Morrissey claims that he was ‘blocked’ from re-releasing Paris tribute single

Morrissey has claimed that he was ‘blocked’ him from releasing a Paris tribute single.

The former Smiths frontman has said that Universal will not allow him to re-release 2009 hit Throwing My Arms Around Paris in the wake of the November 13th attacks.

In a statement on his blog, the 56-year-old told fans that he was planning to re-issue the track as a tribute to victims.

The statement alleges that the company "refused the request made by Morrissey and the band to re-issue 'I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris' as a loving tribute to the lives lost in the Paris atrocities.”

He goes on to claim that the label is planning to release their own tribute record with more ‘current’ artists

A spokesperson for Universal has told Evening Standard Online:

"We have not received – let alone refused – any request from Morrissey himself related to ‘I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris’.

"While we have not been contacted directly by Morrissey, after seeing the comments on his website last week, we asked his representative to confirm his intentions and which charity he had in mind to support via the song’s proceeds. We are yet to receive a reply.

"Many people at Universal Music have been personally affected by the events in Paris. The implication that we have blocked a request from Morrissey in favour of another tribute “utilizing our current crop of Universal artists” is hurtful and wrong."

A number of musicians have paid tribute to victims of the attacks including Celine Dion who performed Edith Piaf's Hymne a l'Amour at the American Music Awards this week.

Adele dedicated her hit song Hometown Glory to the victims during a recent concert in New York and Jarvis Cocker has written a brand new song about the tragedy.