In this video Billy Bragg talks about Morrissey, cynicism and misogyny. Billy Bragg shares some thoughts at an impromptu benefit gig for Ferguson in St. Louis, Missouri in the USA, on 20th August, 2014. Billy Bragg says in the video that this gig is in a "pub garden":
In this video Billy Bragg shows his "Morrissey is a Racist" t-shirt to the crowd. Why is Billy Bragg doing this? Billy Bragg also talks about his love and support for "Extinction Rebellion". Billy Bragg then sings his 1640's folk song "The World Turned Upside Down" live at the 'Bowery Ballroom' in New York City 27th September 2019:
Morrissey isn't a racist at all. Morrissey said (around 2007): "I abhor racism and oppression or cruelty of any kind and will not let this pass without being absolutely clear and emphatic with regard to what my position is. Racism is beyond common sense and I believe it has no place in our society. To anyone who has shown or felt any interest in my music in recent times, you know my feelings on the subject..."
"Love Music Hate Racism" accepted a donation of £28,000 from Morrissey (around 2007).
I don't understand what is going on with Billy Bragg. Billy Bragg is a supporter of "Extinction Rebellion" and the LGBTQ movement. Billy Bragg loves folk music, punk rock and skiffle music. In recent years Billy Bragg has become a big fan of the Grime artist/rapper Stormzy.
I'm one of the few people who is a fan of both Morrissey and Stormzy. I like the fact that Morrissey and Stormzy have kept a dignified silence over this. Billy Bragg though has been and continues to be very vocal. I like Stormzy because he is a Christian and some of his songs are about his Christian faith.
I'm trying to work out when Billy Bragg first started hating on Morrissey. I'm guessing it was back in the 1980s? Billy Bragg seems to be jealous of Morrissey.
Morrissey isn't right-wing or left-wing and he hasn't voted in elections for years. Morrissey’s politics might of seemed left-wing in the 1980s in that he was anti-Margaret Thatcher ("Margaret on the Guillotine"), anti-monarchy ("The Queen Is Dead") and with his uncompromising attitude towards animal rights ("Meat Is Murder").
The Smiths played at
the Greater London Council’s "Jobs for a Change" festival in 1984 and appeared on one of
Billy Bragg's socialist "Red Wedge" tours in
1986.
Billy Bragg seems to have antisemitic views and seems to support Palestine rather than Israel. Maybe another reason why Billy Bragg doesn't like Morrissey is the fact that Morrissey is a big supporter of the Jewish State of Israel. Like Morrissey I'm a big supporter of Israel. Another difference is that Billy Bragg is a Remainer and Morrissey is a Brexiteer (although he didn't physically vote for Brexit).
Elvis Costello (who was also part of Billy Bragg's "Red Wedge" tours) once cancelled two concerts he was scheduled to play in Israel in protest at its treatment of Palestinians. Elvis Costello is also very critical of Morrissey. Elvis Costello was once accused of racism himself because of something he said about the late, great Ray Charles.
I don't know that much about Paul Weller and Joolz Denby they were also part of Billy Bragg's "Red Wedge" tours.
Billy Bragg said “Whenever a Smiths track comes up I flip on … I just can’t … I love Johnny Marr, he’s the nicest man I ever met in pop music. So I really feel for him that the great work that he’s done should be tainted in this way.”
What Billy Bragg doesn't understand is that The Smiths are now also tainted for Morrissey himself after what Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke did to him. Billy Bragg seems to be friends with Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke. Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke both follow Billy Bragg on Twitter. Johnny Marr also follows something called "Hope not Hate" on Twitter. "Hope not Hate" is an advocacy group based in the UK. It campaigns against racism and fascism, and seeks to "combine first class research with community organising and grassroots actions to defeat hate groups at elections and to build community resilience against extremism".
I wish that Billy Bragg would be more supportive of Morrissey's solo career rather than constantly focusing on The Smiths and the past.