David Bowie has reportedly denied Morrissey the right to use an image of the pair together for the artwork on his single, a repress of ‘The Last Of The Famous International Playboys’.
Morrissey is reissuing the 1989 single alongside his 1991 album ‘Kill Uncle’ in April and had wanted to use a shot of himself alongside Bowie on the cover. However, as revealed in a statement by Morrissey fansite True To You, Bowie has refused to give permission and the single will now feature alternative artwork. The statement on True To You reads:
“David Bowie has ordered EMI UK not to run the proposed artwork for Morrissey’s April 8 issue of the re-mastered The Last of the Famous International Playboys single and CD. The sleeve featured a previously unseen private photograph of Bowie and Morrissey taken by Linder Sterling in New York in 1992. Although Bowie has no legal rights to the photograph, most of his back catalogue is presently licensed to EMI.”
The image Morrissey had wanted to use was taken in New York in 1992 by Linder Sterling in New York.
Morrissey was recently forced to pull a number of tour dates in the USAafter being hospitalised. The former frontman of The Smiths was treated for concussion, a bleeding ulcer and Barrett’s esophagus, and had to cancel a number of shows.
Meanwhile, David Bowie will release his first album in 10 years later this year. The surprise album ‘The Next Day’ will be released in March.