All you need is me, says Morrissey ahead of Birmingham gig

It follows the release of his most recent album, Low In High School, which was released in November.

It was his 11th studio album and became a number five hit in the UK and was a top 20 hit in the USA.

Morrissey tried to make sure fans didn’t miss out and he made 100 album Test Pressings available at Camden Market, London and at 8250 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, on a first come, first served basis.

The record was produced by Joe Chiccarelli, and recorded at La Fabrique Studios in France and at Ennio Morricone’s Forum Studios in Italy.

The cover generated controversy after it showed the monarch as a target on the sleeve. Max Lopez was holding an ‘axe the monarchy’ sign on the album cover. The youngster, who is the son of bassist Mando Lopez, enjoyed being on the cover.

Morrissey told Billboard Magazine: “Yes, Max is really excited. He went into a shop somewhere and a woman said to him ‘I’ve seen you somewhere before,’ and he said ‘well, I’m on the cover of the new Morrissey CD,’ but she didn’t mean that. I think she was his teacher, or something.”

The album was overtly political, like previous releases World Peace Is None of Your Business. It covered such themes about blood for oil and police brutality.

Morrissey was pleased to mine political topics for the record, as he did on The Smiths album Meat Is Murder. “The people have become sick of the establishment, and I’m a part of the world.

“No small kid wants to grow up to be president any more, and there’s a sense that the world is close to its expiration date. There’s no point hanging back with whatever feelings and views you might have. This is tomorrow.”