Morrissey is pissed off with Warner for not reissuing two Smiths albums to mark their 30th anniversary that he is urging fans to buy ‘The Queen Is Dead’ track in the last week of May and get it into the chart as a protest.
Posting on the True to You site, the singer took on Warner UK and Sire US for not acknowledging the 30th anniversary of the Smith’s albums Meat is Murder (1985) and The Queen is Dead (1986) with a 30th Anniversary releases of either singles or entire LPs.
The Smiths had an extraordinary run on the English charts for the four studio albums with Meat is Murder going to number 1 and the other three sets going to number 2.
In lieu of the special editions, he is asking that people buy a download of the track The Queen is Dead in the final week of May to help put it back on the top 100.
Morrissey’s full statement:
I would like to congratulate the Smiths, and also Stephen Street, and also Rough Trade Records for 30 fantastic years of sales for The Queen Is Dead, which is 30 years old in June. We have always been gagged, of course, but certain recordings rise with time, and The Queen Is Dead and also Meat Is Murder both had the courage to put the fullest meaning of British life into words and music. It was the hope of helping things to evolve, and the mobilized strength of both recordings for 30 years has been fully understood and appreciated by those with sensible passions. Central issues in 2016 England include an urgent need of social justice for animals as well as an obvious recognition of ‘monarchy as anarchy’ (therefore, something with no place in a democratic society).
I am sorry that Warner UK or Sire US cannot provide any celebrations for the anniversaries of both recordings, but, perhaps some label bosses have their eye on a tatty OBE, and perhaps others simply have detachable heads. It would not quite be the Smiths if not classically ignored by the dried-out lawns of the establishment. I urged Warner UK to issue a special ‘The Queen Is Dead’ single release for the first week of June … but … brick wall.
Bleeding to death, I therefore have the restless gall to ask of you that, should you have 99 cents/pence, that you purchase ‘The Queen Is Dead’ track in the final week of May, thus possibly edging it into the corner of everyone’s ear in the UK Top 100 – if only to let them know that we are still here and fully aware of the fox-fur on the hall-stand. I am sorry to ask more of you than you have already given, but we all do as well as we can in such ludicrous times. I can only ask.
I am absolutely yours, in pleasant speaking voice, and with good grace.
MORRISSEY
5 May 2016
Los Angeles.
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