Morrissey says war on “freedom of speech” prevents him from releasing music

Morrissey has said he is being prevented from releasing new music because of a war on “freedom of expression”.

The soloist and former Smiths frontman made the comments in New Jersey when he took to the stage for a solo performance at the Performing Arts Center last Wednesday (November 13).

During the set, the artist reportedly began addressing the audience and opened up about his struggle to share new music.

“As you know, nobody wants to release my music anymore,” he reportedly said APP. “As you know, because I am a chief exponent of freedom of speech. At least in England it is now criminalised.

“You can’t speak freely in England. If you don’t believe me, go there. Express an opinion, you’ll be sent to prison. It’s very, very difficult.”

Although he did not explicitly say what the comments were about, it is likely that Morrissey was referring to the currently unreleased album ‘Bonfire Of The Teenagers’. He recorded the album between 2020 and 2021, although it has remained on the shelf of Capitol Records.

The controversy surrounding the album dates back to 2022, when the singer-songwriter and former Smiths frontman revealed that he had “voluntarily withdrawn from any association with Capitol Records” – despite announcing that he would release the LP with them just two months earlier.

He also revealed that Miley Cyrus – who recorded backing vocals for ‘Bonfire’ track ‘I Am Veronica’ in 2020 – had asked to have her vocals removed from the song.

Both broken partnerships were related to the musician’s political stance and his support for the controversial far-right anti-Islam political party For Britain, for which he previously wore a badge during a 2019 TV appearance.

Despite provoking controversy with his political views – which former bandmate Johnny Marr said “cast a shadow over The Smiths” – the frontman has insisted he is not far-right.

Last summer, the vocalist shared a statement about his website around the status of ‘Bonfire’ accusing Capitol Records of “fascism” and having a “creeping censorship culture”.

Before then, he released a statement on his website saying he was “rapidly coming to” the belief that the label only signed ‘Bonfire Of Teenagers’ “to sabotage it”.

He later claimed the Capitol Records executive was trying to derail his career before taking to his website to say he was “gagged” over the release of ‘Bonfire Of The Teenagers’

The album is one that Morrisey has previously described as being “the best album of my life”, and the title track of the LP is said by Morrissey to be about “England’s 9/11”, the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.

The debacle continued into this year, and in April the singer bought back the rights to two of his albums after a long-running dispute with Capitol Records. He told fans the ordeal felt like “a long, hard, bloody war.”

Morrissey has also previously made similar comments on stage in New Jersey. For example, he previously said that The Smiths’ popularity had not waned as it was all about “a refusal to surrender to enemy propaganda”, and also told fans that he felt he had been “erased” from ” the essence” and the story of the iconic 80s band.

In more recent news, Morrissey has reportedly fired his management team following former bandmate Johnny Marr’s statement denying several claims about The Smiths.

It comes after August saw Morrissey claim Marr had “ignored” a lucrative offer from AEG Entertainment Group to reunite the band. He then claimed that a Smiths ‘Greatest Hits’ album had been “blocked” by the guitarist.

Soon after, Morrissey claimed that Marr now owns all “trademark rights and intellectual property” of The Smiths, and can tour as a band without him.

On September 17, Marr and his management team put all of Morrissey’s claims to rest in a single statement. In the statement, Marr’s management said Marr had reached out to Morrissey in 2018 via representatives after a third party attempted to use the Smiths name. “A failure to respond” led to Marr registering the trademark himself, but it was subsequently agreed with Morrissey’s lawyers that the trademark be “held for the mutual benefit” of both parties.

Marr also said in a statement that he had not “ignored” an offer to reunite The Smiths, he had turned it down. He also rejected the ‘Greatest Hits’ album “because of the track that already exists”.

Back in 2019, Marr spoke NME about whether he was concerned that people viewed the music and legacy of The Smiths differently given the controversy surrounding Morrissey’s political beliefs and statements.

“I don’t think you can change history,” he said. “I’ve said it before. I’m not worried. It has nothing to do with my world or my life. The songs are out there for people to judge, relate to and hear. I think it will all be forgotten about a few weeks, as these things inevitably are – for better or for worse. I understand the problem, but I’m used to things coming and going.”

Later, in early 2022, Johnny Marr opened up further about his spat with Morrissey, saying he felt he had to “defend (himself)”. This happened after Morrissey asked Marr to stop mentioning him when giving interviews.

In other Morrissey news, the singer recently made headlines for donating £50,000 to help save the Salford Lads Club – site of the iconic The Smiths photo – and for having his show in Dallas cut short after a number of fans invaded the stage.