Morrissey Central "‘BONFIRE OF TEENAGERS’ IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS" (June 14, 2023)

'BONFIRE OF TEENAGERS’ IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS'

Artist-friendly Capitol Records (Los Angeles) have no plans to release ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ two and a half years after the album was recorded.

Morrissey’s new comment on the situation:

“It’s a clear display of how censorian the music industry has become. It is a new part of the music industry that does not work and that nobody likes. Music should be the primary democracy, as all art should be, and any effort to keep people away from it simply invites deeper discussion. There is no point banning ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ because somebody somewhere might be offended if they heard it. Why waste time on other people’s mental incapacities? And where is Capitol’s support for the kids who were murdered in that Manchester bonfire on 22 May 2017? Although Capitol claims to be a label of ‘diversity’ it is very difficult to see their humanity. If you are only prepared to release music that draws people’s minds away from thinking then you are unfit for any contact with creative people. Songs are literary compositions, and writing music should be an unrestricted open form. It seems to me that Capitol Records cannot observe the possibility that their artists or their potential customers have ever thought. But silencing certain artists achieves nothing, and simply makes the bonfire burn taller and louder. The moral perspective at Capitol Records who is sitting like a hen on an egg on ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ is Michelle Jubelirer, who played no small part in removing ‘World Peace is None Of Your Business’ from the shelves in 2014 - determined that it could not sell or be heard. The same creeping culture of censorship at Capitol Records has taken place with ‘Bonfire Of Teenagers’, and the civic structure of Capitol now appears fascist. I still have hope in the music industry, but there are evidently several powerful faces within it that have no honest interest in music … and you follow them into the shadows at your peril.”
MORRISSEY.

'BONFIRE OF TEENAGERS' IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - 'BONFIRE OF TEENAGERS' IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

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(Middle image = Michelle Jubelirer).
FWD.

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Media items:

• NME: "Morrissey accuses Capitol Records of “fascism” for not releasing ‘Bonfire Of Teenagers’" - June 16, 2023.
• Far Out: "Morrissey accuses Capitol Records of "fascist" behaviour" - June 16, 2023

 

[Anonymous]

Metacritic has compiled release dates for albums over coming weeks, along with a second list on which Bonfire of Teenagers appears.

For this 'UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE CALENDAR - All dates are for U.S. releases unless otherwise noted. Release dates are subject to change, and often do.'

Morrissey's recorded album is included on the second list, 'ANTICIPATED FUTURE RELEASES -
These albums do not yet have a firm release date, but are in various stages of development.'

This state of play sounds correct and positive, to me

https://www.metacritic.com/browse/albums/release-date/coming-soon/2023

Wait until release bonfire now lad on Twitter hears this fake news, he will cream his Morrissey boxers. He thinks the world needs to hear Bonfire, this despite his promoted petition having a few hundred signatures and Dog on a Chain only selling 4500 units
Someone needs to check in with his loved ones to see if he needs to see a doctor.

 

[Anonymous]

Slim chance - but having burned his bridges with Capitol, maybe they are waiting to see if anyone else signs Morrissey for 'Without Music the World Dies'. Let the other record company spend all its money on promoting that record, then quietly slip out 'Bonfire' the same week to earn some easy cash.

 

[The Wild Turkey]

Metacritic has compiled release dates for albums over coming weeks, along with a second list on which Bonfire of Teenagers appears.

For this 'UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE CALENDAR - All dates are for U.S. releases unless otherwise noted. Release dates are subject to change, and often do.'

Morrissey's recorded album is included on the second list, 'ANTICIPATED FUTURE RELEASES -
These albums do not yet have a firm release date, but are in various stages of development.'

This state of play sounds correct and positive, to me

https://www.metacritic.com/browse/albums/release-date/coming-soon/2023

Hope this is good news, but they also had that
GZA Dark Matter on the list and it seems like
I been hearin' about that record comin' out for
a long time.

 

[Mozzypaws]

Metacritic has compiled release dates for albums over coming weeks, along with a second list on which Bonfire of Teenagers appears.

For this 'UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE CALENDAR - All dates are for U.S. releases unless otherwise noted. Release dates are subject to change, and often do.'

Morrissey's recorded album is included on the second list, 'ANTICIPATED FUTURE RELEASES -
These albums do not yet have a firm release date, but are in various stages of development.'

This state of play sounds correct and positive, to me

https://www.metacritic.com/browse/albums/release-date/coming-soon/2023

Does that mean it's coming out soon (tm)?

 

[goinghome]

I just came across an open letter that singer Amanda Palmer wrote to Morrissey ten years ago trying to persuade him to crowd-source his then unreleased album. Plus ca change.

Dear Morrissey,

I will tell you: I am a passionate admirer of your songwriting, your singing and your recordings.

I've bought tickets to see you lots of times. You shaped my head and my heart as a teenager, and to this day continue to impact my various artistic forays.

You helped open me, you taught me that I could be brutally honest in my songs and that I didn't need to wait for anyone's permission.

You helped teach me that I could sing about anything I wanted to. So, no matter what you are, what you do or what you become, I'll feel forever indebted to you for your gifts to me.

I once had the chance to meet you. My band, The Dresden Dolls, were playing at a festival in Germany about eight years ago and you were in the dressing room next to us. Your keyboardist sat next to me and we started chatting over the very terrible backstage sandwich buffet. I told him how much I loved you, and he offered to take me back to your dressing room so that we could say hello to each other.

This is how much you mean to me: I couldn't stomach the idea of Morrissey meeting me and not liking me, even if the chances were small. In a move that shocked myself, I shook my head and declined the invitation. (I'll never know if I did the right thing...late at night, I have regrets.)

So first of all: How dare you have such power over me?

And second: I am really sorry to hear that you are ill; I just read about your tour cancellation in the paper. I hope that you get better soon, and I hope you're kind to yourself. I have been sick on the road, I've had vocal surgery, I've canceled tours...it blows for so many reasons.

There was something else that I read in the article that made me stop and think. The article said you've been told by doctors not to tour, and you were quoted saying that you wanted to make music, but you cannot find a label.

I thought about that, and then I did an experiment.

I know you don't use Twitter, but I'm sure you probably understand the basics of how it works. I tweeted a link to the article about your canceled tour, and then asked this simple question of my followers (I have about 850,000 of them): "How many people out there would pay $5 to crowdfund/pre-order a digital-only Morrissey album?"

There were many, many answers. You were discussed, anecdotes were shared....and I said very little. People, not surprisingly, said both super-worshipful and super-critical things about you, as you'd expect.

But the point is, after a few hours, somewhere upwards of 1,400 tweets came in saying that they'd gladly pay $5 to fund a digital album.

So 1,400 of the Amanda Palmer fans who were looking at my Twitter feed over those few hours said they'd be happy to fund a digital recording. That would only yield you about $7,000.

But you...you're actually Morrissey. You have some of the most fanatical fans in the world; caring and devoted people from countries far and wide who would be really, really happy to support you at levels far beyond $5 just to have the songs in their ears.

You're possibly one of the best candidates on the planet to use crowdfunding, because of who you are and what you mean.

I've been thinking about this a lot. What does one need a record label for nowadays?

To put albums in stores? The stores are closing.

To make all the phone calls, so that radio plays the album? The radio stations are closing. The good outlets with human beings programming them (non-commercial radio, college, the BBC) will probably just download the record if it's good, and play it.

To get into the charts? Who cares anymore? Do you? Do I?

To arrange tour promo and buy commercial space to inform people that the album is out? Well...if you're not going to tour, and if people have already pre-ordered the record, maybe it's not necessary.

And if you're not putting out a physical record...it's all moot.

So: what if you simply went into a studio, cut a record, and uploaded it to the Internet to those who backed it? And didn't tour? And didn't do any traditional promo? And didn't release it commercially? And didn't do anything else?

Just...emailed the songs out to the people who love you and paid for them?

What would happen? I'm not sure. But, dear Morrissey, I wish you could have read my Twitter feed.

The most inspirational responses were along these lines, again and again: "The simple fact is I would like to hear new Morrissey songs. For that privilege I would easily pay $5 for digital only."

This was a constant refrain, and it made me very happy: People just want music, and are happy to pay for it to be created, even if it's just a file they receive.

They want songs. They want to hear, and feel. And this sounds simple, but it's an important point: They want to help. Help me, and help you. Make music.

The Internet is now at the point where your fans will basically do the work of spreading the existence of your project for you, especially once they've hopped on to support it. All you need to do is launch it on a site like Kickstarter or Pledgemusic and let it spread.

You could avoid the agony of physical manufacturing, shipping, traditional distribution and promotion....and have only one option for backers: $5 digital (it'd be tempting to add CDs and vinyl, but this is, indeed, where you start "needing a record label" and where the old-school problems start to tear away at your life and energy).

Given your record sales and history, let's make a very conservative guess that 500,000 people back you (i.e., pre-order a digital album) at $5 each.

That's a total of $2.5 million. Assumptions galore, but at a guess: Subtract the 20 percent you will need to pay out to commissions (to your management and digital team) and processing (to the crowdfunding platform) and you'll be left with about $2 million. If your album costs half a million to record, you'll earn about $1.5 million. I don't know what kind of advances and royalties you were getting from any of your previous labels, but I doubt they could compete with that. And if there's no label you can find to work with, anyway....is there even a point in making the comparison?

You would own all the material, and then cut whatever deal you wanted with whoever, should you choose to distribute the record further.

You wouldn't have to tour and risk your health.

You wouldn't have to do any promotional work for it if you didn't want to.

You wouldn't have to do anything, really, other than simply go into a studio, record 10 songs, and deal with the small headache of getting the digital information to a bunch of people.

(And it is a headache...but I know people who can help you with that part. I've personally learned many things from my own release-it-digitally mistakes and would be happy to share what I've learned.)

You'd also be the first artist of your fame and caliber to undertake a project of this kind with your fanbase, which would make it historic.

Since I know you almost definitely won't do this and that you may well think I'm a bothersome asshole for writing you this open letter, I'd just like to say this: You may be the end of a family line, but you have spawned a lot of singing, songwriting children, whether you like it or not, and I proudly count myself as one of them.

The Buddha once said that "if you were to carry your parents around with you for their whole lives — your father on one shoulder and your mother on the other — even to the point where they were losing their faculties and their excrement was running down your back, this would not repay your debt of gratitude to them."

As your devoted songwriting-spawn, I must say: I cannot get on board to quite this gruesome extent. But I'd be totally keen to help you crowdfund.

I love you.

And I hope you get what you want.

By AMANDA PALMER​

 

[Ryan]

This is just as frustrating as waiting since 2008 for the new Cure album to come out.

 

[Mozzypaws]

This is just as frustrating as waiting since 2008 for the new Cure album to come out.

I can't wait until this and Without Music comes out.. but it can be frustrating and tiring. When it does release I will roar from the stalls

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I just came across an open letter that singer Amanda Palmer wrote to Morrissey ten years ago trying to persuade him to crowd-source his then unreleased album. Plus ca change.

wonder if she’s still true.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

This is just as frustrating as waiting since 2008 for the new Cure album to come out.

No, the Cure thing is worse. We know that album is going to be great.

 

[Thewlis]

It’d better be after waiting for 15 years.

 

[Skull Andrea]

No news... I can't believe it.

 

[Anon in London]

I think this album if it ever got released would be better than I Am Not A Dog On A Chain, for starters the album title Bonfire of Teenagers is much better and more compelling, and there has been alot of writing material for him since the last album. From listening to Without Music The World Dies he might have a stronger sound. I also heard that he got more artist features on BOT, and may sound fresh, it would be good to hear something upto date, if it ever gets released.

And I know why he hasn't released it independantly on a social music platform, its because he wants the certified stamp of a quality music label stamped on the top on his record, then it automatically gains value and a place in time, it means he means something and is still taken as a real quality artist. Its like the difference between getting you art exhibited in a space in The Serpentine verus some anonymous gallery, after years of being at the top, then falling from interest.

 

[Anonymous]

Rumour of a record store day release for Morrissey next year could be a way of squaring the circle with a vinyl release from Capitol after years of building the hype. It would certainly fit the bill of a coveted record with a limited release, as well allowing Capitol to finally discharge whatever contractual obligations they have.

This is why I don’t expect Bonfire until next year at the earliest. If that doesn’t materialise, then it’s back to square one. Morrissey really needs at least one, if not both, of these mixed and mastered studio albums to debut within the next 6 to 12 months.

His live game is good, when he attends. Why dislocate this from concurrent releases of new music? Put the two together and you have rebooted your career and defied the critics - do not cancel yourself Morrissey.

 

[Famous when dead]

Rumour of a record store day release for Morrissey next year could be a way of squaring the circle with a vinyl release from Capitol after years of building the hype. It would certainly fit the bill of a coveted record with a limited release, as well allowing Capitol to finally discharge whatever contractual obligations they have.

This is why I don’t expect Bonfire until next year at the earliest. If that doesn’t materialise, then it’s back to square one. Morrissey really needs at least one, if not both, of these mixed and mastered studio albums to debut within the next 6 to 12 months.

His live game is good, when he attends. Why dislocate this from concurrent releases of new music? Put the two together and you have rebooted your career and defied the critics - do not cancel yourself Morrissey.

The RSD release is (if it happens) going to be a preexisting, known title and will most certainly be a 7 or 12". My Warners contact isn't saying much yet for public consumption, but the fact it's Warners hinting says everything.
Regards,
FWD.

 

[Anonymous]

The RSD release is (if it happens) going to be a preexisting, known title and will most certainly be a 7 or 12". My Warners contact isn't saying much yet for public consumption, but the fact it's Warners hinting says everything.
Regards,
FWD.

Thank you FWD for bringing some clarity to these things

 

[goinghome]

Including a Smiths mention, this article from last week, about The Cranberries' song Zombie, is interesting because it explains how the music was inspired by events almost identical to, and that took place not far from, the Manchester bombing, and how it is a similar type of response as is found in Bonfire of Teenagers, including the bit about people's weakness in falling for propaganda and/or indoctrination.

‘Zombie’: The Story Behind The Cranberries’ Deathless Classic

A furious anti-terrorism lament, ‘Zombie’ found The Cranberries unleashing an aggressive song that became one of their biggest hits.

www.udiscovermusic.com

 

[Mayfly]

Including a Smiths mention, this article from last week, about The Cranberries' song Zombie, is interesting because it explains how the music was inspired by events almost identical to, and that took place not far from, the Manchester bombing, and how it is a similar type of response as is found in Bonfire of Teenagers, including the bit about people's weakness in falling for propaganda and/or indoctrination.

‘Zombie’: The Story Behind The Cranberries’ Deathless Classic

A furious anti-terrorism lament, ‘Zombie’ found The Cranberries unleashing an aggressive song that became one of their biggest hits.

www.udiscovermusic.com

Zombie must be one of the best known Cranberries songs. I like the raw anger and intensity of the song.
I also like the intensity of (the live performance of) Bonfire. But while the song is indeed inspired by another bombing, there are differences. I see the lyrics of Bonfire more as taking issue with the public and media response to this tragedy, the public singalongs (Don’t look back in anger) and the media not often mentioning the name of the killer (you must go easy on the killer). I can’t see BOT being released as a single in these current times. That said I would be more than happy if it were to be released as a limited edition 7- inch or 12-inch on RSD.

 

[Anonymous]

Is it embarrassing that it hasnt leaked; no one is trying to shake it loose from a server or whatever.

Capitol you have made me depressed

 

[Mozzypaws]

Is it embarrassing that it hasnt leaked; no one is trying to shake it loose from a server or whatever.

Capitol you have made me depressed

I'm surprised it hasn't honesty

I wonder why not

 

[Ryan]

I'm surprised it hasn't honesty

I wonder why not

No one cares enough, lol.