Johnny Marr Responds to Morrissey’s Claims About Smiths Tour and Trademark

In latest weeks, Morrissey has made quite a few statements about his outdated band with Johnny Marr, the Smiths. In a single occasion, he claimed Marr “ignored” a proposal for a 2025 tour. He later claimed that Marr “blocked” a Smiths greatest-hits album. And, most lately, he asserted that Marr obtained the trademark rights to the Smiths’ identify “with none session to Morrissey, and with out permitting Morrissey the usual alternative of ‘objection.’”

Marr, via his administration, has now responded to Morrissey’s numerous allegations. Discover it in full beneath.

Relating to the Smiths trademark, Marr’s administration stated that, in 2018, “Marr reached out to Morrissey, through his representatives, to work collectively in defending The Smiths’ identify.” Morrissey apparently didn’t reply to Marr, which led the latter musician “to register the trademark himself.”

Relating to a compilation album, Marr verified Morrissey’s account, explaining that he declined Warner Music Group’s supply to launch a greatest-hits album “given the quantity already in existence.”

Most crucially for Smiths followers, Marr additionally confirmed {that a} reunion tour was supplied to him: “I didn’t ignore the supply,” Marr wrote, “I stated no.”

The Smiths broke up in 1987, and Johnny Marr and Morrissey have had quite a few disputes within the ensuing years. However, the concept of a reunion has been on the desk prior to now, with Marr revealing in his 2016 memoir, Set the Boy Free, that he mentioned the likelihood of reuniting with Morrissey in 2008.

In 2018, a collection of live shows billed as “Classically Smiths” have been introduced. The reveals have been presupposed to function drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke, however Rourke rapidly distanced himself from the challenge, and the reveals have been canceled in brief order. Months later, Marr criticized the challenge, telling Mojo, “I wasn’t consulted and that tells you all you could know, I feel.”

A press release from Johnny Marr’s administration:

Latest statements made by Morrissey on his web site concerning the trademark of The Smiths’ identify are incorrect.

Listed below are the info:

In 2018, following an try by a 3rd occasion to make use of The Smiths’ identify – and upon discovery that the trademark was not owned by the band – Marr reached out to Morrissey, through his representatives, to work collectively in defending The Smiths’ identify.

A failure to reply led Marr to register the trademark himself. It was subsequently agreed with Morrissey’s legal professionals that this trademark was held for the mutual good thing about Morrissey & Marr.

As a gesture of goodwill, in January 2024, Marr signed an project of joint possession to Morrissey. Execution of this doc nonetheless requires Morrissey to signal.

Within the pursuits of accuracy and readability concerning the trademark, and to reply latest reviews that Marr ignored a promoter’s supply to tour as The Smiths, Marr says:

“To forestall third events from benefiting from the band’s identify, it was left to me to guard the legacy. This I’ve achieved on behalf of each myself and my former bandmates.”

“As for the supply to tour, I didn’t ignore the supply – I stated no.”

Moreover, hypothesis about Johnny Marr touring with a special singer as The Smiths isn’t true. There are not any such plans.

Johnny Marr additionally confirms that he declined a suggestion for an additional best hits compilation from Warner Music Group given the quantity already in existence.

Smith vs. Smith: Studying the Morrissey and Marr Memoirs