Perhaps Morrissey can explain why his 'request' to David Joseph to re-release his record was answered via their legal agents? What on earth was in Morrissey's 'request' that David Joseph felt it was a suitable precaution to answer it via his solicitors rather than a simple email reply? Morrissey can't publish the response from Russels for 'legal reasons' but if it ever does emerge covertly, the question will remain as to what was the content of Morrissey's 'request' to Universal that was so full of 'loving' respect towards the victims of the Paris Attacks that it generated a Solicitor's letter. Will Morrissey also make available his original 'request'? The one that triggered a legal response?
As Morrissey is no longer under contract with Universal, does he own the publishing/recording rights to this track? Or did he flog them to Universal? In which case the 'sacrifice' of a charity record is nothing to him and all costs would be borne by Universal. Also, why didn't Universal invite him onto their group rosta response record? Did other artists on Universal make it very clear to David Joseph that Morrissey was an unacceptable participant due to his inflammatory opportunism with regard to the Utoya Slaughter in Oslo? That seems highly likely to me. I can't imagine those acts aren't aware of his shameless trolling of the Oslo terrorist atrocities.
Once again, Morrissey is trolling the Paris Attacks to try and oxygenate his butt-hurt whinge/conspiracy theory about his failure to be offered a recording contract and lavish publicity budget by one of the Big 4 labels. If he still owns the copyright/publishing to this tiresome song, he can simply re-record it and re-release it via iTunes and carry the costs/donate any profits to charity. A maudlin unplugged acoustic version would seem suitably mawkish to generate the crocodile tears. If he doesn't own the copyright/publishing rights to this song, then he needs to explain why he is, once again, trying to generate media interest in his C list career by trying to hitch his PR wagon to the Paris Attacks.
Or I guess Morrissey could give his DavidT sight of this letter over coffee at some swish hotel in LA. Then DavidT could report back to us all that Morrissey is indeed sweetness and light and was genuninely moved to tears by the Paris Attacks despite being 'Meh!' about Utoya. Then this 'crappy news website' can confirm he is innocent of any charges of being devious, truculent and unreliable. Over to you Morrissey. LOL!
best wishes
The Ghost of BrummieBoy
Some of this is very speculative. But if you believe this then you do believe Morrissey was rejected in some sort of offer.
I think it's more likely, if there was any contact, that he wanted a physical re-release of his old record and all the publicity that might go with that, costs paid by Universal. He posts bus ads on his website, so it's pretty obvious he would like to have an ad campaign for an old record that he wouldn't have to do anything for. This of course would sell some of his other records, too. He probably didn't want to be part of any group effort, and they probably don't want to promote him when they have this other project in mind already.
And he probably does not own the rights to re-record the song even if he wanted to, as you said, though he probably does own the publishing on the original, but who knows. It could easily have been part of some deal when he left that they took that in lieu of payback on advances.
I don't think any artists would care that Morrissey is on their charity record. I think anyone that does it is doing it for selfish reasons to some degree. Do these things really offer any help or solution? When there is a definite goal I'm sure they do, but a record to fight terrorism? What really is the goal and where would the money go anyway?
But that's just my opinion and I do enjoy your posts and always consider your opinions. I just think that some of this is a stretch.
Welcome (back?) to the site, you'll fit right in.
