Only Morrissey would think no one wants to release Bonfire of Teenagers because he's the edgiest 65-year-old ever. Claiming it has nothing to do with new people disavowing him by the day and everything to do with "idiot culture," he did more of his usual ranting in a rare interview with The Telegraph.
In an email to journalist James Hall, the disgraced Smiths singer claimed the title track of his album in limbo is about the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack, which he said is too "controversial" for any label to pick up.
"Controversial means intelligent, doesn't it? We are still in the grip of Idiot Culture, it's everywhere you look. Naturally I'm one of the first to be gagged since my entire life has relied on free speech," he wrote. "No, I wouldn't remove the title song because I wouldn't abandon the murdered kids of Manchester. Their spirits cry out every single day for remembrance and recognition."
The track itself details a "vaporized" fan before going into a final refrain of "Go easy on the killer." There's also a reference to Oasis: "And the morons sing and sway: 'Don't Look Back in Anger' / I can assure you I will look back in anger 'til the day I die."
"The Manchester Arena bombing was our 9/11," he continued. "But, in this sad country of ours, to understand the full meaning of the attack is to be guilty, and this is why the 'Don't Look Back in Anger' command always struck me as derisive and not at all words of social harmony."
Since this is Moz we're talking about, he, of course, had to make it about how much of an artistic genius he thinks he is. "Every major label in London has refused Bonfire of Teenagers whilst also admitting that it is a masterpiece," he went on. "And although there is nothing insulting or antagonistic in the title track, label bosses say they are worried that The Guardian would make their lives hell if they supported any such social awareness."
This rant was interlocked with his usual ramblings about cancel culture and freedom of speech as a whole. He's seemed to have switched to complaining that Johnny Marr won't reunite the Smiths on his website for now, at least.
Morrissey has been trying to release Bonfire of Teenagers for almost two years. In that time, Miley Cyrus reportedly asked for her contributions to be left off the album, while Morrissey called out Capitol Records for its alleged role in delaying the release multiple times.