Photo: WENN
Morrissey has spoken out to thanks fans and others following his World Peace Is None Of Your Business tour - ranking the shows in order of greatness and naming his London show at The O2 Arena as the best.
In an end of year address via fan site True To You, The Smiths frontman thanked fans for the 'best tour ever' - telling followers that he was 'continually humbled by such determination, and I scarcely know what to say by way of appreciation.
We assume he's referring to the reaction of fans and critics (his London show was amazing), as his tour was plagued by a myriad of problems - such as having to cancel dates due to a flu heartbreak, falling ill during the US leg and falling out with the support act, his row with his record label resulting in his band wearing 'FUCK HARVEST' t-shirts and leaving a gig in Poland early after a fan insulted him.
- See our review and photos of his incredible London show at The O2 here
He remained allusive as to what to expect from him in the future, adding that considering 2015 seemed 'imponderable'.
He also took the time to rank 'the best of the best' shows:
1. London (England) 02 Arena
2. Dublin (Ireland) 3Arena
3. Belgrade (Serbia) Belexpocentar
4. Paris (France) Le Grand Rex
5. Helsinki (Finland) Finlandia, first night
6. Istanbul (Turkey) VW Arena
7. Krakow (Poland) Laznia Nowa
8. Vienna (Austria) Konzerthaus
9. Athens (Greece) Tae Kwon Do Arena
10. Lund (Sweden) Sparbanken Skåne Arena
11. Zagreb (Croatia) Zagreb Fair, Pavilion 9
12. Hannover (Germany) Capitol
13. Essen (Germany) Colosseum
14. Utrecht (Holland) TivoliVredenburg
15. Copenhagen (Denmark) Falconer
16. Bologna (Italy) Paladozza
17. Pescara (Italy) Pala Gpii
Read Morrissey's full statement below:
"What I may risk calling our best tour ever ... has now ended, and my written words of thanks to all who came along to watch and listen are strong enough to burn a hole through the North Pole.
"It is gratifying to have so much support around the world, and the drone of my repetitive thanks could somehow never say enough.My devotional thanks to Boz Boorer, Jesse Tobias, Matthew Ira Walker, Gustavo Manzur and Mando Lopez.
"Panic - of course! - at Lyon (France) where we were suddenly without a bass player, but Mando appeared with wings - bigger than life, ready to eat fire... we were saved. He learned a complicated set of songs within a few days and suddenly we were boot camp ready to pick the tour up at Hannover.
"Very special thanks to those who travelled to a great number of the shows. I am continually humbled by such determination, and I scarcely know what to say by way of appreciation. Julia attended her 625th show at Istanbul, and I wonder if any living human has been to so many shows by the same artist or band? Documentarily, Julia's will is more fascinating than that of Emmeline Pankhurst, Maud Gonne and Constance Markievicz combined.
Explosive thanks to the websites and magazines who have voted World peace is none of your business as the best album of 2014. We think so, too.
"Finally, thank you to Anna Calvi for opening our nights with such supreme Joan of Arc punch and finesse. The world is suddenly a new place.
"2015? Imponderable.
"Yield to no one,
con carino,
Morrissey
Istanbul, 19 December."
