“That joke isn’t funny anymore.”
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Please, please, please, let me get what I want, unless it’s the latest Morrissey reissues.
The British king of mope-rock is asking his fans to ignore the upcoming re-packaging of his solo work and new vinyl editions of the Smiths’ albums, as he has not received any royalties from EMI, the company behind the campaign, since 1992.
In a statement, the “Suedehead” singer said:
Morrissey would like it to be known that he has not been consulted by EMI/HMV/Parlophone with regards to two forthcoming boxed sets of Morrissey singles. Morrissey does not approve such releases and would ask people not to bother buying them. Morrissey receives no royalty payments from EMI for any back catalogue, and has not received a royalty from EMI since 1992. Morrissey also does not approve of, and was not consulted on, the Rhino box of Smiths CDs, or the Warner releases of Smiths LPs on 180 gramme vinyl. Morrissey last received a royalty payment from Warners ten years ago, and, once again, he would ask people not to bother buying the reissued LPs or CDs.
The albums in question are The 7′’ Singles ‘88-’91, due out October 12, and The HMV/Parlophone Singles ‘91-’95, due November 2. You didn’t hear it from us.
It all seems rather prophetic, when you consider the lyrics to the Smiths’ 1987 track “Paint A Vulgar Picture”:
“At the record company party, on their hands, a dead star
The sycophantic slags all say, ‘I knew him first, and I knew him well”
Reissue! Repackage! Repackage! Reevaluate the songs,
Double-pack with a photograph, extra track (and a tacky badge).”
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