Morrissey: Difference between revisions

Morrissey's album ''[[You Are The Quarry]]'' was released on 17 May 2004 (one day later in the US). The album peaked at #2 on the UK charts <ref name="guinness book solo" />. Guitarist [[Alain Whyte]] described the work as a mix between ''[[Your Arsenal]]'' and ''[[Vauxhall And I]]'', and the album received strong reviews. The first single, "[[Irish Blood, English Heart (single)|Irish Blood, English Heart]]," was released internationally on 10 May 2004. The single reached #3 in its first week of sales in the [[UK singles chart]] <ref name="guinness book solo" />. This was the highest placing chart position for Morrissey in his entire career as both a solo artist and the lead singer of [[The Smiths]] (the 2006 release "You Have Killed Me" also debuted at #3 in its first week in the charts). Also, it has sold over a million copies, making the album his most successful one, solo or with The Smiths. Three other hit singles followed - "[[First Of The Gang To Die (single)|First Of The Gang To Die]]" (12 July 2004) UK #6 <ref name="guinness book solo" />, "[[Let Me Kiss You (single)|Let Me Kiss You]]" (11 October 2004) UK #8 <ref name="guinness book solo" />, and "[[I Have Forgiven Jesus (single)|I Have Forgiven Jesus]]" (13 December 2004) UK #10 <ref name="guinness book solo" />. With the release of "I Have Forgiven Jesus" in December 2004, Morrissey along with [[McFly (band)|McFly]] became the only artists to score four top-10 hits in the UK singles chart that year. In August of 2004, Morrissey was slated to headline a week-long set of shows on Craig Kilborn's ''The Late Show''. Morrissey did not perform every night of the weeklong series due to a throat illness. He did, however, perform the following week.

Morrissey was scheduled to appear at the 2005 Benicassim festival in Spain but pulled out at the last minute. On 9 January 2007, the BBC confirmed that it was in talks with Morrissey for him to write a song for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. The video for the single "You Have Killed Me" may be an affectionate homage to the style of the contest during the 1970s. If an agreement could be made, Morrissey would be writing the song for someone else, rather than performing it himself, a BBC spokesperson claimed.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6244153.stm Morrissey in talks for Eurovision]</ref> On 23 February 2007 the BBC ruled this out, and stated Morrissey would not be part of Britain's Eurovision entry.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6388469.stm No Morrissey entry for Eurovision], BBC News, 23 February 2007</ref><ref>[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=21090_0_2_0_C No eurovision for Morrissey]</ref> In early 2007 Morrissey left [[Sanctuary Records]] and embarked on a ''Greatest Hits'' tour. The tour ran from 1 February 2007 to 29 July 2008 and spanned 106 concerts over 8 different countries. Morrissey canceled 11 of these dates, including a planned six consecutive shows at The Roundhouse in London, due to "throat problems". The tour consisted of three legs, the first two encompassing the U.S. and Mexico were supported by [[Kristeen Young]] from Feb to October while the remainder featured [[Girl In A Coma]]. The final leg was a small scale European tour that saw Morrissey headlining the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park on 4 July and culminated in Morrissey playing at the Heatwave Festival in Tel Aviv, Israel on 29 July.

In an interview with the BBC News website in October 2007, Morrissey said that a new album was already written and ready for a possible September 2008 release and confirmed that his deal with [[Sanctuary Records]] had come to an end.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7024048.stm Morrissey plans new album in 2008]</ref> In December he signed a new deal with [[Decca Records]], which included a ''[[Greatest Hits]]'' album and a newly-recorded album to follow in autumn 2008. <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7124463.stm BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Morrissey switches record labels<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In a reaction to the NME story, Morrissey pointed out that he would rather not be signed to a label<ref>[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=27663_0_2_0_C Morrissey hates having signed to a new label]</ref>. Upon signing with Decca, Morrissey released "That's How People Grow Up" as the first single off of his new ''[[Greatest Hits]]'' album. Despite lukewarm reviews, especially in the NME, the lack of airplay on British radio (except on XFM), and even the incredulity of fan sites, "That's How People Grow Up" reached the Top 15, reaching the 14th place of British charts and the 25th place in Germany when released in February of 2008. <ref name="guinness book solo" /> Following the single, Morrissey released his third ''[[Greatest Hits]]'' album. Reviews were very mixed; reviewers noted that the album only includes songs which reached the Top 15 in the charts, putting the emphasis on new songs, making the CD more suitable for new listeners than for old fans.{[http://www.nme.com/reviews/morrissey/9460]} The album charted fifth in the British album chart on its week of release. <ref name="guinness book solo" /> A limited edition of the ''Greatest Hits'' album also featured an eight-track live CD which was recorded at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007. A second single from the ''Greatest Hits'', "[[All You Need Is Me (single)|All You Need Is Me]]", was released in March 2008. Despite the prospect of only being available for one week in record stores the single reached #26 <ref name="guinness book solo" /> on the UK charts. For the single Morrissey recorded two B-sides with famed Academy Award-winning Argentinian film composer, [[Gustavo Santaolalla]]. Santaolalla recorded two tracks, "[[Children In Pieces]]" and "[[My Dearest Love]]" in Los Angeles. On 29 May 2008, Morrissey parted ways with his manager of five years, Merck Mercuriadis, in favour of a new contract with IE Music, however by September Morrissey left the group and has now acquired the services of Irving Azoff.<ref>[http://www.showbizspy.com/news/05292008/morrissey-parts-with-manager] Morrissey Parts with Manager 29 May 2008</ref><ref>http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i70662f7dd9d6f3c46e8f30ac3964ec43</ref><ref>http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_081001_01</ref>

In April 2009, remastered editions of 1995's ''[[Southpaw Grammar]]'' and 1997's ''[[Maladjusted]]'' were released in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_090427_01 |title=Southpaw Grammar: Remastered version released today in the UK |publisher=True To You |date=27 April 2009 |accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_090427_02 |title=Maladjusted: Remastered version released today in the UK |publisher=True To You |date=27 April 2009 |accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref> These both featured a rearranged track listing with the inclusion of B-sides and outtakes, resulting in albums quite different to the original. They also featured new artwork and liner notes written by Morrissey. The reissues were available in the US from June that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_090605_01 |title=Maladjusted: Remastered version US release information |publisher=True To You |date=5 June 2009 |accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref> October 2009 saw the release of a 2004–2009 B-Sides collection, named ''[[Swords]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_091026_01 |title=Swords: Album released today in the UK |publisher=True To You |date=26 October 2009 |accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref> The album peaked at 55 on the UK albums chart, and Morrissey later called the compilation "a meek disaster."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_091216_01 |title=Statement from Morrissey to True-to-you |publisher=True To You |date=16 December 2009 |accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref> On the second date of the UK tour to promote ''Swords,'' Morrissey collapsed with breathing difficulties upon finishing the opening song of his set, "This Charming Man," at the Oasis Centre, Swindon.<ref>{{cite news|author=James Orr |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/24/morrissey-the-smiths-collapse-swindon |title='&#39;Morrissey in hospital after on stage collapse'&#39;, Guardian.com |work=The Guardian  |location=London |date= 24 October 2009|accessdate=13 August 2010 }}</ref> He was discharged from the hospital the following day.<ref>{{cite news|author=Alexandra Topping |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/oct/25/morrissey-discharged-hospital-swindon |title='&#39;Morrissey out of hospital after collapsing on stage in Swindon'&#39; Guardian.com |work=The Guardian  |location=London |date= 25 October 2009|accessdate=13 August 2010 }}</ref> Following the completion of the ''Swords'' tour it was announced that Morrissey had fulfilled his contractual obligation to Universal Records and was without a record company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_091104_01 |title=Record company information |publisher=True To You |date=4 November 2009 |accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref> Shortly after this announcement, it was also revealed he had split with Front Line Management.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_100106_01 |title=Statement from Morrissey |publisher=True To You |date=6 January 2010 |accessdate=13 August 2010}}</ref>