Morrissey postpones US show due to double pneumonia

Morrissey. Photo / AP

British singer and ex-Smiths frontman Morrissey has postponed a US show due to double pneumonia, his publicist said, but denied he had been hospitalised.

In the latest rejig of his US tour dates due to health woes, Saturday's cancelled concert in San Francisco will now take place on May 1. The 53-year-old was hospitalised in Michigan for a bleeding ulcer in January.

"Morrissey is not/was not hospitalised in San Francisco. He had to reschedule Saturday night's show at Regency Ballroom due to double pneumonia," spokeswoman Lauren Papapietro told AFP on Monday.

Double pneumonia occurs when both lungs are infected.

The tour resumes March 14 where he will co-headline the Vive Latino Festival in Mexico, she added. After that his tour returns to the United States with shows scheduled through March and April.

The famously prickly singer, famous for hits with the Smiths including Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now, has meanwhile apologised for heavy-handed security at a show in Portland, Oregon last week.

In typically provocative style, he said: "Place an obese McDonald's fry-girl into a venue security uniform and she is suddenly Eva Braun," according to reported comments confirmed as reliable by the singer's personal assistant.

Last month vegetarian Morrissey cancelled a performance with late night TV host Jimmy Kimmel in protest at the appearance of cast members from Duck Dynasty, a reality TV show about a family duck-hunting products business.

The animal rights activist played a sold-out show at Los Angeles' Staples Center on March 1 after saying he had persuaded promoters and the venue's operators to ban all meat products.

- AFP