Morrissey, who has been trying to get the rights to his unreleased new album ‘Bonfire Of Teenagers’, has released a new statement about Capitol Records on his website.
After Morrissey’s upcoming album was postponed due to his departure from the record company, it was confirmed that the album would remain unreleased and the company would still hold onto the rights to it.
The singer’s statement read:
“It’s a clear display of how censorian the music industry has become. It is a new part of the music industry that does not work and that nobody likes. Music should be the primary democracy, as all art should be, and any effort to keep people away from it simply invites deeper discussion.
There is no point banning ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ because somebody somewhere might be offended if they heard it. Why waste time on other people’s mental incapacities?”
According to the singer, Capitol claims to be a label of diversity but did nothing to show it. He continued:
“And where is Capitol’s support for the kids who were murdered in that Manchester bonfire on 22 May 2017? Although Capitol claims to be a label of ‘diversity’ it is very difficult to see their humanity. If you are only prepared to release music that draws people’s minds away from thinking then you are unfit for any contact with creative people. […]”
Morrissey also attacked American music executive Michelle Jubelirer in his statement, claiming to help remove his album ‘World Peace is None Of Your Bussiness’:
“The moral perspective at Capitol Records who is sitting like a hen on an egg on ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ is Michelle Jubelirer, who played no small part in removing ‘World Peace is None Of Your Business’ from the shelves in 2014 – determined that it could not sell or be heard.”
Morrissey clarified that he still has hope in the music industry, but not in Capitol Records. He told:
“The same creeping culture of censorship at Capitol Records has taken place with ‘Bonfire Of Teenagers’, and the civic structure of Capitol now appears fascist. I still have hope in the music industry, but there are evidently several powerful faces within it that have no honest interest in music… and you follow them into the shadows at your peril.”
‘Bonfire Of Children’ was recorded from 2020 to 2021 and it’s still being held two and a half years later. Morrissey claimed that it was going to be the ‘best album of his life’. The album was initially supposed to be released in February, which was also delayed later. Morrissey then made it clear that the album’s fate was in Capitol Records’ hands.
After revealing he would no longer be working with Capitol Records, Miley Cyrus, who volunteered to take part to provide backing vocals, stated that she wanted to be removed from the record. Morrisson later revealed the reason why Cyrus no longer wanted to be a part of the record. He stated:
“In truth, Miley has backed off for reasons unconnected to me, having had a major clash with a key figure in ‘the circle’. I cannot give details about the private fight because… it is private, after all.”
The release date of the album remains uncertain. You can see Morrissey’s full statement here.
