Morrissey: Final Night in Italy (Series 2)

"Meat free" Peta - Morrissey postcard!

Morrissey, The Animal Activist:

("Meat Is Murder" video after the jump)

One of most intense moments of the Padova concert was the performance of a Smiths' song--a true manifesto of Morrissey's career--"Meat is Murder."

Vegetarian since the age of eleven, Morrissey has developed a reputation for his iron-willed convictions in favor of animal rights and associated movements. It's fair to say Morrissey took more than a few rather risky career moves by expressing his views wherever he could over the decades. Today's musicians seem to be well versed by their PR Agent, and don't really say anything too controversial--this is not and never been the case with Morrissey, thankfully.

Outside the venue a sign was posted that prohibited meat and fish beyond the gate entry. No surprise for a Moz fan. Shortly after entrance, a PETA table was set up with plenty of material on animal activism and PETA/Morrissey postcards with the words "MEAT FREE" across Moz's knuckles.

The real culmination of the above came together as Morrissey and his bandmates started the intro to "Meat Is Murder" with brutal and graphic imagery of animal cruelty and consumer factory farm footage projected behind the band. The execution of this slow and mournful ballad made many look on in shock as Morrissey kneeled down facing the screen too. Viewing the same footage alongside his audience, we weren't spared but neither was he. Morrissey soon fell to the floor in what could only be interpreted as heart sickened grief and a deep shame, while the rest of the group carried on with the fitting soundtrack that lead to the conclusion of the set. Morrissey, visibly shaken, left the stage while the brutality of blood and violence continued across the screen.

Many people over the years have become vegetarian or vegan because of Morrissey and it would be tough not to assume that he made some new followers in Padova that night too.

Also worth noting, the lyrics underwent some minor changes, specifically about the now international fastfood chain restaurant, KFC.

Musically, the riff originally invented by Johnny Marr still sounds as eerie as it did when he first played it all those decades ago.

("Meat Is Murder" live in Padova video and an Italian translation after the jump)