council have offered me absolutely nothing... And I don’t know why."
Click here for the City Life review of Morrissey's Manchester Arena gig
There have long been calls for Stretford-raised Morrissey to receive recognition from his home city – particularly after he was voted the ‘Greatest Living Mancunian’ in an M.E.N. poll.
Liberal Democrat councillor Victor Chamberlain, who has suggested The Smiths should be the first group to be inducted into a Hall of Fame, said: "I think Morrissey is quite right. He’s been an inspiration to thousands of people and musicians around the world and I really admire his pursuit of vegetarianism and highlighting animal rights.
"He’s made such a contribution he really ought to be honoured."
City centre spokesman Pat Karney said he was surprised by Morrissey’s comments, but he would now push for an award. However, he would not be drawn on whether it would be the top honour the city can give – the Freedom of the City.
Coun Karney says: "We never knew he was into wanting an award from the council but if he’s up for something I would love to meet him and see what he had in mind.
"Bestowing the Freedom of the City is quite rare, that has only gone to people like Tony Wilson, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby in recent times. But we did do a special Manchester Award for Take That.
"We never knew Morrissey was interested in awards territory, but now that he’s made these remarks we will arrange to see him and go through what he thinks would be appropriate.
"We honestly didn’t know he felt this way but with the passage of the years it’s something we will take seriously because he has represented Manchester across the world."
Trafford council leader Matt Colledge acknowledged Morrissey was ‘worthy in many respects’ of receiving a Freedom of the City award but said the matter would need to be looked into carefully.
Morrissey made a host of other controversial comments during his performance.
He arrived on stage with his bandmates dressed in T-shirts with the anti-Royal slogan ‘We Hate William and Kate’, and later said: "Congratulations on surviving the moronic Diamond Jubilee. When will we be rid of that family? When?"
He also joked about his lack of invitation to the Olympics. He said: "You may have possibly noticed I wasn’t invited to perform at the Olympics Opening Ceremony. My smile was thought to be too sincere. So to hell with me."
Heaven knows, he’s got a point, says Deanna Delamotta ...
FRANKLY, Mr Karney, I’m amazed it comes as such a big surprise to you that Morrissey might be miserable about not getting civic recognition from Manchester or your Tory counterparts in Trafford, where he was born and raised.
I’ve been harping on about this anomaly for several years. And long before me, M.E.N writers chewed over the question of how it can be that Morrissey is hero to millions but zero to the powers that be.
His short but momentous time with The Smiths and prodigious career as a solo artist have made him a global icon.
The reality is that, while Morrissey is the most admired living Mancunian on a global music stage, he is also widely detested for controversial views about everything from the monarch to the Malvinas.
He is marmite, a tricky customer but isn’t this what makes him a Manc? Straight-talking to some, a big mouth to others, a self-assured, outspoken, creative genius.
I can think of no-one more deserving to be paraded through the city, preferably in the rain.
