Famous Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to collaborate with Morrissey, the former frontman of The Smiths, on a song last year because of its "anti-woke" content.
Cave revealed this in response to a fan's question about whether he turns down certain projects and collaborations that are offered to him.
The singer cited the example of Morrissey, whom he described as "an undoubtedly complex and controversial figure, someone who clearly enjoys provoking people."
In this context, he recalled an exchange of messages between the two from last year, when Morrissey asked him to contribute to a song he was creating, which began with a "Greek bouzouki".
"It seemed like he didn't want me to sing, but to deliver, over the bouzouki, an unnecessary, provocative and somewhat stupid anti-woke tirade that he had written," Cave explained.
He then added: "While I may have shared some of the sentiments he expressed, it just wasn't for me. I try to keep politics – whether cultural or otherwise – out of the music I'm involved in. I feel like it detracts from what I'm trying to achieve and is counterproductive to my goals. So, Astrid (the name of the fan who asked the question), I politely declined. I said no."
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