Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books (UK) deal [updated] - true-to-you.net

UPDATE Sep. 13, 3:05PM PT:

link posted by jbabz:

Clarification - true-to-you.net
13 September 2013

The publication of Morrissey's Autobiography remains with Penguin Books.

This is a deal for the UK and Europe, but Morrissey has no contract with a publisher for the U.S. or any other territory.

As of 13 September, Morrissey and Penguin (UK) remain determined to publish within the next few weeks.



Statement
- true-to-you.net
12 September 2013

Although Morrissey's Autobiography was set to be available throughout the UK on September 16th, a last-minute content disagreement between Penguin Books and Morrissey has caused the venture to collapse. No review copies were printed, and Morrissey is now in search of a new publisher.


UPDATE - media coverage:

The Story of Morrissey's Autobiography Keeps Getting Weirder by ALEXANDER ABAD-SANTOS - The Atlantic Wire

Excerpt:

But two spokespeople in Penguin's New York headquarters said they had no knowledge of any plans for publication.

A spokeswoman for Penguin's U.K. arm was a little more revealing when reached via email about Morrissey's latest signal to fans about the book.

"How nice that he seemed to say yes," said the spokeswoman, Rosie Glaisher. "Here's hoping."

But she added: "Nothing on the schedule at this time."

And then there's this comment to The Guardian this morning:

Penguin has refused to confirm or deny that the book was due to be published, or even the existence of the reported deal with the singer.



Morrissey autobiography deal has collapsed, says semi-official fan site by Liz Bury - The Guardian

Morrissey pulls his autobiography days before release - BBC.co.uk

Excerpt:

A Penguin Books spokeswoman said there would be no comment on the issue.

Link/excerpt posted by HangtheDJ16:

Is Morrissey’s autobiography a book that will never come out? by Nick Clark - The Independent
Singer announces 11th-hour split from publishers – despite no evidence the book was anywhere near finished

Excerpt:

Lee Brackstone, creative director of Faber, said it was the “first I’d heard” about next week’s supposed publication. “I can’t see how they could turn the book around that quickly and nobody seems to know anything about it. It seems like mischief to me.”

Mr Brackstone had written an open letter to Morrissey in 2010 to woo him to the publisher, though “only half seriously” and continued in a similar tone yesterday. “I’ve grown out of it. All I can say is: that joke isn’t funny any more.”

He added: “It will be a wonderful book and I love him – he’s a hero to so many people and remains a vital influence in this moribund culture he constantly challenges. But working with him? I’m not sure I’ve the strength and fortitude much as I’d love to.”

One industry insider said: “There is simply no evidence of this book in existence. It would be on the radar of bookshops, certainly wholesalers. How else would it get sold? Out of the boot of his car?”

Morrissey’s autobiography was not listed as due for publication on the Nielsen Index, nor was it given an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) code which it would have been had it been coming out next week, according to the industry insider.
autobiography_artwork_01.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

Where can I buy one of those printers? I'd like to be entertained at work :D

More seriously, I don't mind the deal fell through. If Penguin were asking Morrissey to remove some of the things he wrote, then he shouldn't sign with them. Personally, I'd prefer to never read it than read something that's been polished and is not a true reflexion of what he really wanted to say. I want the 100% real Morrissey or nothing.
But it might just be me...

The problem is that if it is for legal reasons, it will be for legal reasons wherever he signs in the UK. They won't take a risk. If it is regarding Joyce, for example, he'd need to find a US publisher. That shit song about Joyce and the court case on that shit album Maladjusted was on the US version, and not on the UK version.

Then Morrissey would face the problem of not being able to publish his own book in his own country except on import, cutting down potential sales significantly, and as this might possibly be his last big payday, he'll want to avoid that.

- - - Updated - - -

I feel nothing but sympathy for all the Moz fans. Moz is consistant in his failure to deliver.

I feel more sorry for him, really. He cuts a ludicrous figure these days.
 
Hello friends, enemies, frenemies & the NME!

I said I'd return for a 'significant event' and this is one, so here's my take on this.

It's good that the cloak of secrecy wasn't broken for the initial hardback run. It would have been a hoot for it to appear at midnight, Harry Potter style, with all you stricken fans abandoning work and childcare commitments to get to Foyles. I'm sure Morrissey intended to be there, briefly, to sign a dozen books, put his Ray-Bans back on, then vanish for months. That would have been AWESOME!

On the 'content' dispute, there's no doubt it's an attempt at censorship, but for commercial reasons, not legal. No such book would get to the eve of publication without the legal eagles going over it with a fine tooth-comb in case it says anything libellous about me. I'd relieve him of his remaining wealth if he tried any such stunt.

This is a deeply promising turn of events. The last mintue attempt at editing the script so it palatable to Waitrose types and doesn't frighten the horses is typical of a publishing company. Penguin may have trashed their brand if Morrissey spills the beans on this. I have turned down numerous offers to publish in various media, because I refuse to tailor my singular writing to the supposed needs of the marketplace. But then I'm the heir to Salinger and have learned from his mistakes. Posthumous, etc.

The finished manuscript was probably put before some 'focus group' who all signed confidentiality agreements before getting to read it. Like supermarket 'mystery shoppers', there are 'mystery readers' which the publishing corporations covertly use to scan the likely impact of any high-profile book. If Morrissey was suddenly told that 'last minute changes' were required for 'legal reasons', he doubtless got a second opinion and realised it was a plot-crock-of-shit. And told Penguin to, erm.."fcuk off!"

Penguin presumably thought they could make this more of a Santa stocking filler if Morrissey could be tricked or persuaded to drop some of the more 'racy' content. The mind boggles at what had them reaching for the smelling salts. Maybe it was the chapters entitled "My Persecution by The Royal Family", "Dairy Is Ok, So Up Yours!" and, of course, "A Few More Fatwas".

I really hope, indeed pray, that Morrissey goes for the jugular if Penguin have tried to castrate him artistically for corporate profit. If there's an 'innocent' explanation, then it will be another ding-dong like the NME and Morrissey mutually trolling the immigration debate (or that's how it seems in retrospect). If there's been the publishing equivalent of a D-Notice like the Press got from Thatcher to protect her Christmas guest, Jimmy Savile, then this could be both comedy gold and a very serious inflection point in British culture.

Handle this one deftly, Morrissey, and your reputation may be entirely rehabilitated, as it would suggest that your disturbed outbursts of late have been a symptom of frustration at being hemmed in by cogno-normative thought-codes which unbalanced you temporarily, well for a decade or so. Of course, it might be the case that Penguin got last minute chapters entitled "Bring Me The Head Of That "Barleycorn"f***wit!", "My Exile from HMRC Tyranny" and "Peru To You" and couldn't cope with the landscape of blood, spleen and scatological porn which Morrissey now want to conclude his opus. Oh, and the new prologue: "Fcuk Off, Already! Ain't Retiring. Evva, innit"

So, in a luxury hotel 'somewhere', one of the most hilarious and wonderful minor poets and warbers of the last few decades grabs a biro and begins frantically scribbling with the header "Death To "Penguin", and Polar Sanctuaries For All My Penguin Spirit Guides".

Morrissey, sweetie! You don't need "Penguin" or "Universal". Neither do I. Have look at this concept. Think it through, then name your price. Can you imagine how much the 'fans' would pay to have their name as a credit in a book written by The Holy Name? Do you have a 'shed', Morrissey? I don't mean "the sheds" you dream of playing on another Arena tour. I mean artistic refuge 'sheds'. Like me? And Phillip Pulman? "Sheds" are where all great writing emerges from, whether it's a potting shed or a luxury hotel shed like JK Rowling uses:

"Unbound puts the power of publishing in the hands of authors and readers. Authors pitch their book ideas directly to you. If you back a project before it reaches its funding target, you get your name printed in the back of every copy and immediate behind-the-scenes access to the author’s shed. If any project fails to hit its funding target, you get refunded in full."

http://unbound.co.uk/

Folk ask me to use Unbound, but there's the posthumous thingy for me, as I couldn't abide 'fans' without turning into Lennon in seclusion in The Dakota or Salinger: or risking getting offed by some bizarre 'fan'. I learned that lesson on December 8, 1980. Then I gave away various 'personas' to the 'cafe society scene' in Birmingham to let others get on with propagating at least some of my memes.

I'm not going to enter into any further discussion about crowd-funding or Amanda Palmer, or respond to any comments whatsoever. I'm busy. My son has moved to Bristol to study philosophy and launch his DJ career. And I'm moving on to a new life, but I won't forget you, Morrissey, even if I don't 'love' you anymore, or feel any need whatsoever to "thank you for living". Oh, the LOLs! I've had on that one, and haven't even seen it yet. It's funny to think of Patti Smith at Birmingham Odeon and all the hipsters who congregated. I met some interesting people that night. I wonder if Morrissey also met some of the uber-cool scenester BrummieBoys'n'Girls on his visits to our wonderful city. I wonder if I'll bump into him on the rooftop terrace at the new Birmingham Library. Not that he'd know me from Adam, though I'm sure he'd take a second glance at one more Good Looking BrummieBoy Around Town. "In European libraries, I will see you, I will see you, I will see you". ..people beg me to return to Milan, Mama Roma, Paris, Stockholm, but why would I bother? When I have the greatest locus and focus of human culture on my doorstep? And the final two concerts of the Black Sabbath reunion for the Winter Solstice....

Morrissey launched his solo career in Wolverhampton and some of us smirked at the confused questions as to why he chose 'that' venue. It would have been huge fun to see him turn up in Brum next week to fox everyone and pose on the rooftop garden, but I doubt anything as stunningly innovative was planned by Penguin. Not that I'd know anything about the plans for the launch. I'm sure the usual, boring canapes and wine spritzers with the metrolitan bores was lined up. Or was it?...*sigh*.


On a lighter note, BBC breakfast 'news' are having an orgasm about the Middletons moving to their shanty shack in Kensington, how difficult it will be for them and how sad William will be not to be rescuing hill walkers in flip-flops on Snowden. I've seen him there! He wasn't rescuing me, but I watched through binoculars until I was arrested as a potential terrorist (again) for 'monitoring' him. I told them, "Look, I'm not a pap! It's not a weapon, if Royals land in a helicopter within my field of vision, why can't I use my binoculars to watch the bravery and drama?" Then they let me go. That anecdote is totally true, srsly!


I leave you all with a quote from the preface of the posthumous autobiograhpy of "BrummieBoy":

"If books were going to change anything: it would have happened by now..."

With every good wish!
Yours, in Jubilo
 
Coda. Encore, "there's more to life than books, you know, but not much more, not much more" etc:

Malala Yousafzai: "A city without books in a city without a library is like a graveyard"
The £189m Library of Birmingham, which houses a collection of one million books, has opened.
The library has more than 200 public access computers, theatres, an exhibition gallery and music rooms.
It was officially opened by Malala Yousafzai, the teenager shot in the head in Pakistan by the Taliban for championing women's rights.
She was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and now lives in the city.
As part of the opening ceremony, Malala placed her copy of The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho in the library - the last book to go on the shelves. She has been given membership to access the archive.
Addressing the public, Malala said she was feeling very proud the building had been designed by a woman and the city was now her second home after her "beloved Pakistan".
'Beating heart' She said books were weapons to beat terrorism and "the only way to global peace is reading knowledge and education".
"Books are precious," she explained.
Library of Birmingham
Its most valuable books are copies of Shakespeare's First Folio and John James Audubon's Birds of America - worth between £6m and £7m each

  • It can hold 3,000 people
  • It has nine floors - three of which are out of bounds to the public
  • It has a brown roof garden with wild flower meadow


"Some books travel with you back centuries, others take you into the future. Some take you to the core of your heart and others take you into the universe. "There's no better way to explain the importance of books than to show even God chose the medium of a book to send his message to his people."This library will continue to enlighten future generations.
"It is written that a room without books is like
_69622664_69621600.jpg
a body without a soul. A city without a library is like a graveyard."
Speaking of how Birmingham has become a home to her, Malala said: "This city is the beating heart of England.
"Birmingham is very special for me, because it was here I found myself alive seven days after I was shot."
She said the "great people" of the city gave her moral support.
"This event proves this city loves me and I love it too."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-23934792

With every good wish!
Yours, in Jubilo!
"BrummieBoy"
 
Last edited:
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

Every word of this is GOLD.

P.

Actually, it's green :)

But it won't happen (Morrissey self-publishing) for the same reason as he won't self-release or crowd-fund music: it's all to do with the classical, physical appearance of the album/book.
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

Shame as on 16th September it is my birthday......Oh well....
Cheers Moz
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

Shame as on 16th September it is my birthday......Oh well....
Cheers Moz

Happy birthday :)

16th September is also significant day to me because in 1984 on the day I fell in love with Smiths when I heard William, It Was Really Nothing on the radio.
 
In the words of SuperHans, "Quel f***ing surprise"
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

Happy birthday :)

16th September is also significant day to me because in 1984 on the day I fell in love with Smiths when I heard William, It Was Really Nothing on the radio.

Thank you !

Cheers Moz
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

didn''t know that Morrissey bio 'trim time' was done.

strange, this newsitem. totally suprised, and glad Morrissey get's more time

'and they say he's mentall''... there are more book than recordpublishers, but not much more...
 
Last edited:
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

Wow! I mean, WOW! How has this been kept so under the radar? I would imagine that publishers will be 'literally' fighting to sign Our Mozzer. Penguin could regret this decision, but they are obviously very uncomfortable about 'something' in the book. Perhaps they were worried about being sued. Morrissey will be gutted at losing Penguin, it suits him to be on Penguin, but he obviously wasn't prepared to take out the content in question. If other publishers take the same stance as Penguin, and Moz doesn't compromise, the book could remain unpublished for some time... perhaps that was the plan... A little bit of theatre and LOTS of press speculation. What great publicity... the unpublished book that they're all talking about, with the burning question, "WHAT is it that Penguin wouldn't publish?"
Hmm.

Rosy van Bleu

Just as Our Mozzer predicted - lots of revelations!
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

That explains why he's walking around London.

You saw Morrissey walking around in London? Did NOT take a picture and posted it on any random platform? Shame on you! (Just kidding.)
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

'last minute content disagreement' typical f***ing morrissey
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

You saw Morrissey walking around in London? Did NOT take a picture and posted it on any random platform? Shame on you! (Just kidding.)

A user MadeinSalford (who does not based in the UK) found info possibly from FB / twitter then posted here
 
Last edited:
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

Yeah, something about this doesn't add up. I feel like it's not in Morrissey's power to pull a Bowie-"Where Are We Now," having everything secret up until the last minute. He's he one always bitching about lack of publicity. If this autobiography was all set to go on Sept. 16th, why wouldn't he have wanted some buildup for it, especially considering his move to obsolescence in recent lack of constructive press? And that cover looks like something someone here could've come up with - would he really have reused the "Greatest Hits" image for his monumental autobiography?

To me, this really just feels like Morrissey yanking all our chains. Personally, what I think is that Penguin fell through months ago, and Morrissey is just trying to remind the press that he's got an autobiography 'fluttering at the bars' with allegedly 'three albums-worth' of new material. All he needs is that sacred cow deal.
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

A user MadeinSalford (who does not based in the UK) found info possibly from FB / twitter then posted here

You're right, I usually "do not based in the UK" but I do travel a lot to London and am neither on facebook or twitter. Just wanted to set the record straight.

Coming back to the main topic, I don't believe this is the end of Morrissey's career, just because he had to cancel a tour due to illness and decided to part with his publisher over a disagreement. The guy had to deal with being called a racist, having no record deal and lack of interest for his solo albums more than once over the years. We all have ups and downs, I wouldn't worry too much about it, I am sure this autobiography will come out eventually. At the moment all we can do is wait. For some reason, I do not think he is in such a bad place these days. Everyone needs a break once in a while. I tend to be over optimistic that's all.

Have a good weekend all!
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

At first I was more shocked that the book was not spoken about or promoted than him falling out with the publisher. Falling out with a record company or publisher is old hat to Moz. Then it hit me!! This is the promotion, duh!! It's the only rational explination. You can't have a book out this week without printed copies. No way no how! The story is a PR scam and simply created to create buzz for the book.
 
Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

I feel nothing but sympathy for all the Moz fans. Moz is consistant in his failure to deliver.

No = he is consistent in his refusal to compromise which is why he inspires the kind of devotion he does.
 

Trending Threads

Back
Top Bottom