Morrissey has reportedly freed himself from his contract with Capitol Records, according to a post on Morrissey Central, the website linked on his official Facebook account. As a result, Bornfire of Teenagers, the album originally due in February 2023 but shelved by Capitol, may finally be released.
"Morrissey has paid the exit fee to Capitol Records in order to return both WORLD PEACE IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS and BONFIRE OF TEENAGERS albums back to him," reads the post, under the headline, "A Rush and a Push and the Music Is Ours."
"It's been a long, hard, bloody war. Few would make it out alive, and ... I'm no exception," Morrissey commented, according to the post. It adds that "Morrissey remains unsigned."
This is significant news for Morrissey fans. While World Peace Is None of Your Business was released by Harvest/Capitol in 2014, Bonfire of Teenagers has been languishing in the vault after it was recorded in 2020 and 2021 with the much in-demand producer Andrew Watt, who has worked with everyone from Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber and Post Malone to Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, the Rolling Stones and Pearl Jam.
The album also reportedly features guest appearances by Iggy Pop, Chad Smith and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and former Chili Pepper and Pearl Jam touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer.
Although the track "Rebels Without Applause" was released as a single in November 2022 in advance of the album's release, Morrissey was unhappy with the label's promotional efforts. "It's been quite sad. The absence of any promotion is noticeable. It's devastating how no one can ever get this right. But they can't, or they won't. Radio stations, as far as I can tell, will play just about anything they're asked to. But as I've always said, true artists must always look after themselves whereas non-artists are encouraged and advanced beyond reason. When you walk through a storm hold your head up high ... as the song goes!" he said at the time, according to a post on Morrissey Central.
By December 2022, Morrissey announced that he had split with his management companies and had "voluntarily withdrawn from any association with Capitol Records".
There was also some controversy regarding the recording of the album track "I Am Veronica," which originally featured backing vocals by Miley Cyrus. Yet after Morrissey split with Capitol came word that Cyrus had asked to have her vocals removed from the song. Some suggested that Cyrus asked to be dropped from the track due to Morrissey's politics, but he denied that was the case.
"In truth, Miley has backed off for reasons unconnected to me, having had a major clash with a key figure in 'the circle'," he wrote in a statement.
"Miley knew everything about me when she arrived to sing 'I Am Veronica' almost two years ago; she walked into the studio already singing the song," the statement said.
"She volunteered. I did not ask her to get involved. Her professionalism was astounding, her vocals a joy to behold. Every minute that I spent with Miley was loving and funny."
