Johnny Marr, the guitarist and co-songwriter of the iconic Manchester band The Smiths, has denied claims made by former bandmate Morrissey that he ignored an offer for a lucrative reunion tour. Marr clarified that he simply “said no” to the proposal for a global tour in 2025.
The statement from Marr comes in response to a trademark dispute between the two musicians, with Morrissey accusing Marr of trademarking the band’s name without consulting him. Marr’s management team explained that the trademark was actually not owned by the band, leading Marr to take action to protect the legacy of The Smiths.
Despite the public spat between the former bandmates, Marr expressed his willingness to work together with Morrissey to safeguard The Smiths’ name. An agreement was reached for joint ownership of the trademark, with Marr signing an assignment of joint ownership to Morrissey in January 2024.
In addition to addressing the trademark issue, Marr also dismissed rumors of a reunion tour with a different frontman for The Smiths, stating that there are no such plans in the works. He also revealed that he turned down an offer for another greatest hits compilation with Warner Music Group, citing the existence of multiple compilations already available.
The drummer of The Smiths, Mike Joyce, weighed in on the public dispute, expressing his belief that such matters should be handled by legal and management teams rather than played out in the public domain. Despite the drama surrounding the band, Marr remains focused on protecting the legacy of The Smiths and maintaining the integrity of their music.
