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Heaven knows I'm Middle Eastern now - The Independent

By Oliver Duff
Published: 07 January 2008

Shake your robes! Three weeks ago, there came news that the heavy-eyebrowed balladeer Chris de Burgh will perform in Iran this summer with local pop group Arian – making him the first Western artist to take to a stage in the country since the 1979 revolution.

The musician Morrissey is also in negotiations with the Iranian government to play a concert in the republic later this year. His camp would like their man to agree a date in Tehran this June, ideally with the internationally-acclaimed Arab pop singer Kazem al-Sahir, were he amenable.

Morrissey has called George Bush and Tony Blair "terrorists", and is less bland than the inoffensive de Burgh. The Mancunian's management awaits a formal response from Iran's Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, which is charged with suppressing "decadent" influences from the West. Western pop lyrics are banned.

Plans are, apparently, being drawn up for Morrissey, 48, to tour the Middle East this summer. "It's a major priority for us," said manager Merck Mercuriadis, when Pandora called his mobile and found him reclined in a dentist's chair, undergoing root canal work.

"One way or another we will tour the Middle East – in terms of places like Jerusalem and Beirut. And we hope to play Iran."

Of al-Sahir, Mercuriadis added: "He's a hero for Morrissey and Morrissey admires his work."
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• Related item: "Forget Blair: Morrissey's the man to heal Middle East" - The Independent - June 22, 2007

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