Johnny Marr criticized Morrissey for saying he wanted to reunite The Smiths with a new singer.
Morrissey recently said Marr now owns all the rights to The Smiths and can tour as the band without him. Morrissey made these claims in a post on his website on September 15. “J Marr has successfully applied for 100 percent trademark rights / Intellectual Property ownership of The Smiths name,” the singer started his words.
He continued, “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,” his post ended.
Marr’s team replied to the claims with a statement. On Instagram, they said Morrissey’s comments about The Smiths’ name are ‘incorrect.’ “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,” the statement started.
It continued, “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,” Marr’s team added. “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 statement then noted, “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,” the guitarist clarified. “Johnny Marr also confirms that he declined a suggestion for another greatest hits compilation from Warner Music Group given the number already in existence.”
In a Forbes interview, Gene Simmons said Morrissey should bring back The Smiths with a new guitarist. He thinks fans only care about the songs. Simmons also mentioned that many people wouldn’t know who Johnny Marr is. He said turning down $100 million would be crazy.
