The lengthy saga between former The Smiths bandmates Morrissey and Johnny Marr has reached a new boiling point, with Morrissey now claiming Marr has unilaterally acquired trademark rights to the group’s name. He also implied the move could allow Marr to hire a replacement vocalist.
On Sunday night, a statement written on Morrissey’s behalf titled “THE PLOT THICKENS” was posted to his website claiming Marr has “successfully applied for 100% trademark rights / Intellectual Property ownership of The Smiths name.”
“His application has been accepted on whatever oaths or proclamations he has put forward,” it continues. “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.”
In case you missed it, Oasis’ reunion last month prompted hopeful fan speculation about The Smiths following their lead. After Marr brushed off the idea, Morrissey said he had accepted a “lucrative offer” to reunite The Smiths in 2025, but Marr turned it down.
Morrissey then followed up last week by claiming Marr “blocked” a proposed greatest hits album, a deluxe box set of the band’s debut album, and two 7-inch reissues.
Political differences have long stood in the way of a potential Smiths reunion, with Morrissey’s pro-Brexit views prompting Marr to distance himself from his former bandmate in 2016. Proving his stance hasn’t changed, Marr dismissed the fan speculation by sharing a photo of right-wing UK Parliament member (and Brexit advocate) Nigel Farage, who Morrissey once suggested as a good candidate for Prime Minister.