Morrissey Signs New Deal, Album, Tour follow

After years of bemoaning that no label would have him, Morrissey has signed a “worldwide recording agreement” with Harvest Records — a subsidiary of Universal Music Group — which today announced he will release a yet-to-be-recorded new album in the second half of 2014 and plans to resume touring this year.

In a press release today, Morrissey says he is “thrilled” with the agreement, and plans to begin recording the follow-up to 2009′s Years of Refusal later this month in France with producer Joe Chiccarelli. The singer’s current touring band — Boz Boorer (guitar), Jesse Tobias (guitar), Solomon Walker (bass), Matthew Walker (drums) and Gustavo Manzur (keyboards) — are thought to play on the album.

In the news release announcing the contract, Capitol Music Group Chairman and CEO Steve Barnett said:

“Morrissey is clearly one of music’s most important and influential artists. He is the rare soul who has stayed consistently true to his artistic vision and ethical principles since he first exploded onto the scene in the 1980s. We are so happy that he has chosen Capitol Music Group as his home and that his forthcoming album on Harvest will bring new Morrissey music to the world.”

Although he has previously claimed to have a full album in the can, Morrissey first broached plans to record new material in a Q&A on fansite True To You earlier this month. He has performed several new songs, and recorded some in session at the BBC, over the last couple of years.

Touring, of course, has been problematic for the newly minted bestselling memoirist, with repeated health issues forcing the cancellation of dates and then entire tours in the U.S. and South America last year.

According to the label, tour dates for 2014 “will be announced soon.”