John Moreland responds to Zach Bryan deleting collaboration from album: “I don’t like that person”
John Moreland has responded after his collaboration on singer-songwriter Zach Bryan’s latest album, The Great American Bar Scene, was cut from the tracklist due to social media remarks he made about Bryan.
Bryan removed the song ‘Memphis: The Blues’ from last year’s The Great American Bar Scene, after Moreland criticised the musician in a post on Instagram on May 7th, which said: “$350M is a lot of money to pay for the fu–in off-brand version of me. Y’all have a great day.”
The figure refers to the reported value of the deal Bryan is currently striking to renew his contract with Warner Records and sell his publishing catalogue.
After Moreland’s comments, ‘Memphis: The Blues’ was removed from the tracklisting for users on Bryan’s album, despite the singer’s claims that the song would return shortly to streaming platforms as a solo effort.
In response to Moreland’s social media comments, which were deleted shortly after they were initially posted, Bryan took to his own Instagram Stories. The singer retorted: “Yooo just saw this from an artist I’ve always respected and supported. Not trying to be dramatic but refuse to have anyone with a problem with me on my records. Replacing ‘Memphis the Blues.’ If it goes down for a bit just know this is the reason! No hard feelings! Confused as shit, Tulsans look out for Tulsans.”
Bryan then posted a screenshot of Moreland’s words and added: “Last thing I say on it! Not partial to arguing with butt hurt grown men.”
Moreland then shared a longer clip in response, stating: “OK, so I’ll just say one more thing about it and I’m gonna get back to my real life and let y’all have fun on the internet. When I was asked to be on that album, I did not know that dude. Never met him. Just a really big artist from where I’m from [Tulsa, Oklahoma], asking me to be on a record. Cool. First time I met him, we recorded the song. Like, didn’t have the greatest impression, but no big deal — whatever, fine. Then we record the song. The album comes out like a month later. I had met him once at that point.”
“At this point, I’ve hung out with him five, six times. I don’t like this motherfucker. Like, am I supposed to be upset?” Moreland continued. He also said, “If I was asked to be on the album today, I wouldn’t do it.”
Explaining why, he alleged of Bryan’s behaviour: I don’t want to be on an album with a dude who is a dickhead to my wife and my friends right in front of me every time I see him. I don’t want to be on an album with a dude who I’ve heard tell borderline racist jokes more than once. I don’t want to be on an album with a dude who brings a 19-year-old girl in the bar, and then when they tell him she can’t be in there, looks at me like I’m supposed to have his fucking back. I don’t like that person.”
He concluded: “That’s who thinks I’m an asshole? Fine. As far as I’m concerned, getting kicked off a Zach Bryan album is way fucking cooler than being on a Zach Bryan album.”
Despite whatever happens to the song on its future forms, Moreland will still receive royalties for it as a co-writer.
Meanwhile, this summer, Bryan is set to headline two shows at London’s BST Hyde Park in June.
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