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

The Smiths’ Johnny Marr and Morrissey, January 1986 (Steve Rapport/Getty Images)

In recent weeks, Morrissey has made numerous statements about his old band with Johnny Marr, the Smiths. In one instance, he claimed Marr “ignored” an offer for a 2025 tour. He later claimed that Marr “blocked” a Smiths greatest-hits album. And, most recently, he asserted that Marr obtained the trademark rights to the Smiths’ name “without any consultation to Morrissey, and without allowing Morrissey the standard opportunity of ‘objection.’”

Marr, through his management, has now responded to Morrissey’s various allegations. Find it in full below.

Regarding the Smiths trademark, Marr’s management said that, in 2018, “Marr reached out to Morrissey, via his representatives, to work together in protecting The Smiths’ name.” Morrissey apparently did not respond to Marr, which led the latter musician “to register the trademark himself.”

Regarding a compilation album, Marr verified Morrissey’s account, explaining that he declined Warner Music Group’s offer to release a greatest-hits album “given the number already in existence.”

Most crucially for Smiths fans, Marr also confirmed that a reunion tour was offered to him: “I didn’t ignore the offer,” Marr wrote, “I said no.”

The Smiths broke up in 1987, and Johnny Marr and Morrissey have had numerous disputes in the ensuing years. Nevertheless, the idea of a reunion has been on the table in the past, with Marr revealing in his 2016 memoir, Set the Boy Free, that he discussed the possibility of reuniting with Morrissey in 2008.

In 2018, a series of concerts billed as “Classically Smiths” were announced. The shows were supposed to feature drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke, but Rourke quickly distanced himself from the project, and the shows were canceled in short order. Months later, Marr criticized the project, telling Mojo, “I wasn’t consulted and that tells you all you need to know, I think.”

A statement from Johnny Marr’s management:

Recent statements made by Morrissey on his website regarding the trademark of The Smiths’ name are incorrect.

Here are the facts:

In 2018, following an attempt by a third party to use The Smiths’ name - and upon discovery that the trademark was not owned by the band - Marr reached out to Morrissey, via his representatives, to work together in protecting The Smiths’ name.

A failure to respond led Marr to register the trademark himself. It was subsequently agreed with Morrissey’s lawyers that this trademark was held for the mutual benefit of Morrissey & Marr.

As a gesture of goodwill, in January 2024, Marr signed an assignment of joint ownership to Morrissey. Execution of this document still requires Morrissey to sign.

In the interests of accuracy and clarity regarding the trademark, and to answer recent reports that Marr ignored a promoter’s offer to tour as The Smiths, Marr says:

“To prevent third parties from profiting from the band’s name, it was left to me to protect the legacy. This I have done on behalf of both myself and my former bandmates.”

“As for the offer to tour, I didn’t ignore the offer - I said no.”

Additionally, speculation about Johnny Marr touring with a different singer as The Smiths is not true. There are no such plans.

Johnny Marr also confirms that he declined a suggestion for another greatest hits compilation from Warner Music Group given the number already in existence.

Now that Morrissey and Johnny Marr have both published their memoirs, how do their Smiths stories compare?  

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork