Johnny Marr Says He Didn’t Ignore The Smiths Reunion Offer: “I Said No”

The post Johnny Marr Says He Didn’t Ignore The Smiths Reunion Offer: “I Said No” appeared first on Consequence .

Over the past few weeks, Morrissey has levied several allegations against his former The Smiths bandmate Johnny Marr . Now, Marr has responded to Morrissey’s claims in a new statement via his management.

Marr first addressed Morrissey’s recent statement saying he acquired the trademark to the band’s name without “any consultation.” According to Marr, he reached out to Morrissey in 2018 after discovering the trademark was not owned by the band in order “to work together in protecting The Smiths’ name.” After not hearing back, however, Marr moved to register it himself.

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According to the statement, Morrissey’s lawyers later agreed the trademark was held for the “mutual benefit” of Marr and Morrissey. As a “gesture of goodwill,” Marr moved to legally assign joint ownership in January 2024, but the document is awaiting Morrissey’s signature.

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

Marr then responded to Morrissey’s claim that he ignored a “lucrative offer” to reunite the group: “As for the offer to tour, I didn’t ignore the offer — I said no.”

He also debunked Morrissey’s speculation that Marr would want to tour as The Smiths with a different vocalist by saying, “There are no such plans.”

However, Marr did confirm that he turned down a proposed greatest hits album “given the number already in existence.”

This all started last month, when Oasis’ reunion prompted a hopeful fan to speculate about Morrissey and Marr potentially burying the hatchet. Marr was quick to dismiss the idea, leading Morrissey to make his claims about the proposed reunion, “blocked” greatest hits album, and Marr’s supposed unilateral acquisition of the trademark to the band’s name.

Marr is set to kick off a co-headlining North American tour with fellow Manchester act James. Grab tickets here .

Johnny Marr Says He Didn’t Ignore The Smiths Reunion Offer: “I Said No”
Eddie Fu