Morrissey has let loose on the state of America in a new interview with Alternative Nation.
The former Smiths singer, who plays the Hanover Theatre in Worcester on June 24, lashed out at United States President Barack Obama, saying he doesn’t support black people, that he “seems to be white inside,” and criticizing our police force for being “out of control.”
He also shared his thoughts on Hilary Clinton’s presidential bid and what it means for our country, and a host of other hot-button topics. He also spoke about veganism and his appreciation for Las Vegas rock band the Killers, oddly.
Here’s selections from his interview, via Stereogum…
On President Barack Obama and the racial tension in the US:
Obama has mystified me because he doesn’t appear to support black people when they need it most… Ferguson being an obvious example. If Michael Brown had instead been one of Obama’s daughters, I don’t think Obama would be insisting that the nation support the so-called security forces! How can they be called security forces if they make the people feel insecure? Obama seems to be white inside. There is an obvious racial division in America and it’s exploding and Obama doesn’t ever support the innocent black people who are murdered by white police officers who are never held accountable. You would expect him to be more understanding of what it means to be black. But so far, he hasn’t been. There’s no point in continually saying that we must support the police when it is obvious to the entire world that the police in America are out of control.
On Hilary Clinton’s bid for president:
I criticized Hillary because she ridiculed Obama in the original election fight, and I thought that was quite low of her. I now think she is a definite for the Presidency, and really, she has no competition. When you look at other women in or around the American political circuit … Michelle Bachmann, Ann Coutler, Sarah Palin … they are all horrific spikes in the forehead, yet Hillary now seems calm and measured. But a female president won’t necessarily change anything because, as with Margaret Thatcher, if it goes wrong, the people would never again allow a woman to take the lead. Thatcher actually obliterated any hope for women in British politics, as recent history has shown, and of course, she was actually fired from her own position by her own party! If her own party couldn’t stand her then you can imagine how the British people felt about her!
On his activism:
I firstly find that a cancelled Morrissey concert gains more attention than any concert cancelled by anyone else, and it even gains more attention than it would if the concert were actually played! I often refuse offers because the venue will not go vegetarian, but the offers are refused before the date is announced, yet people get in a terrible stir about it. I think people enjoy the sense of continual drama. Following Morrissey is not like following Rush. The Morrissey hot-lines are always on fire with some daily controversy or other. It certainly isn’t boring. I was offered an arena date in China, but they refused to go cruelty-free for the night, so I said… goodbye, then. The same with Iceland. They just can’t get enough bloodshed. When I played in Goteborg, Sweden, they actually closed down the McDonalds attached to the venue, which was incredible! I thought, well, if this were achieved by any other artist it would be world news… but because it’s me, well … silence.
Find the rest of Morrissey’s tour dates below…
