CHICAGO — When Riot Fest announced its lineup, Morrissey fans celebrated the chance to see the former Smiths lead singer and notorious show canceler in Chicago's Douglas Park.
After a bit of speculation about whether he would actually show up, Riot Fest confirmed that he, indeed, would play Saturday night to thousands of super stoked fans. But there was a catch most fans didn't know about until they showed up.
No meat.
Riot Fest, which has many meaty food options for the three day punk rock extravaganza, cut off meat sales between 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday "because of respect to Morrissey and his animal rights activism."
Morrissey has been a vegetarian since he was 11, and the Smiths were well-known for their 1985 album titled "Meat Is Murder." Though vegans criticized him for taking too long to go full-blown vegan, he has been since at least 2014.
No word on whether two hours of no meat was a requirement for him to play the festival, but in 2009 he walked off stage at Coachella after saying "the smell of burning animals is making me sick. I just couldn't bear it."
Chicagoans, known for their intense love of encased meats, shared their thoughts on the meat ban as it kicked off Saturday:
When I learned meat wouldn't be served at @RiotFest cuz of @morrisseysolo https://t.co/fkXnaqInjs #omnivore #RiotFest #thesimpsons #byobb
— joe dimasi (@hexideciml) September 17, 2016
So Morrissey has the balls to come to chicago and outlaw meat at riot fest apparently #burgersatmorrissey
— George Kupczak (@pontoonboatfire) September 17, 2016
Some thought ahead:
The vendors at Riot Fest aren't allowed to sell meat during Morrissey's set so people are buying hot dogs in bulk beforehand
— 24: Matt Another Day (@digifreak642) September 17, 2016
Others, however, admired the gesture:
All of us vegans are uniting for Morrissey at riot fest and committing a meat eater genocide
— rationale. (@rationalesucks) September 18, 2016
Have to hand it to Morrissey for mandating no meat be sold at @RiotFest after 7pm. That rules. #meatismurder
— Lauren D // WORRIERS (@blackandredeye) September 17, 2016
If you're sad about the lack of meat, don't worry: it will return when day three of the fest kicks off Sunday.
