Morrissey, the former lead singer of The Smiths and a solo performer in his own right, disclosed that he has cancer, according to his recent email interview to a Spanish newspaper El Mundo.
When asked by journalist Javier Blanquez of Barcelona how the singer was feeling, since he’s had to cancel several shows and his fans had been concerned about his health, Morrissey responded:
“I have had four cancer scrapings, but so what. If I die, I die. If I don’t, then I don’t. Right now, I feel well.”
Morrissey did not disclose the type of cancer. His responses in the article were in Spanish for the El Mundo audience. It’s not clear if the email answers were in English and were translated to Spanish, or if Morrissey directly responded in Spanish.
“I’m aware that I look bad in recent photographs, but this is what illness does to you. I won’t worry about that. I’ll rest when I’m dead,” he wrote in his response, which has been translated to English here.
His wide-ranging El Mundo interview discussed other topics, including animal rights and his love of cats — he loves their independence.
The singer is known for his dark lyrics in songs and also for posturing on the stage when he sings.
Steven Patrick Morrissey, who is known by just his stage name Morrissey, was in Lisbon, Portugal, the first stop on his European tour, the BBC said. He will be performing Thursday in Madrid.
Morrissey has canceled shows in the past because of poor health. Time magazine said he has struggled in the past with pneumonia, anemia and Barrett’s esophagus, a condition that affects the tissues of the esophagus.
Morrissey’s representatives were not available to comment, the BBC reported.
• Maria Stainer can be reached at mstainer@washingtontimes.com.
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