Various claims have been made on The Smiths' frontman Morrissey's website (Morrissey Central) these recent weeks regarding offers about a reunion to tour as The Smiths in 2025 that Smiths’ guitarrist and co-songwriter Johnny Marr allegedly ignored, as well as accusing Marr of acquiring trademark rights and intellectual property ownership of the band’s name behind Morrissey’s back.
This has prompted Marr to release a statement from his management team to deny the allegations made against him:
“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.”
According to the message, Marr did try to reach an agreement with Morrissey: “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.”
The posts includes a quote directly from Marr, in an effort to put an end to all rumors about the trademark as well as the promoter’s offer to tour as The Smiths:
"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.”
The statement "also confirms that [Marr] declined a suggestion for another greatest hits compilation.” Morrissey wrote about it on his website.
Although Morrissey has yet to release a formal statement, he seems to be reacting negatively to the whole situation, as seen on his recent Instagram Stories:
Morrissey has been the subject of much criticism in recent years due to his controversial views on politics. He once performed a song on the Jimmy Fallon Show while wearing a badge bearing the logo of the right-wing political party For Britain.
Before his recent change of mind this summer, Morrissey wasn't keen on a Smiths reunion. “I would rather eat my own testicles than reform The Smiths, and that’s saying something for a vegetarian,” he once said.
The relationship between the singer and guitarrist has been stagnant for a while. Two years ago, Marr told late Steve Wright on BBC Radio Two that it had been "18 or maybe 15 years" since he had spoken to the Smiths' frontman in person; with "zero chance" of them getting back together.
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