
Morrissey criticises “those who have tried so very hard to put me out of circulation” after scoring top three album chart finish
Morrissey has issued a celebratory statement after his latest album, Make-Up is a Lie, landed at third in the UK Album Chart.
It marks the 16th solo album of his career to land in the top ten in the UK. Harry Styles topped the UK Album Chart with his latest offering, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally, and Olivia Dean returned to second position with the Art of Loving.
Taking to his website, Morrissey Central, the former frontman of The Smiths issued a statement to hit out at those he claimed tried to thwart him from continuing with a recording career.
He began, “I tearfully thank everyone who worked to make today possible. It has been a long and hard war, and we were constantly up against those who have tried so very hard to put me out of circulation … Alistair Norbury (BMG), David Joseph (ex-Universal), Jennifer Ivory (Parlophone) … none of whom are morally qualified to judge anyone else.”
Notably, Morrissey had not released a studio album since I Am Not a Dog on a Chain, which arrived via BMG in 2020. Since then, he announced Bonfire of Teenagers; however, he left Capitol Records, and the album never materialised. He finally signed with Sire Records in December ahead of releasing Make-Up is a Lie.
In his new statement, Morrissey then took shots at the media, writing, “Furthermore, I do not want or need the corrosive deathbed approval of The Guardian – for whom unrelenting hatred is time proudly spent.”
The former frontman of The Smiths added, “Today’s victory is very important because although I am not number 1 or number 2, the singers who are both 1 and 2 were very graciously yanked up the ladder, whereas this Morrissey thing is now – as ever – too confusing for certain people to grapple with.”
He concluded, “It is confusing because it is the sound of real emotions, real songs, real people. We haven’t gone away. We are here to stay.”
Morrissey is currently touring Make-Up is a Lie across Europe, with his tour set to resume in Zaragoza on March 14th.
His show in Valencia, scheduled for March 12th, was cancelled on the day of the concert after he was unable to sleep due to the Las Fallas festival currently taking place in the Spanish city.
According to his website, the singer was left “in a catatonic state” and the show was “rendered impossible due to sleep deprivation”. He also personally described it as an “indescribable hell”, before adding, “It will take me one year to recover. And that is an understatement.”
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.