'Meat Is Murder' singer Morrissey succeeds in turning LA's Staples Centre vegetarian

Morrissey will stage a vegetarian gig in LA (Getty Images)

Singer Morrissey is to stage a totally vegetarian gig when he resumes his tour after a bout of illness which prompted him to pull a number of US shows.

The former Smiths star's performance at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on 1 March will see food outlets selling nothing but meat-free food.

An on-site McDonald's will close for the evening as the venue becomes completely vegetarian for the first time. Some proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the charity Peta which campaigns against animal cruelty.

Morrissey has recently been treated for a bleeding ulcer and an oesophagus condition which prompted the cancellation of a number of shows as he was told to rest.

He is due to resume performing with an appearance on US TV on 26 February.

Morrissey said of his LA show: "I don't look upon it as a victory for me, but a victory for the animals."

He famously left the stage at California's Coachella Festival four years ago after complaining about the smell of burgers, telling the crowd he could smell "burning flesh".

He famously penned a song for The Smiths called "Meat Is Murder" containing the lyrics "The flesh you so fancifully fry/ Is not succulent, tasty or kind/ It's death for no reason/ And death for no reason is murder."

PA