The former Smiths lead singer has become iconic not only for his beautiful croon and chiseled rockabilly good looks, but for an inimitable personality rich in contradiction. He’s simultaneously vain and self-conscious, irrepressibly sexy yet purportedly asexual. During his last show in Portland, in 2009, he called his performance “opera” but then ripped his shirt off at the end of “How Soon Is Now?” It’s no wonder then that this eloquent, enigmatic “charming man,” who continues to rule the stage with expert showmanship, has risen to the level of patron saint among self-questioners and been named one of the greatest singers of all time by
Rolling Stone. Britain’s
Independent went so far as to state “most pop stars have to be dead before they reach the iconic status he has reached in his lifetime.” They could’ve just said that some singers are bigger than others.
Theresa Caputo
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