Morrissey is no longer taking applications to buy his stake in The Smiths.
- READ MORE: Mike Joyce on ending his feud with Johnny Marr, The Smiths’ reunion row and a mural for Andy Rourke
On Wednesday (September 3), the ex-Smiths frontman took to his website and official social media accounts to share that he had “no choice but to offer for sale all of his business interests” in The Smiths to any potential investors or parties.
He explained in a statement: “I am burnt out by any and all connections to [Johnny] Marr, [Andy] Rourke, [Mike] Joyce. I have had enough of malicious associations. With my entire life I have paid my rightful dues to these songs and these images. I would now like to live disassociated from those who wish me nothing but ill-will and destruction, and this is the only resolution.”
The musician then encouraged interested parties can reach out for more information via [email protected].
Now, he’s shared that the email address has been “switched off” due to a “colossal response”.
In a new statement on his website yesterday (September 5), a rep for Morrissey wrote: “Although Morrisseys’ love for the songs of the Smiths era will never waver, he is tired of the disagreeable and vexatious characters involved in ‘The Smiths’ business. After thirty-eight years of insults and abuse, Morrissey has had enough.
“All (or most) of the ‘eaves’ emails will be answered in time,” the statement added.
Interested parties and investors were offered the opportunity to purchase Morrissey’s “full and exclusive rights” to The Smiths name, all Smiths artwork, all Smith merchandising rights, Smiths songs both lyrically and musically, all synchronisation rights, all Smiths recordings and all contractual rights for the Smiths publishing.
In August last year, Morrissey appeared somewhat sentimental as he reflected on the legacy of the band: “I am incredibly grateful to anyone who walked out to buy, or who stayed in to download, Smiths’ music. The musicians are considered to be those who make the change, but the consumer plays an equal part by having faith.
“We’re all in this together. It was always about a refusal to surrender to enemy propaganda – something I still face today just as much as I faced it in 1983, 84, 85, 86 and 87. The Smiths do not end.”
Later that same month, Morrissey said he had agreed to a “lucrative” 2025 Smiths tour – but alleged that Marr “ignored” the offer.
It was also around this time that the singer alleging that a Smiths ‘Greatest Hits’ album had been “blocked” by the guitarist, and claimed Marr now oweds all of the “trademark rights and Intellectual Property” of The Smiths, and can tour as a band without him: “This action was done without any consultation to Morrissey, and without allowing Morrissey the standard opportunity of ‘objection’.”
Later, a representative from the guitarist’s management team called Morrissey’s comments on various topics “incorrect” in a statement on X/Twitter. As for the reunion offer, Marr responded: “I didn’t ignore the offer – I said no.” Shortly after Marr’s refusal, Morrissey issued a statement on his website that he had “severed all connections” with his management team, though he did not provide any further details.
October 2024 saw The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce speak to NME about settling his beef with Marr, and addressed the chances of a Smiths reunion following the death of bassist Andy Rourke: “Other people will have other ideas but, as far as I’m concerned, with Andy not being here, it’s impossible to have a reunion of The Smiths.”
Back in December, Morrissey opened up on why he wanted the Smiths’ reunion tour to happen: “I agreed because it felt like the last time such a thing would be possible. We’ve all begun to grow old. I thought the tour that was offered would be a good way of saying thank you for those who have listened for what suddenly feels like a lifetime. It wasn’t because I had any emotional attachment to Marr. I have absolutely none.”
Most recently, Mike Joyce announced a new “no-holds-barred” autobiography, in which he chronicles the drama within The Smiths from his point of view. It’s due for release in the UK on November 6 and is available for pre-order now, with HMV offering a limited hardback edition – limited to one copy per customer – signed by Mike Joyce himself.
