Morrissey celebrates 50th birthday at concert
Morrissey celebrated his 50th birthday with a sold-out hometown concert on Friday - just days after doctors ordered him to axe shows to recuperate from an illness.
The singer's 2009 live dates have been blighted by a mystery ailment, with the first five shows of the US leg of his tour axed in February and another two UK gigs scrapped earlier this month.
But the rocker seemed healthy and in high spirits as he celebrated half a century at England's Manchester Apollo, stepping onto the stage to a standing ovation and opening with The Smiths classic 'This Charming Man'.
Morrissey shook fans' hands and cracked jokes about his "50 gruesome years", before his backing band surprised him by launching into a version of 'Happy Birthday', which the crowd sang along to.
He responded: "I'm not 50, I'm actually 40/10."
Tickets for the special birthday gig had sold out in 15 minutes.
