Morrissey’s 55th birthday is Thursday, and while you’ll be celebrating by posting “Unhappy Birthday” YouTube clips to Facebook, PETA is taking action by stenciling “Meat Is Still Murder” all over Manchester streets.
The animal rights group is marking a combined occasion, both Mozzer’s birthday and National Vegetarian Week (how convenient!). The NME is reporting that PETA is using “clean graffiti, which uses stencils to wash public areas.”
The image also depicts a pig with its throat slit.
Here’s some more words from the publication. No animals were harmed in the making of this blockquote:
The message, which plays on the title of The Smith’s classic 1985 album ‘Meat Is Murder’, has been stenciled on 20 locations throughout the city. See above for the graffiti on Oxford Road.
The former Smiths frontman is an outspoken animal rights campaigner and vegetarian, and recently became involved in a row with the Canadian government over his claims that the country’s seal hunt is “barbaric”.
“We’re certain that Moz will be delighted by our effort to clean up Manchester’s dirty pavements with our ‘Meat Is Still Murder’ message”, Peta Associate Director Mimi Bekhechi said in a statement. “Morrissey’s commitment to speaking up for animals is the real ‘light that never goes out’, and we look forward to celebrating his birthday for many more years to come.”
Morrissey plays Boston’s Opera House on June 7, and his 10th studio record, World Peace Is None Of Your Business, is out July 15 via Harvest/Capitol Records.
Listen to the first single and title track below…