Pitchfork

Mark Simpson, the British writer who coined the word "metrosexual" in 1994 (and later apologized for doing so) released an entire book on Morrissey earlier this year called Saint Morrissey. Even though Simpson enjoys yanking the chains of the easily-shocked, the title wasn't a provocation, just a summary of what we all already knew about the reclusive singer/songwriter: He's long-suffering, distant, and occasionally appears in the ecstatic visions of lost souls everywhere.

More than 15 years after his stint with The Smiths came to a close, he has remained an almost ridiculously revered character, and despite his present residence in Los Angeles, England still treats him like royalty. Much of America, on the other hand, has never known quite what to do with him. Example: In his homeland, he plays festivals and city halls, while we put him up in a venue named after a phone company. Alright, to be fair, we are giving him a couple nights at New York's Radio City Music Hall, but come on, fucking Le Tigre could sell that out.

Oh, it looks like I just got ahead of myself. I think I entirely failed to mention that Morrissey-- get ready for it-- is kicking off a UK tour tomorrow night at Reading's Carling Weekend Festival, and then, finally, in mid-September, launching his first stateside tour in support of his latest full-length, You Are the Quarry. Had you figured it out yet? Okay, fine. Anyway. This latest set of dates comes not-so-hot-on-the-heels of the cancellation of Lollapalooza, which Morrissey was scheduled to headline. And when the touring festival fell through (reportedly due to insufficient storage and laundry facilities for The Polyphonic Spree's performance attire), his North American plans just sorta fell off the map.

In the meantime, he's just released a second single from You Are the Quarry, July's "The First of the Gang to Die", which contained three more excellent B-sides. No word on whether there'll be a third release off the album, but with the election coming up, you just know Rob Reiner is trying like crazy to talk him into putting out "America Is Not the World". Nevertheless, America is the place where he's playing:

08-28 Reading, England - Carling Weekend Festival
08-29 Leeds, England - Carling Weekend Festival
08-31 Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange
09-02 Paisley, Scotland - Town Hall
09-03 Perth, Scotland - Perth City Hall
09-04 Blackpool, England - Empress Ballroom
09-06 Bridlington, England - Bridlington Spa
09-07 Newcastle, England - City Hall
09-09 Liverpool, England - Royal Court
09-10 Preston, England - Guildhall
09-18 Devore, CA - Glen Helen Hyundai Pavilion KROQ Inland Invasion
09-19 San Francisco, CA - Golden Gate Park
09-29 Washington, DC - Constitution Hall
10-01 Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
10-02 Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
10-04 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater
10-05 Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater
10-07 Asbury Park, NJ - Paramount Theatre
10-09 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
10-10 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
10-12 Toronto, Ontario - Hummingbird Theatre
10-13 South Bend, IN - Morris PAC
10-15 Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
10-16 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
10-17 Detroit, MI - State Theater
10-19 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
10-20 Louisville, KY - Palace Theatre
10-22 Atlanta, GA - The Tabernacle
10-24 Miami, FL - Gleason Theatre
10-25 Miami, FL - Gleason Theatre
10-28 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre
10-29 Dallas, TX - Will Rogers Auditorium
10-30 Austin, TX - The Backyard
11-01 El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum

Ahhh, but the real culture clash is yet to come! On September 28th, Sanctuary Records, via Morrissey's Attack imprint, will release a brand new self-titled album by Nancy Sinatra, best known for her classic girl-power anthem, "These Boots Were Made for Walkin'". Nancy Sinatra is said to contain collaborations with (and we're not even kidding) Jon Spencer, Bono, Jim O'Rourke, Thurston Moore and Calexico, among others, though the first radio single will be Nancy performing "Let Me Kiss You", which originally appeared in Mozophonic Surround on You Are the Quarry. Nancy's rendition has Morrissey relegated to backing vocals. Unfortunately for you B-side hounds, though, a previously planned commercial release for the track has been cancelled.