Nick Cave Refused Morrissey Collaboration | Controversy
- A potential collaboration between Nick cave and Morrissey will not happen, as cave revealed he turned down an offer from Morrissey last year.
- Cave addressed the possibility of working with the former Smiths vocalist on his website, responding to a fan's question about whether he had ever met Morrissey.
- morrissey contacted Cave in 2024 about performing on a new song.
Nick Cave rejected a collaboration with Morrissey, sparking controversy. Discover the reasons behind Cave’s decision, as the role of political lyrics proved to be a deal-breaker. Morrissey’s “anti-woke screed” clashed with Cave’s desire to keep music apolitical. Find out why these two musical icons won’t be joining forces. News Directory 3 provides the details on the creative differences that led to this surprising proclamation. Explore the specifics of Morrissey’s rejected song and Cave’s outlook on incorporating politics into his art. What drove Cave to decline, and what does this mean for Morrissey’s unreleased music? Discover what’s next …
Nick Cave Rejects Morrissey Collaboration Over ‘Anti-Woke’ Lyrics
updated June 17, 2025
A potential collaboration between Nick cave and Morrissey will not happen, as cave revealed he turned down an offer from Morrissey last year. The role of politics in music played a key role in Cave’s decision.
Cave addressed the possibility of working with the former Smiths vocalist on his website, responding to a fan’s question about whether he had ever met Morrissey. While calling Morrissey “problably the best lyricist of his generation,” Cave noted he hadn’t met him, adding that this might be why he remains a fan.
morrissey contacted Cave in 2024 about performing on a new song. Cave said he liked the song, but “it began with a lengthy and entirely irrelevant Greek bouzouki intro.”
Cave elaborated that Morrissey wanted him to deliver “an unnecessarily provocative and slightly silly anti-woke screed he had written” over the bouzouki music. He did not provide specific details about the lyrics but said he “politely declined” the offer.
“Even though I suppose I agreed with the sentiment on some level, it just wasn’t my thing,” Cave explained.”I try to keep politics, cultural or or else, out of the music I am involved with. I find that it has a diminishing effect.”
Morrissey’s last solo album, I am not a Dog on a Chain, was released in 2020. He has claimed his unreleased album, Bonfire of Teenagers, has been shelved due to his controversial statements.
What’s next
It remains to be seen if Morrissey will release the album in question, or if he will seek out other collaborators for the track he sent to Cave.