Rare teenage letters written by Steven Morrissey between 1974 and 1979 reveal his early ambitions for stardom, according to an upcoming auction by Dawsons Auctioneers. The correspondence, addressed to Birmingham pen friend Simon Pitt, is expected to fetch a combined £22,000 when offered as separate lots in the sale titled Before The Smiths: The Morrissey Letters in London.
Early Ambitions and Literary Voice
Long before forming The Smiths with guitarist Johnny Marr in 1982, a teenage Morrissey outlined his lofty career goals in letters to Pitt, who later became Birmingham’s poet laureate. According to the auction lots, one letter states, “My ambition is to be a rock ‘n’ roll star or an actor, or a writer.” Several weeks later, another letter adds, “I always said I was a genius, but nobody listened.” Peter Mason, auctioneer and senior valuer at Dawsons, noted that the correspondence highlights Morrissey’s distinctive humor and literary voice. “Running through almost every letter is a wonderful sense of humour and genuine warmth that makes him an endearing character,” Mason said, according to press association reports.
Punk Rock Encounters and The Nosebleeds
The documents cover a transformative era in British music, including Morrissey’s evolving views on the emerging punk scene. According to the letters, the singer initially dismissed The Sex Pistols after seeing them perform at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall in June 1976, writing, “As for the Pistols… they were pathetic. I take back all that I’ve said about the Pistols… They are just plain bad. Period.” The correspondence also details his interactions with Patti Smith, Johnny Thunders, and Jerry Nolan of The New York Dolls—whose UK fan club Morrissey presided over—as well as his brief stint fronting the Manchester punk band The Nosebleeds. Reflecting on his early time in show business, he wrote, “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?”
Political Views and Musical Evolution
The letters also capture Morrissey’s political anxieties during the late 1970s. Following Margaret Thatcher’s election as British Prime Minister in 1979, he wrote to Pitt, asking, “Did you vote? Labour, I hope? God knows what tortures that miserable Thatcher has prepared for us woikin’ class folk. I dread to fink.” The final letter in the collection reveals his transition into professional recording circles, noting that he had joined a London band with “a recording contract and all that rubbish.” This period of his life was previously explored in the 2017 biopic England Is Mine. Following his years with The Smiths—which produced four acclaimed albums before disbanding in 1987—Morrissey built a successful solo career with tracks like “Suedehead” and “Everyday Is Like Sunday.”
Did You Know?
Before achieving international fame with The Smiths, Morrissey served as the president of the UK fan club for The New York Dolls and briefly attempted to join The Clash while visiting New York City’s famous CBGB club.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Morrissey letters auction taking place?
The sale, titled Before The Smiths: The Morrissey Letters, takes place on August 26 at Dawsons Auctioneers in London.
How much are the letters expected to sell for?
According to Dawsons Auctioneers, the letters are expected to fetch a combined estimate of £22,000 (€25,814) when offered as separate lots.
Who received the letters from Morrissey?
The letters were written to Simon Pitt, a Birmingham pen friend who later became the city’s poet laureate.
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