MORRISSEY LIVE @ THE TOYOTA ARENA

Morrissey’s legacy in music is one that extends beyond eras and generations of fans all over the world. Not only was he part of one of the most famous bands of all time, but he even went on to branch off and create a legacy of his own in the music industry. Though I may not have been alive to witness his early career, his music has surpassed and transcended generations so fans like me could still listen, hear his voice, and even have the privilege to capture him perform live. When Morrissey announced that he would be playing for one night only at the Toyota Arena, tickets started to sell quickly, and it didn’t take long for the concert to officially sell out. But what more can one expect from a music legend such as himself? Whether it was The Smiths fans, Morrissey fans, rock fans, or even Social Distortion fans since they opened up, the arena had been flooded with people — and it wasn’t even 7:30 PM yet. Fans got in line early and rushed to their seats as soon as the doors opened. The number of fans who had arrived early set a high expectation for the show right from the start.

Fans all across the arena showed up with precious memorabilia, tour merch from back in the day, custom-made shirts, and a wide diversity of backgrounds. The most eye-catching part of the concert was the mix of fans who came out that night — seniors, adults, teens, and even children who knew every single lyric and were ready to experience a night of musical greatness. As Social Distortion opened the night and kicked off the party, fans were quick to rush to the front barricade and rock out to the heavy electric guitar solos and classic rock and roll tunes. Social Distortion set the tempo perfectly high for the arena to be ready for Morrissey. As they left the stage, it didn’t take long for the lights to go off once again — and fans knew the time had finally arrived.

The lights dimmed, the guitars began to play, gradually getting louder, and suddenly the light panned on Morrissey — wearing a suit covered with long flowers draped across his back. The outfit had Morrissey’s signature fashion written all over it as he began to throw flowers toward his fans and sing his biggest hits. The night was filled with his best songs as he performed tracks from his solo discography to classic Smiths records, which had fans going crazy. He played songs such as Suedehead, Everyday Is Like Sunday, First of the Gang to Die, There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, and even How Soon Is Now? The amount of classic hits he performed was unbelievable. Fans were either crying in their seats, dancing, or completely losing themselves in the music. This was one of the few concerts I’ve ever been to where I stopped putting my camera down and truly accepted that I was part of music history — a moment that may never be repeated.

Morrissey shook the Toyota Arena not only by selling it out but by turning it into a landmark night in rock music history. His legacy continues to transcend across eras, proving once again why he remains one of rock’s true legends. What Bobby Dee Productions and the Toyota Arena put together was a night of magic — one that helped rock fans across California come together to be part of something much bigger than just music.

Written by Joseph Hernandez

Photos shot + edited by Joseph Hernandez