The Telegraph / James Hall: "Morrissey: ‘My whole life has relied on free speech – naturally, I’m gagged’" (September 9, 2024)

Morrissey: ‘My whole life has relied on free speech – naturally, I’m gagged’

The forthright singer’s ‘masterpiece’ Bonfire of Teenagers was finished in 2021. He reveals the ‘idiot culture’ blocking its release

https://archive.is/J2hBl - no paywall.

Morrissey: ‘My whole life has relied on free speech – naturally, I’m gagged’

The forthright singer’s ‘masterpiece’ Bonfire of Teenagers was finished in 2021. He reveals the ‘idiot culture’ blocking its release

www.telegraph.co.uk

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Related items:

• Morrissey-solo.com: "What has happened to Bonfire of Teenagers? - media request" - September 2, 2024
• The Times / Will Hodgkinson: "Morrissey says he is being censored. He isn’t" (September 10, 2024)

 

[Dorothy]

Mancs with mouths…

View attachment 110942

I like Liam more every day. Good for him.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Personally I don’t think he ever sought that out.

Literally every single comment in this entire thread is so mean, it’s untrue.

some folks here have the strangest expectations of him. Wanting albums from him that they continually slag before even hearing them, or going to his gigs and expect him to be a human jukebox because they feel entitled to it simply because they purchased a ticket, as if they own him, etc, etc.

Anyway, M may want recognition, but always on his own terms. Maybe some folks on here would prefer the smooth and uniform operations of the corporate machine that is Taylor Swift, that’s not to say she doesn’t work hard and she certainly has a gift for writing vapid pop that are easy to swallow. But even the blind can see that M wouldn’t put in that kind of ‘graft’ or want to be recognized for that. After all he is an Artist, born troublemaker, just as we want them to be.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

At this point I’m not even caring anymore. Will just wait for everything to get released posthumously and enjoy the odd live track here and there he decides to unveil. Saves getting hopes up.

Lol. No one believes you.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I like Liam more every day. Good for him.

small, yet brave move by Liam. No fear it might smear his career.

 

[BrokenFrame]

some folks here have the strangest expectations of him. Wanting albums from him that they continually slag before even hearing them, or going to his gigs and expect him to be a human jukebox because they feel entitled to it simply because they purchased a ticket, as if they own him, etc, etc.

Anyway, M may want recognition, but always on his own terms. Maybe some folks on here would prefer the smooth and uniform operations of the corporate machine that is Taylor Swift, that’s not to say she doesn’t work hard and she certainly has a gift for writing vapid pop that are easy to swallow. But even the blind can see that M wouldn’t put in that kind of ‘graft’ or want to be recognized for that. After all he is an Artist, born troublemaker, just as we want them to be.

Easy to swallow? Taylor Swift songs are mostly tuneless to me. People think she's a genius.

I take 16 songs to send me to sleep
And 16 pills to shake me awake

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Easy to swallow? Taylor Swift songs are mostly tuneless to me. People think she's a genius.

I take 16 songs to send me to sleep
And 16 pills to shake me awake

I agree, but you seemed to have misunderstood my use of the phrase ‘easy to swallow’.

What I mean, is that she makes music (IMO) that is easy for the masses to swallow.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

sorry @Lucifer Sam didn’t know you were a Swift fan.

 

[BrokenFrame]

I agree, but you seemed to have misunderstood my use of the phrase ‘easy to swallow’.

What I mean, is that she makes music (IMO) that is easy for the masses to swallow.

I see what you mean. Sorry I kinda went off in a tangent.

 

[threebarfight]

Easy to swallow? Taylor Swift songs are mostly tuneless to me. People think she's a genius.

I take 16 songs to send me to sleep
And 16 pills to shake me awake

Taylor Swift makes me want to kill myself more than Morrissey ever would.

 

[BrokenFrame]

Taylor Swift makes me want to kill myself more than Morrissey ever would.

Moz gave me reason to keep going when I was diagnosed with autism and taking it really badly.

 

[BrokenFrame]

For everyone reading. I know Moz is frustrating sometimes but remember all the good he has done. Go easy on the Mozzer.

 

[Roman Holiday]

sorry @Lucifer Sam didn’t know you were a Swift fan.

I beg your pardon? Never. It’s Charli XCX, not Taylor Swift.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

some folks here have the strangest expectations of him. Wanting albums from him that they continually slag before even hearing them, or going to his gigs and expect him to be a human jukebox because they feel entitled to it simply because they purchased a ticket, as if they own him, etc, etc.

Anyway, M may want recognition, but always on his own terms. Maybe some folks on here would prefer the smooth and uniform operations of the corporate machine that is Taylor Swift, that’s not to say she doesn’t work hard and she certainly has a gift for writing vapid pop that are easy to swallow. But even the blind can see that M wouldn’t put in that kind of ‘graft’ or want to be recognized for that. After all he is an Artist, born troublemaker, just as we want them to be.

But it doesn’t have to be this dichotomy. It doesn’t have to be either self-destructive Moz or über mainstream Swift. As we’ve been through more times than either of us can count, you can be an artist, make terrific music and still be functional, without selling your soul to the masses. I don’t understand why Morrissey and his most ardent fans have such a hard time grasping this. It’s not complicated.

 

[DaveJCarr]

I really believe that these 'battles' keep Morrissey going. I think he needs them in some way. Like a larger-scale version of people who complain endlessly to their local councils about potholes or traffic noise or the neighbours' shrubbery or whatever. It's never to do with the surface topic, it's about purpose and wanting to be heard. If he really feels like a 'recluse' when he's not working, maybe it's just... boredom?

Yes. It reminds me of his obsession with the charts and the paradoxical "vindication" he gets (whatever his chart position). If an album it sells well, is reviewed well, charts well, that's an indication that people are responding to the high quality of his music, to His integrity those people are grown-ups and can think for themselves

And if an album sells poorly, is reviewed poorly, doesn't chart at all or have lasting success, then we are to believe that those outcomes are evidence of the press, Radio stations, the dullards, the woke whomever, all ganging up on our Besieged Hero because he has the temerity to tell it like it is, to write pop music with depth and heft, to dare to speak those truths and write songs that are not superficial.

In every case, his contrarian, battle tested, stamina is vindicated by the results.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

But it doesn’t have to be this dichotomy. It doesn’t have to be either self-destructive Moz or über mainstream Swift. As we’ve been through more times than either of us can count, you can be an artist, make terrific music and still be functional, without selling your soul to the masses. I don’t understand why Morrissey and his most ardent fans have such a hard time grasping this. It’s not complicated.

Guess that’s why he’s different than the artists you try to compare him to.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Guess that’s why he’s different than the artists you try to compare him to.

That’s really a nonsense answer to what I said.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

That’s really a nonsense answer to what I said.

didn’t you say you didn’t understand him?

I’m taking it that you understand other artists easily, but with Morrissey, you don’t understand him. No?

 

[Gregor Samsa]

didn’t you say you didn’t understand him?

I’m taking it that you understand other artists easily, but with Morrissey, you don’t understand him. No?

No, what I said was: I don’t understand why Morrissey and his most ardent fans can’t grasp that you can be an artist, make terrific music and still be functional, without selling your soul to the masses.

Not the same as I don’t understand Morrissey full stop. Which of course you know, you bored little shit-stirrer.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

No, what I said was: I don’t understand why Morrissey and his most ardent fans can’t grasp that you can be an artist, make terrific music and still be functional, without selling your soul to the masses.

If there’s something you don’t understand about Morrissey, then you don’t understand Morrissey and why he does what he does. No?

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

No, what I said was: I don’t understand why Morrissey and his most ardent fans can’t grasp that you can be an artist, make terrific music and still be functional, without selling your soul to the masses.

Not the same as I don’t understand Morrissey full stop. Which of course you know, you bored little shit-stirrer.