Morrissey's teenage prophecy is about to come true – again. In a thrilling twist, an astonishing archive of handwritten letters penned by the former Smiths frontman during his formative years has emerged, where he boldly predicted becoming a 'rock 'n' roll star'. The collection, titled Before The Smiths: The Morrissey Letters, boasts hundreds of pages filled with raw emotion and precocious charm, sent to his Birmingham pen pal Simon Pitt between 1974 and 1979. These tender exchanges paint an intimate portrait of the Morrissey we thought we knew – but this time, from a fresh perspective.
The letters are set to be auctioned off by Dawsons Auctioneers on 26 August 2026, with a combined estimate exceeding £22,000 across 65 individual lots. A thrilling highlight is the earliest surviving letter, penned in March 1974, where Morrissey confidently declares his aspirations: "My ambition is to be a rock 'n' roll star or an actor, or a writer." This priceless document, which also features Pitt's original pen-pal application annotated by Morrissey with "And to think it all started here," is expected to fetch between £300 and £500.
These letters are the ultimate backstage pass into Morrissey's formative years. From his early days as a music-obsessed schoolboy in Manchester, we witness his transformation into an aspiring performer, complete with the distinctive voice and growing confidence that would one day make him a global icon. One particular letter showcases his classic bravado: "I always said I was a genius, but nobody listened." We also see him navigating the wild landscape of 1970s punk, where he initially championed the Sex Pistols' legendary shows at Manchester's Lesser Free Trade Hall – only to later label them "pathetic" in a dramatic U-turn.
But these letters are more than just a fascinating historical footnote; they offer a rare glimpse into Morrissey's interactions with the punk scene's most influential figures. He recalls meeting Patti Smith, Johnny Thunders, and Jerry Nolan, as well as rubbing shoulders at New York's iconic CBGB club. And in a remarkable anecdote, we learn of his ill-fated attempt to join The Clash before they achieved stardom – with guitarist Mick Jones allegedly recognising him from his prolific letters to the music press.
One of the most valuable lots within this treasure trove is a five-page letter from 1977, containing the only known photograph of Morrissey within the archive. With characteristic wit, he quipped beneath a passport image: "Poseurs of the world unite! S.M. in the UK 1977. Or, if your glasses don’t fit then why should your face?" This lot, which also features his thoughts on Blondie, Patti Smith, and an eyewitness account of the Ramones' electrifying concert at Manchester's Electric Circus, is estimated to fetch £1,000 to £1,500.