English singer-songwriter Morrissey was set to release his new album, Bonfire of Teenagers, in February 2023 after it was announced two years ago in May. However, a week ago Universal Music Group, the parent company of Capitol Records, announced that they will not release it.

Bonfire of Teenagers would have been Morrissey's 14th solo album. Morrissey, prior to going solo, was a long-time member of the well-known English rock band, The Smiths.

It was meant to be a follow-up to his 2020 album I am Not a Dog on a Chain. At the time, Morrissey was unsigned after being dropped from his contract with BMG Management. Capitol Records bid on and bought the album for the US release.

It has been known for awhile that the album wouldn't drop in February, although it is new information that the album won't drop at all. In November the singer released a statement tilted "BONFIRE UNLIT," including that the album's "fate is exclusively in the hands of Capitol Records (Los Angeles)."

Morrissey at 3 Arena

Morrissey also left Capitol Records in December 2022.

Afterwards, Miley Cyrus, who lent her vocals for the song 'I am Veronica' from the track, requested that her backing piece be removed. Morrissey has denied that the reason stemmed from political disagreement.

Iggy Pop, Jesse Tobias, Chad Smith, Flea, and Josh Klinghoffer were also featured on the album.

Now, Morrissey has released a statement expressing outrage at Capitol Records for withholding the album.

“Capitol Records (Los Angeles) proudly promotes Sam Smith’s ‘satanism’; yet they consider the honest truth of Morrissey’s factual Bonfire of Teenagers to be their biggest threat and they will not release it despite their contractual obligation and promise to do so."

Sam Smith and Kim Petras' Grammys performance after winning the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their single 'Unholy' gained a lot of criticism from conservative media.

Onstage, bathed in red light, Sam Smith wore a hat adorned with devil horns. Petras was locked in a cage for the performance. Smith also wore the devil horned hat in the song's music video.

Sam Smith - 'Unholy' official music video

“Although [Morrissey] does not believe that Capitol Records in Los Angeles signed ‘Bonfire of Teenagers’ in order to sabotage it, he is quickly coming around to that belief,” the statement read.

Before the announcement, Morrissey previewed about half of the album during his live shows in 2022. 'I Am Veronica' was first sung in a May show in Phoenix.

Other songs from the unreleased album that have been sung live include 'Rebels Without Applause,' 'Sure Enough, The Telephone Rings,' 'I Live in Oblivion,' 'Kerouac's Crack,' and 'Saint in A Stained Glass Window.'

The song, 'Rebels Without Applause,' has been released as a single, although it did poor commercially upon release.

The tracklist for the unreleased Bonfire of Teenagers is:

1 - I Am Veronica

2 - Rebels Without Applause

3 - Kerouac's Crack

4 - Ha Ha Harlem

5 - I Live in Oblivion

6 - Bonfire of Teenagers

7 - My Funeral

8 - Diana Dors

9 - I Ex-Love You

10 - Sure Enough, the Telephone Rings

11 - Saint in a Stained Glass Window