Morrissey continues dispute over Paris tribute single

Singer claims he has been restricted from reissuing 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' following terror attacks

Note: this is an amended version of a previous story. An earlier version incorrectly credited John Reid as working on behalf of Universal.

Morrissey has posted correspondence alleged to have been sent between his solicitor and a member of his band as his debate with Universal Music continues.

Earlier this week Morrissey took to fan site True To You to claim that his hopes of reissuing 2009 single ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’ as a “loving tribute to the lives lost in the Paris atrocities” had been declined by Universal.

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Responding to the claims, Universal denied the accusations, stating that no request had been made while labelling Morrissey’s assertions as “hurtful and wrong”.

The label’s statement read: “We have not received – let alone refused – any request from Morrissey himself related to ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’. 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.”

Morrissey has now responded to the denial and published what he claims is a email correspondence between his solicitor, John Reid, and long-time guitarist Boz Boorer on True To You which he claims proves Universal Music did receive a request to reissue the single.

In an initial email Boorer allegedly wrote to Universal on November 19, he said: “We are shocked that you have made no move this week to promote the above song (download/special 7-inch/special CD) to support the people of Paris. Any other artist would be number 1 with this song RIGHT NOW. Why are you doing nothing? There is no other song in modern music that aptly supports the people of Paris.”

Morrissey’s solicitor John Reid then comes back to Boorer on the same date, having claimed to have spoken with the label. Morrissey is not directly involved in either email conversation.

Reid’s email reads: “Universal having a very close connection to the events… they are not intending to release any records in response to the tragic events.”

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The email also sees Reid state that Universal “feel it is too raw for them given the death of one of their staff members and instead they are going to show support and solidarity in other ways, including concerts in Paris later this year by some of their artists.”

However, NME has seen an email sent on November 20 from Universal to John Reid in which it is clear they are trying to establish Morrissey’s plans for the single and charitable donation before they can proceed.

Morrissey’s ‘Years Of Refusal’ album was released by Universal imprint Decca/Polydor in 2009. He released his latest album, 2014’s ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’, via Universal offshoot Harvest Records, but has since claimed to have been dropped by the label.

Listen to ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’ by Morrissey below

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