Since May 2021, Morrissey has been plotting the discharge of a brand new album, Bonfire Of Teenagers, which is the follow-up to 2020’s I Am Not A Dog On A Chain. After being provided to the “highest bidder,” it was introduced that the album could be launched in February 2023 through Capitol Records. Now it seems that Capitol has parted methods with Morrissey, which the embattled performer shared in a information submit on his web site yesterday: “Morrissey has voluntarily parted company with Maverick/Quest management. Morrissey has also voluntarily withdrawn from any association with Capitol Records (Los Angeles.)”
Today (December 24), Morrissey introduced one thing else: Miley Cyrus, who had been a deliberate featured visitor on the album, is eradicating herself from the venture as properly. “Miley Cyrus now wants to be taken off the song ‘I Am Veronica’ for which she volunteered backing vocals almost two years ago,” the submit says. “This comes at a time when Morrissey has disassociated himself with Capitol Records (Los Angeles), who control the hidden album ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’.”
Morrissey’s final album I Am Not A Dog On A Chain got here out on BMG. They dropped him later that yr, a transfer Morrissey blamed on the label’s “new plans for ‘diversity.’”
In May 2021, Morrissey announced the aforementioned new album Bonfire Of Teenagers with the caveat that he didn’t have a label to launch it. Here’s the textual content from that submit:
Morrissey’s new album, BONFIRE OF TEENAGERS, has been accomplished in
Los Angeles.“The worst year of my life concludes with the best album of my
life.” – Morrissey.The eleven tracks are:
1 I AM VERONICA
2 REBELS WITHOUT APPLAUSE
3 KEROUAC’S CRACK
4 HA HA HARLEM
5 I LIVE IN OBLIVION
6 BONFIRE OF TEENAGERS
7 MY FUNERAL
8 DIANA DORS
9 I EX-LOVE YOU
10 SURE ENOUGH, THE TELEPHONE RINGS
11 SAINT IN A STAINED-GLASS WINDOWMorrissey is unsigned. The album is obtainable to the best (or lowest)
bidder.
Around that point a author for the Telegraph claimed, “No record label will touch Morrissey — and that’s the music industry’s loss.”
Then, in February of this yr, Morrissey posted a photograph of himself with Miley “relaxing” in what appears to be like like a recording studio.
Cut to May when Morrissey debuted the track “I Am Veronica” in Phoenix. Some followers stated they heard Miley Cyrus’ background vocals on it, although it’s exhausting to inform.
At a July efficiency in Las Vegas, you may hear the backing vocal a bit of higher:
That takes us to October 29, 2022, when, in a since-deleted submit, Morrissey stated he signed with Capitol to launch Bonfire, now due in February 2023. He additionally stated the file would characteristic Miley Cyrus, Iggy Pop, Jesse Tobias, Andrew Watt, Josh Klinghoffer, Chad Smith, and Flea.
Capitol Records (Los Angeles) will launch Morrissey’s ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ in February 2023. The album might be launched worldwide apart from the United Kingdom, the place there isn’t a label deal. ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ is produced by Grammy-producer Andrew Watt, and was recorded in Los Angeles. The musicians on the album are Jesse Tobias, Andrew Watt, Josh Klinghoffer (ex-Chili Peppers), and Chad Smith and Flea (each of the Chili Peppers). The album options Miley Cyrus and Iggy Pop on extra vocals. The eleven tracks are: I Am Veronica, Rebels Without Applause, Kerouac’s Crack, Ha Ha Harlem,I Live in Oblivion, Bonfire of Teenagers, My Funeral, Diana Dors, I Ex-love You, Sure Enough The Telephone Rings, Saint In a Stained Glass Window. Album artwork is by Liam Lynch. Capitol Records (Los Angeles) has additionally licensed the rights to re-release Morrissey’s albums ‘Southpaw Grammar’, ‘You Are The Quarry’, ‘Ringleader of the Tormentors’, ‘Years of Refusal’ and ‘World Peace is None of Your Business’, and these might be out there in deluxe vinyl/LP codecs. As with ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’, the albums might be issued worldwide apart from the United Kingdom till a UK label steps in. Morrissey is managed by Maverick/Quest in Los Angeles.
On October 30, a “Veronica” promo clip surfaced on-line, and it appeared to characteristic Cyrus.
Just a few weeks later, Morrissey ended his LA present after a half hour with out clarification, although some attendees reported the singer was complaining it was chilly. A pair days later, Morrissey introduced that his album would not be popping out in February, writing on his web site: “Its fate is exclusively in the hands of Capitol Records.”
‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ is not scheduled for a February launch, as said by this website. Its destiny is completely within the fingers of Capitol Records (Los Angeles.)
The subsequent few weeks included a cascade of updates. On November 25 the album’s first single, “Rebels Without Applause,” was launched. Just a few days prior, nevertheless, Morrissey canceled 5 exhibits, citing “band illness.”
More lately, on December 22, Morrissey posted a quote of himself bemoaning the “absence of any promotion” for the album.
“It’s been quite sad. The absence of any promotion is noticeable. It’s devastating how no one can ever get this right. But they can’t, or they won’t. Radio stations, as far as I can tell, will play just about anything they’re asked to. But as I’ve always said, true artists must always look after themselves whereas non-artists are encouraged and advanced beyond reason. When you walk through a storm hold your head up high … as the song goes!”
And that brings us to yesterday, the place Morrissey introduced that he “voluntarily parted company” along with his administration (Quest/Maverick) and label (Capitol):
Morrissey has voluntarily parted firm with Maverick/Quest administration. Morrissey has additionally voluntarily withdrawn from any affiliation with Capitol Records (Los Angeles.)
Responding to a Morrissey fan on Twitter who requested, “If Capitol Records failed to promote Morrissey’s album because they believe all the woke lies written about him, then why did they licence [sic] it in the first place?,” Scott Rodger from Maverick/Quest replied: “Morrissey’s album was due for release in Feb 23. It will come out but Morrissey himself put out a statement in his blog that the album ‘featured’ another artist who didn’t want to be credited and thus the artist’s label blocked the release. Nothing to do with Capitol.”
“Scott, this doesn’t ring true,” the fan pushed again. “How can the album be ‘blocked’ & yet still be coming out – which is it? And why didn’t Capitol (and Maverick) negotiate and fight your client’s corner against this other label? Why couldn’t that one track have been left out? Things aren’t adding up.”
Rodger replied: “The artist who did backing vocals will be taken off and replaced. That takes time especially as you hit Christmas. When you say fight, sadly it doesn’t work that way. The other label, Columbia, legally blocked it. They’re within their rights to do so.”
This month Cyrus has been teasing her new period in billboards noticed all over the world.
At this level, it’s most likely protected to say that Morrissey gained’t be becoming a member of her on Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party on NBC subsequent weekend.
Stereogum has reached out to Columbia for remark.