Music's guru of gloom isn't winning any fans in the White House after making a disparaging crack about President George W. Bush (news - web sites) during a Dublin concert over the weekend.

Morrissey (full name Steven Morrissey) paused during his Saturday night appearance at the Green Energy Festival in the Irish capital to announce the passing of former President Ronald Reagan (news).

"Ronald Reagan has died," he said, according to his hometown paper, the Manchester Evening News. "Pity it wasn't George Bush."

According to the Evening News, Morrissey made the remark with tongue firmly in cheek, and many of those in attendance seconded the sentiment. "The crowd went wild," fan Tony Murray told the newspaper.

But once the Evening News' report hit the Web and wound up linked on the right-leaning Drudge Report, it didn't take long for a counterattack that Dick Cheney (news - web sites) would be proud of.

The Evening News' Website found itself flooded with some 500,000 emails over a 24-hour period--mostly from the U.S.--complaining about Morrissey comments.

Many of the writers torched the 45-year-old Brit, known for such melancholy tunes like "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and "Everyday Is Like Sunday," while a few cranks issued thinly veiled threats of their own.

A sampling:

• "I have always liked Morrissey's music, but I think it was terrible for him to say that our current president should have died [instead of Reagan]. If I could meet Morrissey, I would remind him that there are many unstable people in the world, who can be influenced by the slightest things," opined one Internet user hailing from San Diego.
• "To call him a lowlife would be charitable," offered an Idaho resident.
• "Stupid men make stupid statements. This is just one more example why people who make music should keep their stupid comments to themselves," opined another writer from Hawaii. (My emphasis)
• Putting it a different way, one New York City resident wrote, "Morrissey and George have a lot in common--they both suck.
• On the other hand, one irate writer from Bush's home state of Texas cautioned: "For his own safety I hope his manager keeps him far away from Texas because there are many here who would disagree with him."

Don't mess with Texas, indeed.

Morrissey, who actually lives in Los Angeles, has ignited political firestorms in the past for bashing Reagan's conservative counterpart, ex-British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in the '80s.

The moody melody maker, who is also known for his staunch vegetarianism and indeterminate sexuality, did not immediately comment on the brouhaha. But a spokesperson for his London-based label, Sanctuary Records, did briefly speak to the Evening News.

"We do not have a recording of the gig, but as far as we can tell, Morrissey was just alerting the audience to the fact that Ronald Reagan had died," the rep said. "He then simply followed that up with his comment about George Bush, which was his own opinion. He is no stranger to controversy."

Those Stateside interested in hearing what Morrissey might say next won't have to wait long. He's slated to headline this summer's Lollapalooza festival, which kicks off July 14 in Auburn, Washington, just outside Seattle.

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