Morrissey Cancels Stockholm Show, Citing Exhaustion and “Zero Support” From Music Industry
Legendary rock icon Morrissey has been forced to cancel his scheduled concert in Stockholm, Sweden, amid growing frustration with what he describes as a total lack of backing from the music industry. The announcement came just days before the show, which was set to take place on Monday, June 23, at the Hovet Arena.
The 66-year-old former frontman of The Smiths shared the news via a statement on Morrissey Central, explaining that exhaustion has taken a heavy toll on his band and crew. “The pain at not reaching Stockholm this week is horrific for the band and crew,” he wrote. “We dream of Stockholm, Reykjavik, Trondheim, Helsinki, Aarhus … but there is no financial support from imaginary record labels to get us to such places.”
Despite completing a demanding leg of his tour—visiting six countries in just one week—Morrissey noted that the physical and emotional burden of constant travel has left the team “travel-weary beyond belief.”
He continued, “We pray to God that someone, somewhere can help us reach Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Denmark … where we have thousands upon thousands of friends, yet absolutely zero music industry support.”
According to his current tour schedule, no future dates in Scandinavia have been announced, leaving fans in those regions disappointed. Ticket holders for the canceled Stockholm performance reportedly received notices stating, “Due to exhaustion among the band and crew, the Morrissey headline engagement at Hovet has been cancelled. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase.”
Beyond logistics, Morrissey’s statement highlighted deeper industry issues. He expressed frustration over the disconnect between the strong turnout for his live shows and the lack of institutional support. “No label will release our music, no radio will play our music … and yet our ticket sales are sensational,” he said. “What does this tell us about the state of Art in 2025?”
Looking ahead, Morrissey announced that the tour is set to resume in Berlin on June 27. “With the grace of God we will all gather,” he added. “I love all of you with whatever is left of my doomed heart.”
Ongoing Industry Disputes
The cancellation reignites discussions around Morrissey’s long-standing disputes with the music industry. His latest album, Bonfire of Teenagers, remains unreleased. The project, recorded in 2020–2021, was originally due for release under Capitol Records in 2023. However, it has been shelved indefinitely following Morrissey’s split with the label in 2022.
In his latest remarks, Morrissey condemned what he sees as a cultural shift within the arts and media industries. “There is no arts media anymore in England,” he stated, blaming the dominance of what he called “idiot culture.” He further accused media figures of holding artists “hostage” for expressing alternative opinions.
Morrissey’s battle with record labels is nothing new. During his time with The Smiths—alongside Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce—the band signed to independent label Rough Trade. Morrissey was often critical of the label’s lack of promotional power and what he saw as their defeatist approach, as reported by Magnet Magazine. Despite the band’s rising popularity, they remained locked in a contract that restricted their flexibility, contributing to internal friction and eventually their 1987 breakup.
This article was originally published by Parade on June 23, 2025.
