Court paves way for return of the Mack

R&B star Mark Morrison has been given the go-ahead to release his new album after winning the latest round in a court battle with Premiership footballer Kevin Campbell.

A British High Court judge lifted an injunction obtained by Campbell which banned Morrison from releasing the record.

Everton striker Campbell signed the notorious singer to his record label 2 Wikid.

But when he discovered Morrison planned to bring out the album through another record company, he obtained a court order banning the Return of the Mack star from doing so.

However, on Monday a judge ruled a further injunction should not be granted and Morrison is now free to release the record, Innocent Man.

The star – jailed in 1998 for hiring a stand-in to carry out his community service – said he was pleased with the decision.

“The album will now again be available to all,” he said in a statement.

Earlier he had vowed: “The Mack will return – and no judge is gonna stop him.”

However, Campbell vowed to fight on and sue Morrison for breach of copyright if Innocent Man appears in the shops.

“Kevin is disappointed that the injunction was not continued. However, if the album is released we will pursue Mark Morrison and companies for breach of copyright,” said his solicitor Chris Farnell.

The injunction had forbidden Morrison, record label Mona Records and distribution firm Jet Star from releasing the album.

Campbell said he had spent hundreds of thousands of pounds recording and promoting the album.

He said: “Ever since I was a little boy I’ve had two passions – football and music. I’ve worked hard to realise my ambition in football but had hoped that my future career would be in the music business.

“I have always dreamt of starting a record label but now Mark Morrison has spoilt that dream for me.

"There is no loyalty in this business – just greed.”

Morrison, whose chart hits include Return of the Mack, Crazy and Trippin’, is no stranger to the workings of the British criminal justice system.

The self-styled bad boy of British R&B has been behind bars on more than one occasion and has a criminal history of violent and threatening behaviour.

In 1995 he was given an 150-hour community service order for his part in a nightclub fracas in which a student died.

He completed just 42 hours working in a homeless hostel before sending an impostor to do it for him. That offence saw Morrison jailed for 12 months.