Legendary British singer Morrissey canceled his highly anticipated concert at Stockholm’s Hovet Arena on Monday, June 23, just hours before the show. This sudden announcement upset thousands of fans who were ready for what they expected to be a memorable night with the former frontman of The Smiths.
Morrissey’s team said the cancellation was due to exhaustion among the band and crew. The 66-year-old artist, who is currently touring Europe, mentioned that they had traveled through six countries in just one week. “We are travel-weary beyond belief,” he said, highlighting the physical and emotional strain of constant touring.
Besides exhaustion, Morrissey also complained about the lack of support from the music industry. He pointed out that he does not receive enough financial help from record labels, which he believes is necessary for artists to reach fans in cities like Stockholm, Reykjavik, and Helsinki. Even with strong ticket sales and loyal fans, Morrissey feels frustrated that no labels want to release his music or support his tours, and he also struggles with limited radio airplay.
Fans who bought tickets for the Stockholm show were informed about the cancellation and were told they could get refunds at the point of purchase. The quick announcement led to criticism, with many longtime fans expressing their disappointment over Morrissey’s growing number of last-minute cancellations on his recent tours.
This cancellation adds to the ongoing tensions between Morrissey and the music industry. His long-delayed album, Bonfire of Teenagers, remains unreleased due to disputes with record labels. This situation highlights the gap between Morrissey’s lasting popularity and the industry’s unwillingness to support his work.
Despite this issue, Morrissey plans to continue his tour, with the next performance scheduled in Berlin on June 27. As fans in Scandinavia deal with this disappointment, the situation has sparked discussions about artist welfare, industry responsibility, and the difficulties faced by older musicians in today’s changing music scene.
For now, Morrissey’s supporters hope he will recover and return to the stage, while the music industry pays attention to his request for better support and recognition.
