Libertines Drummer Blasts Morrissey For His Anti-Olympics Comments

One British performer who did not take the stage during Sunday night's star-studded closing ceremony at the 2012 Summer Olympics was Morrissey, who had made known his disgust with the Olympic fever sweeping Britain, which he likened to the spirit of Nazi Germany. Libertines drummer Gary Powell has lashed out at Morrissey for those remarks, though it seems that much of Powell's ire stems from a previous beef.

Speaking to Bouncesin.com (via Digital Spy), Powell disagreed with the notion that Morrissey can get away with those comments because of who he is. "No, he can't," Powell said. "Morrissey created a character and everybody jumped on board, and then he kind of went into his little cave. I'm not a big Morrissey fan."

The former Smiths singer had said, "I am unable to watch the Olympics due to the blustering jingoism that drenches the event. Has England ever been quite so foul with patriotism," and added that he believed "the spirit of 1939 Germany now pervades throughout media-brand Britain."

Powell seemed eager to use the Olympics controversy to speak out against Morrissey, with whom he has a rocky history. The drummer said that in 2004, when he performed with the New York Dolls, Morrissey refused to talk to him.

"Morrissey ignored me at soundcheck, and then we had a big meet and greet with everybody, and I stood next to David Johansen from the New York Dolls. It was literally like meeting the queen," Powell explained. "But Morrissey stopped at Johansen, chatted to him for a bit and then walked away. Morrissey is a knob. He's an absolute p----."