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Artist News Labels & Publishers Releases
Universal denies blocking Morrissey’s Paris tribute single
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 25 November 2015
Morrissey, a man seemingly able to make any given situation about himself, has accused Universal Music UK CEO David Joseph of personally blocking an attempt to re-release a single originally put out by the major’s Decca label in tribute to the victims of the recent attacks on Paris.
An update on the singer’s True To You website last week claimed: “David Joseph at Universal Music in London has refused the request made by Morrissey and the band to re-issue ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’ as a loving tribute to the lives lost in the Paris atrocities. David Joseph is instead arranging his own tribute to Paris utilising his current crop of Universal artists”.
The site also reported that on Friday night at a show in Sao Paulo, Morrissey said from the stage, “David Joseph can go fuck himself”.
Universal initially refused to comment on the claim. However, once the news hit Pitchfork yesterday, the company decided to issue a statement.
“We have not received – let alone refused – any request from Morrissey himself related to ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris'”, said a spokesperson for the major. “While we have not been contacted directly by Morrissey, after seeing the comments on his website last week, we asked his representative to confirm his intentions and which charity he had in mind to support via the song’s proceeds. We are yet to receive a reply”.
They added: “Many people at Universal Music have been personally affected by the events in Paris. The implication that we have blocked a request from Morrissey in favour of another tribute ‘utilising our current crop of Universal artists’ is hurtful and wrong”.
Indeed, the French-owned Universal Music saw one current and two former members of its own staff killed during the attack on the Bataclan music venue, which might indicate why the company was unwilling to be drawn into a public debate on how to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the Paris attacks.
Still, undeterred, True To You issued a new statement this morning, saying: “Morrissey is in possession of a letter from John Reid at Russells (London) in which it is clearly stated that David Joseph of Universal Music (London) has no interest in re-issuing ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’, but has instead planned his own tribute to the Paris victims for December which will only involve current Universal bands”.
It added: “Universal Music has claimed to be ‘hurt’ by the suggestion that such a letter exists. The letter can be freely made available to anyone who wishes to read it”.
It remains to be seen if the letter is indeed made public, and whether it suggests a specific rejection of Morrissey’s reissue plan, or simply informs the singer that the major already has a tribute project underway.
