More than a year and a half since Morrissey first announced his forthcoming LP Bonfire of Teenagers, the album remains on hold after the singer parted ways with his record company, and Miley Cyrus requested her backing vocals be removed from one of the songs.
In a pair of messages posted to Morrissey Central (via NME,) the embattled musician stated that he has “voluntarily withdrawn from any association” with Capitol Records, the label that was set to release Bonfire of Teenagers in February. The singer also “voluntarily parted company” with Maverick/Quest management after he complained about a lack of promotion ahead of the album’s proper release.
Originally announced in May 2021, Bonfire of Teenagers was to be released through BMG before the label dropped Morrissey in November 2020. “The worst year of my life concludes with the best album of my life,” the singer wrote, adding that he was unsigned and that the LP is available to the “highest (or lowest) bidder.”
In October, Morrissey proclaimed that Bonfire of Teenagers would come out on Capitol Records, and that the album would feature an all-star guest list that included Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith and Flea, Iggy Pop, Andrew Watt, Josh Klinghoffer and, on the song “I Am Veronica,” Miley Cyrus.
On Saturday, however, alongside a photo of the former Smiths frontman and Cyrus in the studio, Morrissey Central posted “Miley Cyrus now wants to be taken off the song ‘I Am Veronica’ for which she volunteered backing vocals almost two years ago,” “This comes at a time when Morrissey has disassociated himself with Capitol Records (Los Angeles), who control the hidden album Bonfire of Teenagers.”
In 2019 interview on his website Morrissey stated that he isn’t racist because “everyone ultimately prefers their own race” and has been a public supporter of extreme right-wing politics in Britain. And when he played a Las Vegas residency in 2020, his website stated that “there are no anti-social distancing or facial concealment rules in place” for the shows.
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Author: Al Denté
Photo: Charlie Llewellin