Morrissey Pens Heartfelt Letter in Tribute to Dead Fan

Morrissey’s brand of heart-on-the-sleeve emotion is much more well-known for bitter wishes of unhappy birthdays and professions of searing loneliness than for warm and tender assertions of love for someone else. This weekend found Moz in an uncommonly kind and sentimental mood as he publicly mourned the death of longtime fan Mel Torment in a statement in Morrissey zine True to You.

Mel Torment, whose real name was Melinda Hsu, was a fixture in the community of Morrissey fans online. She followed the singer on tour, positioning herself in the front row of countless shows and was such a constant at shows that Moz often passed her the mic to give a greeting to each new town. “Those who travel from concert to concert as Mel did possibly don’t realize the contribution they make,” Morrissey wrote in his statement. “They are as much a part of the night as I am.”

A memorial service will be held for family and friends Saturday, May 15, at 4 PM at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

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