Morrissey Unleashes Scathing Attack On UK Justice System In Autobiography

Morrissey's new autobiography, tentatively title Autobiography, was released this week later than scheduled and to an eagerly awaiting public who couldn't wait to read about the singer's usually cloaked personal life. Early criticism has arisen from the book straight away, with many claiming that the former Smiths frontman comes off as self-important and spiteful, as he spends most of the book lambasting those who have wronged him throughout his life.

The book has received some criticism

One of the main targets that the singer looks to take down is the UK justice system, in particular, how it treated him during his court case against his former bandmate Mike Joyce during the 1990's. In particular, Morrissey attacks the judges who presided over the case individually, calling one the "pride of the pipsqueakery," and going on to attack other court officials he feels were on a personal vendetta against him. It wasn't just the court system that bore the brunt of his criticism though, as he alos went on to attack the one-time Smiths drummer of "constant inaccuracies and assumptions vomited out with leaden fatigue" in court.

As quoted by the BBC, the Penguin Classic published book goes on to scathing criticism on presiding judge John Weeks, who is presented as the "unsmiling Lord of the Hunt, with an immutable understanding of the world of The Smiths" in the memoir. He wrote, "The pride of the pipsqueakery, John Weeks begins his judgment by falling flat on his face: He brilliantly announces to the world how The Smiths formed in 1992 - his judicial accuracy not to be questioned!"

Other individuals who were questioned by Morrissey include Geoff Travis, who signed The Smiths to the Rough Trade record label at the dawn of their career. Claiming that he was initially unimpressed and uninterested in the band, Morrissey noted that Travis "would have found himself wandering from kaftan to kaftan" if The Smiths had not "saved his life and made it count in the long run."

"Needless to say, I had the last laugh"

During the 1990's, Morrissey claims that he became a hate figure in the once prolific British musical press the NME, and his long-running feud with the publication was also given a considerable amount of the word count. Morrissey reckons that the publication, under orders from a new editor, "allegedly called a staff meeting at which he has passed the command that his staff writers must now 'get Morrissey,'" which resulted in a number of defamatory stories being published against the singer. Among them, he was accused of being racist when he appeared on stage draped in the Union Jack flag in 1992.

Other choice moments from the autobiography include a segment where he discusses his first real romantic encounter with a male photographer in the 1990's, as well as his yearning for children following the 9/11 attacks. He also recalls being sexually assaulted whilst at school and recalls his first time meeting with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr at a Patti Smith concert, where his first words to Morrissey were "You've got a funny voice."

Autobiography is out now.

Not everyone is taken by Autobiography, but at least Morrissey likes it