Morrissey claims he was 'muzzled' over album release Teen firewhich he recorded between 2020 and 2021. In a rare interview with TelegraphThe musician said the “culture of idiots” was preventing the album from getting off the ground.
The unreleased album was controversial because its title referred to the Manchester Arena bombing, which occurred during an Ariana Grande concert in 2017. The tragic incident killed 22 people and angered the city of Manchester, which claimed Oasis' song “Don't Look Back in Anger” as its anthem.
“The Manchester Arena bombing was our 9/11,” Morrissey said. Telegraph“But in this sad country of ours, to understand the full meaning of the attack means to feel guilty, which is why the command ‘don’t look back in anger’ has always struck me as ironic and not at all indicative of social harmony.”
“Once you liberate yourself or self-censor, the idiots win,” he added. “There is no longer an arts media in England, so there is no one I can sit down with and talk about this. The truth is that the real artists in England are now hostages to people who object to any form of alternative opinion.”
Morrissey also told the paper that he believes “controversial means intelligent”. “We are still in the grip of a culture of idiots, it’s everywhere you look,” he said. “Of course I am one of the first to be silenced because my whole life has depended on free speech. No, I will not remove the title track because I will not abandon the Manchester children who were killed. Their souls cry out every day for remembrance and recognition.”
So far, no record company has agreed to release it. Teen fire“I have turned down all the big brands in London. Teen fire “While he also acknowledges that it is a masterpiece,” Morrissey said. “And while there is nothing offensive or offensive in the title track, label bosses say they are concerned that The Guardian “They will make their lives hell if they support such social consciousness.”
This is not the first time Teen fire Miley Cyrus's song “I Am Veronica” has generated a lot of backlash, despite it not even being released. In late 2022, Miley Cyrus asked to be removed from the album's track “I Am Veronica,” for which she recorded backing vocals. Morrissey claimed that the singer wanted to remove her from the song due to a conflict within his own circle. “In truth, Miley backed out for reasons that have nothing to do with me, after she had a major conflict with a key figure in 'The Circle,'” Morrissey wrote on his website at the time. “I can't give any details about the private fight because it's… private, after all.”
First announced in May 2021, Teen fire The album was supposed to be released through BMG before that company dropped Morrissey in November 2020. Morrissey wrote of the release: “The worst year of my life ends with the best album of my life,” adding that he was not signed and that the album was available “to the highest (or lowest) bidder.”
In October of that year, Morrissey announced that Teen fire The album found a home on Capitol Records, and the album will feature guest appearances from stars such as Chad Smith and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Iggy Pop, Andrew Watt, Josh Klinghoffer, and Cyrus. Following Cyrus' departure from the album, Morrissey confirmed that he had “voluntarily withdrawn from any association” with Capitol Records. Earlier this year, Morrissey said he had bought back the rights to two of his albums from Capitol.
Morrissey's latest album, I'm not a dog on a leashreleased in 2020.
