Steven Patrick Morrissey Wiki: Net Worth & Facts To Know

Steven Patrick Morrissey, commonly known by just his last name, Morrissey, is one of the most beloved singers to come from the 1980's. His first taste of fame came from forming and fronting the popular band The Smiths, before going on to have an equally successful solo career. If the name Morrissey isn't familiar, then his music sure is. He is credited with writing gloomy hits like "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and "William, It Was Really Nothing" as well as popular tunes like "How Soon Is Now." Morrissey's music is often featured in movies, thought of as an escape for people during their darkest times, and generally resonates with a multitude of listeners. Over the course of his career, which spans over four decades, Morrissey has racked up a net worth of $50 million.

Born in Manchester, England in 1959 to a librarian and hospital porter, Morrissey wasn't anything like normal kids his age. Moody and introspective, he fell in love with poetry and writing, using the art to deal with his own sad upbringing and depressive tendencies. Writing was his outlet. His battles with darker emotions can be traced back to the infamous Moors murders around Manchester. Two adults, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, murdered five children between the ages of 10-17 throughout the early to mid sixties. Growing up in the area Morrissey was deeply affected by these murders, and even referenced them in one of his songs. Thankfully, Morrissey found an escape from his usually unexciting and upsetting life in the form of pop music. He felt connected to the artists through their songs, finally feeling like someone understood him, and soon enough he was obsessed. Music was his escape. Listening, writing and performing gave him a feeling he hadn't experienced before, and he was inspired to become a pop star in his own right. Morrissey briefly fronted a band called the Nosebleeds in the late 1970's, but his real musical success wouldn't come until the early 80's.

In 1982 Morrissey formed The Smiths with fellow singer and songwriter Johnny Marr. Morrissey was different than anything the music world had seen before, refusing to fit into the typical mold of frontman and instead, keeping with his brooding damaged image. He became an icon for the so-called outsiders of the world, who finally had someone to relate to. The Smiths were incredibly successful over their five year run, releasing multiple top charting albums and a series of hit singles. Songs like "This Charming Man," and "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" have stood the test of time, and still resonate with the youth of today. Their debut album, "The Smiths," solidified them as a band to watch right from the start, and is considered one of the greatest albums of all-time. With such a perfect beginning, one would assume things could only go down from there, but The Smiths proved them wrong. Two of their follow-up albums, "Meat Is Murder" and "The Queen is Dead," would also reach great heights and critical acclaim. Three of their four albums have made it onto Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of All-Time and Albums You Have to Hear Before You Die lists and "The Queen is Dead" is thought to be a defining album of the 80's. Morrissey is credited as being a key figure in bringing Indie rock and British pop to the world, and his lyrics are even studied today.

Morrissey's work with The Smiths skyrocketed him to the height of success, so it's no surprise he went solo in 1988 after the group disbanded. Morrissey's "Viva Hate," his debut album as a solo artist, earned rave reviews and was well received by critics and fans alike. Unfortunately, his solo career wasn't as successful as his time with The Smiths and his follow-up album was a major disappointment. Morrissey was in a so-called transitional phase, which is partially to blame for "Kill Uncle's" inability to reach as many audiences as his previous works. In 1992 Morrissey's previous failure proved to be a fluke when he released "Your Arsenal," his widely regarded, most successful, solo album. It's considered his best work since The Smiths' "The Queen is Dead" and his hardest rocking album overall. His follow-up "Vauxhall and I" also received rave reviews, making his slip with his second album obsolete. Although his solo career had its highs and lows, quotes from Morrissey are floating around depicting his distaste for a possible reunion of The Smiths. He's strongly against it, stating that he didn't want the band to end at the time, but because Marr did, he sees no reason to reunite, no matter how much money is involved.

As a long-time writer and a praised lyricist, it was only a matter of time before Morrissey added 'author' to his list of credits. Many don't realize that before the forming of The Smiths, Morrissey was actually already a published author. Throughout his early years, he wrote letters to the music press, in hopes of becoming a professional writer and music journalist, and was hired. He also wrote a series of short books for a local publishing company and a book about late actor and movie star James Dean titled "James Dean is Not Dead." In 2013 Morrissey wrote an autobiography cleverly titled "Autobiography," about growing up in a working-class Irish family in England, his time with The Smiths, and his life as a solo artist and music icon. Morrissey's autobiography is considered one of the best musical biographies of all time and was a best seller in the UK. He published his debut novel in 2015, "List of the Lost," about a relay team that kills a demon and becomes cursed. It received alarmingly negative reviews, and Morrissey was criticized for his lack of connection to the athletic world, his depiction of women, and bizarre story and dialogue. His fiction writing ability isn't as strong as his autobiographical writing or his impressive lyrics, but he still has a desire to write. With a high net worth as Morrissey boasts, he has the means to publish his own novels if it comes to it or hire a team to better help him develop his works.

Morrissey is known for his outspoken nature, never shying away from his feelings on even the most controversial of issues. He's often quoted criticizing meat eaters, as a vegetarian himself, as well as royalty, politicians, religion, and the British music press. His quotes spark debate, but he's never apologetic for them. While openly critical of a number of things, his fans are the one thing Morrissey has the utmost respect for. He sees them as family and happily connects with them on stage as often as he possibly can and still tours today. As far as relationships, Morrissey has stayed incredibly private about that aspect of his life. Whether he has a wife or children is a mystery, and often times his sexuality, in general, is openly debated. He's always been vague about the way he identifies, and that doesn't seem like it'll be changing anytime soon. In his autobiography, he stated that he hadn't had a relationship until he was 35, when he started one with male photographer Jake Walters. Morrissey doesn't explain their relationship completely, leaving out whether or not they were lovers. Morrissey also had a relationship with Tina Dehaghani, who he speaks sweetly of in the book. He even mentions the possibility of children with her, but she never became his wife and the two have since parted. He suffers from clinical depression, for which he actively seeks help for.

Steven Patrick Morrissey, one of the world's finest treasures. A skilled songwriter, a deep mysterious man, and someone even the most American of people can't help but idolize. He's already down in history as one of the best, and as he continues to tour and release music, he only further proves he's earned the title. Named one of the greatest living British cultural icons, there's no denying that Morrissey is destined to leave his mark on the world.