Morrissey has been diagnosed with cancer, the former Smiths singer reveals, and has been in the process of battling cancerous tissue in his body for 18 months.
The 55-year-old musician has been hospitalized on several occasions over the past year and a half, but in typical fashion says he’s not afraid of dying.
Although he did not reveal what type of cancer he has, the often maudlin Morrissey confessed his condition to Spanish newspaper El Mundo:
“They have scraped cancerous tissues four times already, but whatever,” he says. “If I die, then I die. And if I don’t, then I don’t. Right now I feel good.”
“I am aware that in some of my recent photos I look somewhat unhealthy, but that’s what illness can do. I’m not going to worry about that, I’ll rest when I’m dead.”
Morrissey’s health issues have included a bleeding ulcer in early 2013, a double bout of pneumonia in March 2013, and food poisoning in July 2013.
Most recently, he suffered from a respiratory infection in June 2014 that forced him to cancel his U.S. tour. Now we know there might be more to it.
Morrissey says he is at an age where he may want to consider putting an end making music and thinks he may retire once completed his first novel.
“I’m at an age when one should no longer be making music,” he says, having just been dropped from his label. “Many [classical] composers died at age 34.”
“And I’m still here, and nobody knows what to do with me.”
“The audience that I have is very young, which leads me to think that the songs of the Smiths, as with those of the Ramones, are more significant now than before.”
Here’s wishing him a full, and speedy recovery.
