Morrissey Central “BONFIRE DOUSED” (February 7, 2023)

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Morrissey is ‘too diverse’ for Universal Music Group.
Capitol Records (Los Angeles) will not, after all, release Morrissey’s 2021 album ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’. At the same time, Capitol Records (Los Angeles) are holding on to the album.

Although Morrissey officially signed to Capitol Records Los Angeles, there has been no mention of Morrissey on Capitol’s website or on their Artists roster.

Morrissey has said that although he does not believe that Capitol Records in Los Angeles signed ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ in order to sabotage it, he is quickly coming around to that belief.




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The instant grat was 'surprisingly' released (given the post prior singling the country out) in the UK via all the 'usual' outlets (and is still available) - not the greatest sign that the album was doomed?
Something happened around the Miley issue escalating & the Capitol representative messing with YouTube that lead to the withdrawal post re: Capitol & Quest.
There will probably never be a straight answer - so the dots are being connect and offered as solid facts via feelings & opinions here in the meantime.
Has this ever not been the case?
FWD.
 
If Morrissey were to apologise for having publicly supported Nigel Farrage, the situation would be very different. He only needs to look at the inspiring example of Derek Jarman to see that intensely romantic English nationalism need not be polluted by the type of far-right isolationism associated with everything to do with Brexit. Jarman was passionately English and equally passionately European. Brexit was the worst self-inflicted disaster in our national history since the South Sea Bubble in 1720. Morrissey is a genius who has allowed himself to be used by reactionary forces utterly uninterested in his talents, who are merely latching onto his fame. Time to move forward. Time to reconnect publicly with the Morrissey who flung his arms around Paris. Time to do justice to the memory of William Blake and Wilfred Owen and Gracie Fields and to stop faffing around like some ridiculous English Brigit Bardot.
 
If Morrissey were to apologise for having publicly supported Nigel Farrage, the situation would be very different. He only needs to look at the inspiring example of Derek Jarman to see that intensely romantic English nationalism need not be polluted by the type of far-right isolationism associated with everything to do with Brexit. Jarman was passionately English and equally passionately European. Brexit was the worst self-inflicted disaster in our national history since the South Sea Bubble in 1720. Morrissey is a genius who has allowed himself to be used by reactionary forces utterly uninterested in his talents, who are merely latching onto his fame. Time to move forward. Time to reconnect publicly with the Morrissey who flung his arms around Paris. Time to do justice to the memory of William Blake and Wilfred Owen and Gracie Fields and to stop faffing around like some ridiculous English Brigit Bardot.
Well said. But it will be a calculated business decision, just like the time he donated to Love Music Hate Racism. If he does it, and apologises for his past utterances and allegiances, it will be because he thinks it will make him more money. It's always been that way with him, it colours all his decisions.
 
If Morrissey were to apologise for having publicly supported Nigel Farrage, the situation would be very different. He only needs to look at the inspiring example of Derek Jarman to see that intensely romantic English nationalism need not be polluted by the type of far-right isolationism associated with everything to do with Brexit. Jarman was passionately English and equally passionately European. Brexit was the worst self-inflicted disaster in our national history since the South Sea Bubble in 1720. Morrissey is a genius who has allowed himself to be used by reactionary forces utterly uninterested in his talents, who are merely latching onto his fame. Time to move forward. Time to reconnect publicly with the Morrissey who flung his arms around Paris. Time to do justice to the memory of William Blake and Wilfred Owen and Gracie Fields and to stop faffing around like some ridiculous English Brigit Bardot.
Brexit is a breeze in comparison to Thatcher; I recall Morrissey advocating it in the very early 90s—way before anyone knew who Farage was.
 
Well said. But it will be a calculated business decision, just like the time he donated to Love Music Hate Racism. If he does it, and apologises for his past utterances and allegiances, it will be because he thinks it will make him more money. It's always been that way with him, it colours all his decisions.
Is that why he decided to reform The Smiths? What a great tour that was. I’m so looking forward to the next set of dates! Also, is that why he’s behaving so nicely with the labels and why he’s been with the same label since the nineties?
 
If Morrissey were to apologise for having publicly supported Nigel Farrage, the situation would be very different. He only needs to look at the inspiring example of Derek Jarman to see that intensely romantic English nationalism need not be polluted by the type of far-right isolationism associated with everything to do with Brexit. Jarman was passionately English and equally passionately European. Brexit was the worst self-inflicted disaster in our national history since the South Sea Bubble in 1720. Morrissey is a genius who has allowed himself to be used by reactionary forces utterly uninterested in his talents, who are merely latching onto his fame. Time to move forward. Time to reconnect publicly with the Morrissey who flung his arms around Paris. Time to do justice to the memory of William Blake and Wilfred Owen and Gracie Fields and to stop faffing around like some ridiculous English Brigit Bardot.
Who knows what Jarman would have made of Brexit. He loved Italy and Italian cinema. Remind you of any one? Moz could also be described as a passionate European. Pasolini's 'Salo' is a satire of the impact of globalisation on Italian culture. Italy will almost certainly leave the Eurozone at some point as the single currency is destroying the Italian economy. Leaving the EU doesn't protect the UK from the impact of globalisation. The americanisation and mcdonaldisation of culture here has been going on for decades. But Brexit was an attempt to bring something like democracy back to the UK. You know that old fashioned, romantic idea - that voting might actually change something?
The idea that Brexit was all about 'far right isolationism' is absurd. No one made the case against the EU better than the great Tony Benn. Blake, Jarman, Morrissey as artists represent the best of England - they are eccentric, they are rebels, and they are iconoclasts. What else was Brexit but an act of eccentricity and rebellion?

 
Really? How many other albums would not exist with that logic? Album covers, titles and song names I can think of much worse.

Beatles Yesterday and Today (Cover)
Scorpions Virgin Killer
Bow Wow Wow, (Cover)
Sex Pistols, the name alone caused a stir. God Save the Queen was banned. (Song)
Almost any Iron Maiden cover/title
Kanye Dark Twisted Fantasy
NWA F*** The Police
How About Puff The Magic Dragon.

The list goes on and on.


Morrissey has no fear nor should he of releasing that album title or song.
Of course art has always had a tendency to shock and scandalise - épater le bourgeois. But that's the whole point. As Moz alluded to in his recent interview at the end of last year - in the 80s it was Mary Whitehouse and the religious right; now it's the woke left. Who would have predicted that? But the woke left are much worse than the religious right ever were. The religion of woke has infected all the institutions and exercises real power. Including with the big record labels. Mary Whitehouse and the religious right always had a limited ability to silence the artist. Whitehouse's criticism of a great playwright like Dennis Potter just made more people want to watch his plays on TV. In the US, Tipper Gore and the religious right got those 'parental advisory' labels put on albums. Guaranteed to make anyone's album sell more. But that was as far as it went. The woke left are much more far reaching in their ability to silence and cancel those who step out of line and refuse to take the knee to the new orthodoxy. The only way to survive these days is to be too big to cancel - JK Rowling, Ricky Gervais, Dave Chappelle. The smaller voices get picked off and silenced one by one. The big question now is - is Morrissey in that category of too big to cancel? Or has he been diminished too far? It could be make or break time for him. It's certainly make or break time for BOT. Or its time may already have passed. And was that the intention?
 
faffing around like some ridiculous English Brigit Bardot.

What you think is an insult here is really a compliment, and quite the truth. They’re both iconic & brilliant, were great-looking in their prime, and will always be inextricably of their respective nations. Whether you consider it an embarrassment for someone to be outspoken on behalf of the animals or a national nostalgia is a matter of taste. I think they’re both majestic.
 
Of course art has always had a tendency to shock and scandalise - épater le bourgeois. But that's the whole point. As Moz alluded to in his recent interview at the end of last year - in the 80s it was Mary Whitehouse and the religious right; now it's the woke left. Who would have predicted that? But the woke left are much worse than the religious right ever were. The religion of woke has infected all the institutions and exercises real power. Including with the big record labels. Mary Whitehouse and the religious right always had a limited ability to silence the artist. Whitehouse's criticism of a great playwright like Dennis Potter just made more people want to watch his plays on TV. In the US, Tipper Gore and the religious right got those 'parental advisory' labels put on albums. Guaranteed to make anyone's album sell more. But that was as far as it went. The woke left are much more far reaching in their ability to silence and cancel those who step out of line and refuse to take the knee to the new orthodoxy. The only way to survive these days is to be too big to cancel - JK Rowling, Ricky Gervais, Dave Chappelle. The smaller voices get picked off and silenced one by one. The big question now is - is Morrissey in that category of too big to cancel? Or has he been diminished too far? It could be make or break time for him. It's certainly make or break time for BOT. Or its time may already have passed. And was that the intention?
Excellent points, great conversation. I do believe Morrissey is too Big to cancel, however these record company execs can make it difficult. Once you have too many enemies it gets harder to achieve your goals. Right/Left both need to go, yes the Woke culture is the worse thing to happen to the world, all social media influenced. Morrissey will survive, won't be canceled.His heroes all survived this nonsense.
 
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If Morrissey were to apologise for having publicly supported Nigel Farrage, the situation would be very different. He only needs to look at the inspiring example of Derek Jarman to see that intensely romantic English nationalism need not be polluted by the type of far-right isolationism associated with everything to do with Brexit. Jarman was passionately English and equally passionately European. Brexit was the worst self-inflicted disaster in our national history since the South Sea Bubble in 1720. Morrissey is a genius who has allowed himself to be used by reactionary forces utterly uninterested in his talents, who are merely latching onto his fame. Time to move forward. Time to reconnect publicly with the Morrissey who flung his arms around Paris. Time to do justice to the memory of William Blake and Wilfred Owen and Gracie Fields and to stop faffing around like some ridiculous English Brigit Bardot.
And I’m sure Morrissey would be most thankful to you, for drawing his attention to this ‘Jarman’ chap you speak of.

Christ on a bike.
 
The instant grat was 'surprisingly' released (given the post prior singling the country out) in the UK via all the 'usual' outlets (and is still available) - not the greatest sign that the album was doomed?
Something happened around the Miley issue escalating & the Capitol representative messing with YouTube that lead to the withdrawal post re: Capitol & Quest.
There will probably never be a straight answer - so the dots are being connect and offered as solid facts via feelings & opinions here in the meantime.
Has this ever not been the case?
FWD.
Isn't speculation one of the main oils that keep the wheels of a site like Moz Solo moving? What would the average thread on here amount to without a bit of healthy speculation? I think most people understand the difference between speculation / opinions and 'solid facts'.
The statement itself on Moz Central seems intended to invite speculation about why the album appears to be 'lost'. It uses the rhetorical device of apophasis - alluding to something by denying it or stating that we shouldn't talk about it (whilst at the same time talking about it). Morrissey has said that although he does not believe that Capitol Records in Los Angeles signed ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ in order to sabotage it, he is quickly coming around to that belief. Whether SER has the sophistication to use such a rhetorical device intentionally is itself open to speculation.
Funnily enough, it's a rhetorical device often used by (scurrilous) politicians about their rivals - see, for example, a certain Donald Trump...

 
I just noticed that the Manchester bombings happened on Morrissey's birthday (May 22, 2017). Maybe that's also why it's such a major incident for him?
 
Really? How many other albums would not exist with that logic? Album covers, titles and song names I can think of much worse.

Beatles Yesterday and Today (Cover)
Scorpions Virgin Killer
Bow Wow Wow, (Cover)
Sex Pistols, the name alone caused a stir. God Save the Queen was banned. (Song)
Almost any Iron Maiden cover/title
Kanye Dark Twisted Fantasy
NWA F*** The Police
How About Puff The Magic Dragon.

The list goes on and on.


Morrissey has no fear nor should he of releasing that album title or song.
Indeed. And it's not even anything so controversial ffs. He's just saying anger is a proper response to a terrorist attack that killed dozens of children and injured many other people. And probably that anger can lead to a much more proper response to terrorism than passivity and forgiveness. It's imo a perfectly valid stance.

Plus Moz has obviously never been an artist afraid of controversy, and not "sales tactic" manufactured controversy. I wouldn't want him any other way. Meat is Murder song and album couldn't be a better example of this. It's not a song with a "controversial" topic likely to win you points with the public. It's controversial because it bluntly challenges a commonly accepted part of our culture and civilization. And who else was talking about animals then? I don't think Paul and Linda McCartney became vocal about it until after that. If anything it's a topic likely to have you made fun of, all the more so back then.
 
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In Rainbows was surprisingly really great. I didn't expect much from the record - only because of the 'pay gimmick', but it was super nice to hear on first listen. Many of the songs were written throughout their career, only to be recorded for In Rainbows years later. Even though it's a hodge-podge, it's a lovely album with a few career peaks for them. For example, Jigsaw Falling and Bodysnatchers are awesome Radiohead.
Radiohead still cite The Smiths as their top influence, and remind the world that Morrissey was a champion long-distance runner in his teens, in a catch-up with Spin.

And there's a little update on Andrew Watt too.
 
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