Singer Morrissey Announces Reagan's Death During Concert, Wishes It Was Bush Instead

By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
June 8, 2004

Controversy ensued during a live concert appearance in Ireland when British music act and ex-Smiths lead singer Morrissey announced to his fans that former President Ronald Reagan had died. The singer then added that he wished current President George W. Bush had died instead.

The concert crowd, attending the event at Dublin Castle, actually cheered upon hearing that Reagan died after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Yet, when Morrissey opined that he wished Bush had died, the crowd allegedly erupted into a tizzy.

Tony Murray, a Morrissey fan who attended the concert, confirmed what was said.

"[Morrissey] commented about the death of Ronald Reagan and when he wished that it was George W instead the crowd went wild," Murray told the Manchester News.

Morrissey is currently on tour in Europe.

A Sanctuary Records spokesman said they have been unable to confirm the exact comments made by Morrissey, but dismissed them as irrelevant since the singer is "no stranger to controversy."

"[A]s far as we can tell, Morrissey was just alerting the audience to the fact that Ronald Reagan had died," the spokesman said in a statement. "He then simply followed that up with his comment about George Bush, which was his own opinion."