Young Morrissey's Punk Letters Up for Auction: Rock Star Dreams Revealed!

A collection of letters written by Morrissey before he formed The Smiths is set to be auctioned, with experts predicting they could sell for as much as £22,000. Morrissey, who became a leading figure in British indie rock during the 1980s, wrote these letters to his Birmingham pen pal, Simon Pitt, between the ages of 14 and 20. Simon Pitt would later become Birmingham's poet laureate. The letters, written between 1974 and 1979, reveal Morrissey's early ambitions and thoughts about music, politics, and his own future. In one letter, Morrissey shares, 'my ambition is to be a rock 'n' roll star or an actor, or a writer. ' In another, he boldly states, 'I always said I was a genius, but nobody listened. '

The letters are being offered as separate lots in an auction titled 'Before The Smiths: The Morrissey Letters,' which will take place at Dawsons Auctioneers on August 26. This period of Morrissey's life was also depicted in the 2017 biopic 'England Is Mine,' which follows the young Steven Morrissey as he struggles to find his place in the world before forming The Smiths with guitarist Johnny Marr in 1982. In his correspondence, Morrissey discusses attending a Sex Pistols concert at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall in June 1976. He writes, 'As for the Pistols... they were pathetic. I take back all that I've said about the Pistols... They are just plain bad. Period. '

Morrissey also describes meeting influential musicians such as Patti Smith, Johnny Thunders, and Jerry Nolan of the New York Dolls, a band whose UK fan club Morrissey was president of. He recounts visiting the legendary New York punk club CBGB's and attempting to join The Clash. Morrissey became the vocalist for Manchester punk band The Nosebleeds, marking his first experience as a frontman. In his letters, he writes, 'I'm in showbusiness... I'll spring on this unsuspecting world yet... One thing I won't do is record for the sake of it... I'm all set for superstardom. But then, I've always been a star, haven't I? ' Morrissey also touches on politics and his desire to move to America. After Margaret Thatcher's election as prime minister in 1979, he writes, 'Did you vote? Labour, I hope? God knows what tortures that miserable Thatcher has prepared for us working class folk. I dread to think. ' The final letter reveals Morrissey had joined a band in London with a recording contract.

Peter Mason, auctioneer and senior valuer at Dawsons, commented on the letters, saying, 'What struck me most was just how funny Morrissey is. Running through almost every letter is a wonderful sense of humour and genuine warmth that makes him an incredibly endearing character. Alongside the wit and unmistakable literary voice that would later become synonymous with Morrissey, the correspondence also captures Britain at a fascinating moment in its cultural history. Through his observations on punk, music, politics and everyday life, the letters offer a vivid snapshot of the changing British music scene and political landscape during the 1970s while documenting the emergence of a remarkable young talent long before the rest of the world knew his name. ' With The Smiths, completed by Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce, Morrissey helped shape the sound of British indie rock in the 1980s. The band achieved three UK top 10 singles and became known for songs such as 'This Charming Man,' 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now,' and 'How Soon Is Now? ' These early letters provide a unique glimpse into Morrissey's journey and the evolution of British music during a pivotal era.