Morrissey: People hate it when I become successful

Morrissey is currently, shall we say, between record deals, and it's because he's so popular, reports ContactMusic:

Legendary singer Morrissey still cannot get a record deal and thinks his previous success is hindering his career.

Is that so, Mozzer?

He said: "There's not much I can do about it. Once it becomes public that you aren't signed, you assume that anyone who wants you will come and get you.

"I think labels for the most part want to sign new discoveries so that that label alone is seen to be responsible for the rise of the artist. Not many labels want bands who have already made their mark, because their success is usually attributed to some other label somewhere else at another time.

"Most artists are remembered for the albums that introduced them, or that made their success. For this reason, the press only write about me in terms of the Smiths story, and the fact that I've had three solo number one albums - or even 25 years of eventful solo activity - is never mentioned anywhere. Odd."

I suppose it is possible that labels would rather sign a new act than someone who is already incredibly popular. It's well recorded that record labels are almost supernaturally averse to signing sure things, much preferring to ignore easy number one albums with an established act in favour of spunking cash away on a bunch of teenagers who may or may not prove to be the new Birdland.

Maybe Morrissey is having trouble finding a label because nobody wants an artist who spends a lot of his time grumpily explaining what that isn't racist, actually.

Or perhaps its because - although he has done quite well in terms of chart position, only one of his solo records has managed more than 300,000 sales and the most recent, Years Of Refusal hasn't even earned a silver disc yet, two years in. A guaranteed top ten act, then, but one unlikely to shift 60,000 copies.