Morrissey has claimed his former The Smiths bandmate Johnny Marr “blocked” a planned greatest hits album.
“The proposed greatest hits album by The Smiths entitled Smiths Rule OK! has been blocked by J Marr,” Morrissey wrote in a statement on his website accompanied by potential photos of the album and “Hand in Glove” single artwork.
Morrissey continued by saying the album and “Hand in Glove” were both planned for a 2024 worldwide release by Warner Records, along with a 40th anniversary deluxe box set of The Smiths’ self-titled debut album and a new 7-inch of “This Charming Man.”
“Warner approached Morrissey and Darren Evans to assemble artwork for all four releases, all of which were rejected and halted out of hand by J Marr,” he added.
A few weeks ago, Marr was quick to dismiss the idea of a Smiths reunion after a hopeful fan wondered if they could follow Oasis’ lead. In response, Morrissey claimed he accepted a “lucrative offer” to reunite The Smiths in 2025, but Marr turned it down.
Marr and Morrissey’s political differences have long made a potential Smiths reunion unlikely. In 2016, Morrissey’s pro-Brexit views prompted Marr to distance himself from his former bandmate.
Showing that his stance hasn’t changed, Marr dismissed the fan’s suggestion of a Smiths reunion by sharing a photo of right-wing UK Parliament member Nigel Farage, who Morrissey once suggested as a good candidate for Prime Minister.