[Updated] Morrissey Gets Staples Center To Go (Almost) Vegetarian for Upcoming Concert

staps.jpg
winni3, Flickr
A Staples Center eatery

Update (5:50 p.m., Headline changed): According to a statement from the arena, it looks like Moz and his public relations goons went a little too hard on the whole meatless Staples thing. While the venue will be serving vegan Sloppy Joes, a grilled vegetable sandwich, cheese pizza, vegan sushi, cheese nachos, and veggie burgers at the March 1 concert -- more of a flesh-free presence than usual -- Morrissey did not win "a victory for the animals." There will be meat and it will be eaten after all. We just hope no one has the audacity to blow any pepperoni-perfumed kisses toward the stage.

Original post: Influenced by his mother who refused to eat meat and demonstrated against lax hunting laws, legendary rock crooner Morrissey has been a vegetarian since the age of 11. He's always candidly communicated his distaste for animal flesh, whether singing "Meat is Murder" or stating, in a 1985 interview, that eating meat was "the most disgusting thing" he could think of, akin to "biting into your grandmother."

In an unprecedented move, out of deference to the former Smiths frontman's convictions, the Staples Center will make Morrissey's March 1 concert an entirely vegetarian one. This means that, if you like to chase a healthy portion of morose pomp with a fat sandwich, you're going to have to go with the tempeh.

On March 1, the meatiest restaurants in and around the venue, including McDonald's, will go dark. A portion of the show's proceeds will benefit PETA. Cows in their crowded pastures along I-5 will huff a sigh of relief.

In his press statement about the concert, Morrissey, in characteristically grand fashion, said: "I don't look upon it as a victory for me, but a victory for the animals." He has reason to be a bit haughty though. He gets to serenade 20,000 fans without fear that the smell of sputtering flesh might assault his nostrils, when an older and arguably more famous and canonized British musician -- Sir Paul McCartney -- once tried and failed to get the venue to make the same concessions concession.

And in related news:
- 5 Places In Los Angeles To Observe Meatless Monday
- Vegetarian Friendly: A Question of Hospitality, Economics and Pride

mediummorrissey (man alive flickr).jpg
Man Alive, Flickr


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Staples Center

1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA

Category: General

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96 comments
Ohh Mar
Ohh Mar

not only does Mozzer have the right, he's making it happen. :-) so it doesn't matter, no ones getting hurt.

Stephen Jacoby
Stephen Jacoby

Morrissey has the right to not eat meat but he does not have the right to force it down everyones throat same with the psycho vegans the act just like religious fantatics being vegan does not give any body perfect super human health like they think

Stephen Jacoby
Stephen Jacoby

Ben I am not a vegetarain or a vegan I will never ever be a vegetarain or vegan Indi Rock does not require a rule of being vegan or vegetarian this is issue is where my line is drawn.. eating meat is not bad for you there are plenty of good meat out there that is not from horrible farms

Stephen Jacoby
Stephen Jacoby

Morrissey does not have the right to force his psychotic beliefs on everyone els...

Luke Milwauker
Luke Milwauker

pig roast in the parking structure!!! tailgate!!!

Steve Juarez
Steve Juarez

Just sneak in a burrito, problem solved :)

Randy Silva
Randy Silva

I've seen Moz lately....I'm pretty sure he eats meat.

Dennis Martinez
Dennis Martinez

when you come out drunk and you smell the sizzling bacon you will think twice....

Dennis Martinez
Dennis Martinez

Morrissey could suck a fart out of my asshole ..... just cause of that im going to make sure i pass the word out to the paisas selling them dirty LA dogs to put them selfs all around the staples.....so he could smell the swine in the AIR!!!!.....lol

Ricky Estrada
Ricky Estrada

Do you really think of food when you go to a Staples center music event anyway?

Club Underground Los Angeles
Club Underground Los Angeles

This is not a rights issue, it's a simple request. They had a choice to host the concert or not to host the concert, it is very simple. Btw, who eats at concerts?

Curtis DeMartini
Curtis DeMartini

not about rights ...performance riders are what they are ...did Van Halen have the 'right' to demand no brown m&m's?

Tony  Aldrich
Tony Aldrich

who eats at a concert anyway? no booze, now thats a different subject.

BadKitty Beater
BadKitty Beater

I think it's great! Meat eaters can live a couple of hours without eating animal flesh, at the very least they will know what it feels like to be on flip side for once. Being a veg/vegan in a world of meat eaters is not always so easy.

Joanna Oceguera
Joanna Oceguera

Who cares! Good for everyone! Anyone who cares about this ought to walk their fatasses down a block for their meat fix. Big fucking deal.

Jeff Bulosan
Jeff Bulosan

That's power to the individual. STAPLES could've not allowed him to play there because of his demand/request. But they did, the show is sold out, the suitd got their money, Moz gets his way and money, no one loses a job. So what's the probkem here?

David Madsen
David Madsen

He as the right to do whatever he wants. I have the right to skip the show and go to the Pantry for a steak.

Dana Godinez
Dana Godinez

Although I'm a strict vegan I can say Morrisey is a poncy idiot.

Kris Noble
Kris Noble

Not that i am a fan of Morrisey but i don't see the big deal, it's his concert so why not? If you don't like any food there then nobody is forcing you to eat it. Do you go to concerts for the food? Idiots.

Rhoberly Gillon
Rhoberly Gillon

I remember him bitching about BBQ meat at Coachella a couple years back. Whata diva!

Steve Erickson
Steve Erickson

The "right"? I'm confused, Morrissey asked Staples Center, they said yes, what does rights have to do with it? All parties involved in the event obviously agreed and ticket holders are not entitled to anything more than the show and reasonable use of the facilities. Meat eaters have a plethora of meaty options right outside the venue. What a stupid question, LA Weekly I expect more of you.

Martin Silva
Martin Silva

So if I read that right all the restaurants in the LA live complex will either go dark or veg? If he's flipping the bill he can do what he wants. Personally there is on restaurant in LA live I want to eat at anyway. Smart folks hit one of the very very good restaurants close by before the gig anyway. I'm still PO about the foie gras thing though.

Sklar K. Toy
Sklar K. Toy

If a sizable number of his fans are attending, then Yes, Staples Center should make this accommodation.

Jae Tee
Jae Tee

this venue is way to big for morrissey. should of done the fox theater, or palladium again.

Rodney Foley
Rodney Foley

And now I am "unliking" your silly page.

Narineh Hacopian
Narineh Hacopian

LA Weekly, that's a silly question. Of course he has the right to request something. Likewise, the Staples Center and its vendors have the right to refuse. If they value his business and the money his fans bring in, they will comply. If it's too big of an inconvenience or too costly for them, then they won't do it.

Paul Sanchez
Paul Sanchez

And who wants to eat at the Staples Center anyway?

Jennifer N. Martinez
Jennifer N. Martinez

What are ppl bitching for...its just 4 hours of being in the venue....just go to the taco truck across the street on olympic before going in the venue...its wayyy cheaper there than inside the staple center...plus its Morrissey..just let him be...if he wants to change it then so be it its not going to change my life!

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