Morrissey pays tribute to Prince: ‘far more royal than Elizabeth 2’

He also praised Prince's work for animal rights

Morrissey has paid tribute to “long-serving vegan and strong advocate of the abolition of the abattoir”, Prince, who died on Thursday (April 21) aged 57.

Writing on Morrissey fansite True To You, he criticised the media coverage of Prince’s death, which he said neglected to mention his work for animal rights: “neither of these points was mentioned in the one hundred television reports that I witnessed yesterday,” he wrote, “as they covered the enchanted life and sad death of Prince.”

In their tribute to Prince on Thursday, animal rights organisation PETA highlighted Prince’s support of them, writing, “When people would ask him why he was concerned about animals in the face of widespread human suffering, Prince would respond, ‘Compassion is an action word with no boundaries.’”

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Prince donated his song ‘Animal Kingdom’ to PETA to use as a musical invitation to their 20th anniversity party. It contains the lyrics, “No member of the animal kingdom ever did a thing to me / It’s why I don’t eat red meat or white fish / Don’t give me no blue cheese / We’re all members of the animal kingdom

In his own tribute, Morrissey also compares Prince to Queen Elizabeth II, stating: “Prince, who made something of his life as opposed to having fortune handed to him, is far more ‘royal’ than Elizabeth 2”.

He also comments on the impact Prince made: “Prince has influenced the world more than is suspected, and somehow the life of his music is just beginning, and he would be thanked not only by humans but also animals for living his lyrical life as he did.”

Stevie Wonder recently discussed his memories of Prince, speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper. He explained the inspiration Prince was to him, saying, “He was a great musician, he loved music, he loved playing his instrument and the times that we did jam together were amazing, with all the various people he would bring together… He was very cognizant of what his responsibility was as a musician and a human being.”

Asked if he would be willing to play something of Prince’s on US television, Wonder choked up and said, “I think I would probably break down if I do a song right now. But he was incredible and I’m just glad that I was able to say to him, ‘I love you’ the last time I saw him.”

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Wonder also told Cooper how he though Prince should be remembered: “Just a great musician, a great producer, a great songwriter. Someone that allowed himself to be himself and encouraged other to be themselves. He was very free. And to do what he did, without fear, was a wonderful thing, because it’s always great when we don’t allow fear to put our dreams to sleep, and he didn’t.”

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