Morrissey has lashed out at tributes to the late Sinéad O’Connor, and has claimed people are only praising her now “because it’s too late”.
It seems the former frontman of iconic Manchester band The Smiths is living up to his recent controversial label and proving to be his outspoken self once again, as this time, he’s decided to take aim at the tributes paid to Sinéad O’Connor by celebrities and the media, accusing them of “not having the guts” to support her when she was “alive and looking for you”.
Legendary Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor sadly passed away at the of 56 yesterday, her “devastated” family confirmed in a statement.
O’Connor was most well-known for her famous 1990 cover of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’, as well as for releasing 10 critically-acclaimed solo albums throughout her revered career.
Sinéad O’Connor passed away at the of 56 / Credit: Sinéad O’Connor (via Facebook)
She was also known for being a vocal advocate for women in the music industry, for campaigning for women’s reproductive rights, and for publicly speaking out against the Catholic church, but was also known to have Bipolar Disorder and had been candid about her struggles with mental health over the years.
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The singer’s death came 18 months after the death of her 17-year-old son Shane, who had been on suicide watch before his passing.
Her cause of death has not yet been disclosed, but is “not being treated as suspicious” by police.
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In the hours since O’Connor’s death, many fans, famous names, and musicians and industry figures have publicly paid their tributes – but Morrissey has hit out at this response, and has taken to his personal website to have his say in an open letter.
Morrissey hits out at Sinéad O’Connor tributes claiming it’s ‘too late’ / Credit: Morrissey (via Facebook)
Titled ‘You Know I Couldn’t Last’, Morrissey wrote that “the cruel playpen of fame gushes with praise for Sinead… [but] you praise her now ONLY because it is too late”, adding that many didn’t “have the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you”.
He continued: “She was dropped by her label after selling seven million albums for them. She became crazed, yes, but uninteresting, never.
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“She had done nothing wrong. She had proud vulnerability… and there is a certain music industry hatred for singers who don’t ‘fit in’ (this I know only too well), and they are never praised until death – when, finally, they can’t answer back.
“Music CEOs who had put on their most charming smile as they refused her for their roster are queuing-up to call her a “feminist icon”. And 15 minute celebrities and goblins from hell and record labels of artificially aroused diversity are squeezing onto Twitter to twitter their jibber-jabber… when it was YOU who talked Sinead into giving up…
“You didn’t have the guts to support her when she was alive”/ Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Because she refused to be labelled, and she was degraded, as those few who move the world are always degraded.”
The 64-year-old former frontman turned solo artist – who has always been outspoken throughout his career, but has more recently become a widely divisive and heavily critiqued figure due to publicly voicing his views on a number of contentious topics spanning the genres of politics, race, culture, religion, and more – closed out his letter by calling O’Conner “a challenge” but one that “couldn’t be boxed-up”.
Keo play Projekts: garage and grunge revivalists crush Manchester skatepark for new music video
Danny Jones
This past Thursday evening, fast-rising rock band Keo took over Projekts MCR skatepark for a special pop-up gig and to film a brand-new music video for their latest single, ‘Pistol’, starring some of their biggest fans here in Manchester.
In fact, it didn’t take long for us to suss out that plenty of them had flocked from far and wide to be there, and let’s say we’re sure they’ll say it was worth the journey.
We caught Keo’s well-attended festival set inside the Woodlands at Kendal Calling 2025, not to mention their completely sold-out show at the O2 Ritz back in March – their biggest headline date up to that point – and we’re more certain than ever that they’re going to be absolutely massive.
And if they keep up doing more memorable stuff like this, it’s just a matter of how soon…
Packing out Projekts to the point that people were literally hanging off fences and standing on electrical boxes at the side of the street to try and get a peek at the post-punk, grunge and garage rockers, some of their most enthusiastic young fans had been waiting outside the location as early as noon.
For context, doors opened six hours later, and the boys didn’t come on until 7:30pm.
Those who signed up to Keo‘s mailing list were sent information regarding securing a spot at the one-off performance earlier this month.
While you would have seen the place fill up even if they were just standard concert tickets, the fact that the band were taping the whole thing to use as the visuals for their newest single, as mentioned, meant that Keo’s avid followers were literally clamouring AND clambering to get the best view position possible.
Turning the popular skaters’ hub’s central bowl into a makeshift stage, with lights, camera, booms and various crew surrounding the entire venue, it was a surreal experience to say the least.
And, of course, they were absolutely brilliant – just as they were at the Ritz at the start of the year and Kendal before that, playing a short but sweet set that left everyone wanting more and choruses of punters chanting Keo long after the final song.
We can’t wait to see how the video itself turns out, especially seeing how much the people who wrapped around them and the skatepark were lost in the moment, and we’re also looking forward to them headlining Neighbourhood Fest in Manchester city centre this October.
You can grab a ticket to see them and the rest of the NBHD lineup right HERE, but until then, give the full studio version of ‘Pistol’ a play and get ready for their debut album.
Oasis’ (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? named biggest UK studio album EVER by Official Charts
Danny Jones
You’re damn right: Oasis continue to be MASSIVE as new figures from the Official Charts Company have confirmed that (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? has clocked in as the biggest UK studio album of all time.
The Britpop icons and history go hand in hand.
Yes, according to the latest numbers by our domestic chart-crunchers, only two other albums surpassed Oasis‘ second LP – and they’re both greatest hits collections.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, 22 July, just over a whole year on from those reunion world tour shows at Heaton Park. How fitting.
Starting off by channelling Liam Gallagher energy and quipping that “Oasis vibes are in the area”, they go on to explain the colossal cumulative record.
“Oasis claim one of the biggest honours in British music history, they write, “as (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? is named the UK’s Official biggest studio album of all time, according to new Official Charts Company data.”
Combining UK sales of the record – both physical and digital over the years – along with modern streaming statistics, the sophomore outing from the Britpop giants has amassed approximately 6.2 million UK chart units. Staggering stuff.
Last year’s Live ’25 shows have no doubt helped give an added boost to their metrics, but it’s still gargantuan stuff from the local band.
Yet another incredible stat not just for the Burnage boys but the Manchester music scene as a whole.
2026 looks to be just as big a comeback, by the looks of things.
In case you were wondering who beat them out in the race for the top spot, they were pipped to the post by Queen’s Greatest Hits and the same again from ABBA, two worthy opponents to take third place after.
You can see the rest of the list in full right HERE.
Oh, and Definitely Maybe also made the list, too, coming in at number 39 – making that two in the top 50 even amongst all the compilations.
It feels like last July all over again, doesn’t it? And if now isn’t the perfect time to stick on the title track, we don’t know what is.
Actually, sod it – we’re sticking the full thing on…
Emily Sergeant -
27th July 2023 
