Scottish band PAWS have accused Morrissey of refusing to perform unless the smaller act’s concurrent Thursday night concert is cancelled. Let us explain. On May 8, the former Smiths boss (and possible cheese sandwich fan) performs at The Observatory in Orange County, California. But a second bill was booked for the venue’s indoor Constellation Room, featuring We Are Scientists and recent SPIN interview subjects PAWS. This was allegedly not kosher with the Mozzer.
In a since deleted Facebook update, PAWS claimed the English icon “is currently trying to have our slot at tonights show … cancelled because he is playing in another room in the same venue and wishes for their to be no other artists performing in his vicinity.” Oh, but they did go on, calling Morrissey a “rich, has-been, ego maniac acting like a baby throwing toys from a pram [with] a complete disregard for others and a baffling lack of support/respect for young, hard working musicians.”
Ad hominem bits aside, that’d be a fairly legitimate assessment of the situation were it true. As of press time, no clarification had yet been offered by either side, but it certainly doesn’t seem outside the realm of what’s possible in Mozlandia. He’s known to raise stinks fairly regularly, and has made some pretty wild demands before regarding the conditions under which he’ll perform (or write a book, or appear on television, or celebrate a holiday). But here’s the latest from PAWS:
The show must and will go on. Tonight we play The Constellation Room in Santa Ana, California. We’ll explain everything later…
— PAWS (@wehavepaws) May 8, 2014
And of course, the original Facebook post now reads, “This content is currently unavailable,” but you can read the entire original message thanks to Brooklyn Vegan:
Morrissey is currently trying to have our slot at tonights show in Santa Ana, California cancelled because he is playing in another room in the same venue and wishes for their to be no other artists performing in his vicinity.
This is an unbelievable act of complete and utter selfishness that should not be tolerated. This rich, has-been, ego maniac acting like a baby throwing toys from a pram. To satisfy his little power hungry brain. A complete disregard for others and a baffling lack of support/respect for young, hard working musicians.
People like this, with attitudes like this displays a classic example of why the music industry is still awash with disgusting garbage that should by now have been snuffed out. Pedestals, self righteous entitlement, disrespect and “competition”. Geez. It’s not like we’ve come all the way from Scotland to play for nothin’…
I’m just going to leave this photo and sentiment with you and we’ll report back with developments. We won’t go out without a fight!
What do you all think?
Personally, we think you should stream PAWS’ thrilling album, Youth Culture Forever.
And read our report (and check out photos) from Morrissey’s San Jose tour opener.
