An extraordinary collection of letters penned by a teenage Steven Morrissey, years before he achieved global fame as the frontman of The Smiths, is slated for auction next month. The archive, comprising correspondence sent to his Birmingham pen pal, Simon Pitt, chronicles Morrissey's life and thoughts between the ages of 14 and 20, spanning the years 1974 to 1979.
Among the candid insights is an early declaration of ambition, with Morrissey stating his desire to become 'a rock 'n' roll star or an actor, or a writer'. A subsequent letter, written just weeks later, further underlines his burgeoning self-belief: 'I always said I was a genius, but nobody listened.' These early writings offer a rare window into the mind of a future music icon struggling to find his voice, a period later explored in the 2017 biopic, England Is Mine.
The letters also capture Morrissey's evolving musical tastes and encounters with key figures of the punk and new wave scenes. He recounts seeing The Sex Pistols in Manchester in June 1976, an experience that dramatically altered his opinion of the band, describing them as 'pathetic' and 'just plain bad'. Elsewhere, he details meeting Patti Smith, as well as Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan from the New York Dolls, a band for whom Morrissey famously served as UK fan club president. His attempts to join The Clash and his first stint as a vocalist with Manchester punk band The Nosebleeds are also documented, with him prophetically stating, 'I'm all set for superstardom. But then, I've always been a star, haven't I?'
Beyond music, the correspondence delves into Morrissey's political views and personal aspirations. Following Margaret Thatcher's election as Prime Minister in 1979, one letter expresses concern for the 'woikin' class folk', questioning whether his pen pal voted Labour. He also shares dreams of moving to America. The final letter in the collection sees Morrissey revealing he has joined a London band with a recording contract, hinting at the imminent formation of The Smiths with guitarist Johnny Marr in 1982.
Peter Mason, auctioneer and senior valuer at Dawsons, highlighted the unexpected humour and warmth evident in the letters, alongside the distinctive literary voice that would become a hallmark of Morrissey's songwriting. Mason noted that the correspondence provides a vivid snapshot of Britain's cultural and political landscape during the 1970s, documenting the emergence of a significant talent before his rise to prominence. The letters are being offered as separate lots in the 'Before The Smiths: The Morrissey Letters' auction, scheduled for 26 August 2026 at Dawsons Auctioneers in London, where they are collectively expected to fetch around £22,000.