With decades of unpleasant words between principal members Morrissey and Johnny Marr, the Smiths have long been one of the classic rock groups least likely to reunite, and it seems even less likely given the events of the past few weeks and days.
Last month, Morrisseyclaimedthat the Smiths had received a lucrative offer for a reunion tour and that he was willing to go ahead with it, but that Marr “ignored the offer.” Last week, Morrissey furtherclaimedthat Marr was blocking the release of a Smiths greatest-hits album. And earlier this week, Morrissey wrote on his website that Marr has acquired the rights to the Smiths name, meaning that he could conceivably tour under the group’s name with a different singer; he also says that he “alone created the musical unit name ‘The Smiths’ in May 1982.”
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Marr responded on Tuesday:
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.
Morrissey and Marr for decades have declined reunion offers and expressed negative feelings about each other since the group split in mid-1987 after five years together. While the two were often in court together fighting lawsuits from drummer Mike Joyce, they have not performed together since that time and until recently neither had expressed a desire to do so.
Morrissey’s latest statement, under the all-caps heading “THE PLOT THICKENS,” reads, “J Marr has successfully applied for 100% trademark rights / Intellectual Property ownership of The Smiths name. His application has been accepted on whatever oaths or proclamations he has put forward. This action was done without any consultation to Morrissey, and without allowing Morrissey the standard opportunity of ‘objection’. Amongst many other things, this means that Marr can now tour as The Smiths using the vocalist of his choice, and it also prohibits Morrissey from using the name whilst also denying Morrissey considerable financial livelihood. Morrissey alone created the musical unit name ‘The Smiths’ in May 1982.”
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