Morrissey Says His New Album is Blocked by the Woke Police, but Can’t He Just Release It Himself?
Morrissey is the eternal provocateur—one part iconic crooner, one part cranky uncle at Thanksgiving who won’t stop talking about “free speech.” In his latest interview with The Telegraph, the former Smiths frontman has alleged that his upcoming album, Bonfire of Teenagers, is being blocked by the woke police because it’s just too controversial for today’s delicate sensibilities. Apparently, every record label in London has refused to release it, even while admitting it’s a “masterpiece.” We’re torn between rolling our eyes and genuinely wondering when we’ll actually hear this thing.
Let’s rewind a bit. Bonfire of Teenagers, which Morrissey himself declared “the best album of my life” back in 2021, is reportedly centered on the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. The title track is a scathing reflection on the tragic terrorist attack that killed 22 people at an Ariana Grande concert. Morrissey, never one to avoid blunt takes, claims that no label wants to touch the album because of this song. “Controversial means intelligent, doesn’t it?” he asks in the interview, while we all sit here trying to parse that logic.
He goes on: “I wouldn’t abandon the murdered kids of Manchester. Their spirits cry out every single day for remembrance and recognition.” Look, if anyone could make a tragedy about himself, it’s Morrissey, but he’s always had a gift for turning personal reflections into powerful art. The problem? He’s also got a gift for alienating every record label within a 500-mile radius of London.
Let’s not pretend there isn’t an audience for this. Sure, Morrissey has spent the last decade veering into bizarre political rants and beefing with the likes of The Guardian and anyone who even remotely has a taste for chicken fingers, but there’s still a good chunk of us out there who would love to hear Bonfire of Teenagers. Featuring Iggy Pop and members of Red Hot Chili Peppers (sans Miley Cyrus, who asked that her feature be removed), the album was produced by Andrew Watt, who Moz calls an “untouchable genius of music production.” All of that sounds promising! Very cool Grandma Moz!
Yet here we are, with Morrissey claiming that his magnum opus is being held hostage by a gaggle of woke executives too terrified of a Guardian op-ed to release his work. Morrissey insists, “Once you edit yourself or self-censor then the idiots have won.” He’s digging in his heels, as usual, framing himself as the last defender of artistic free speech in a world gone soft.
But here’s the thing, Moz—if Bonfire of Teenagers is really that good, why not just release it yourself? In the age of Bandcamp, Spotify, and direct-to-fan platforms, there’s no shortage of ways to get music out there without bowing to label politics. Maybe it’s not as glamorous as having a big record deal, but come on, this is 2024. You don’t need Capitol Records to drop an album anymore. We get it—you want to stay above the indie rabble, but at this point, we just want to hear the music, not another diatribe about why the world doesn’t “get” you.
We genuinely want to hear this album. Morrissey, for all his flaws and crankiness, still has a unique voice and a way with words that cuts deep. Songs like "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" and "Everyday Is Like Sunday" still resonate with a whole generation of gloomy romantics. And, yeah, we’re curious about this new project, even if it comes with another round of controversial hot takes.
So, Morrissey, here’s an idea: Stop complaining about the woke police, skip the label drama, and just give the people what they want. Release the album yourself. We’ll be here, listening—even if we’re cringing a little at the self-righteousness along the way.
