Morrissey reportedlyโ solicited offers for his share of The Smiths‘ song rights, a move quickly shut down by former bandmate Johnny Marr.โ Theโ attempt to sellโค Morrissey’s publishing stake has reignited tensions within the iconic British band,decades after their 1987 โคsplit,and underscores the complex financial landscape surrounding classic rock catalogs.
The move, revealed โขafter โขMarr publicly addressed the โคsituation, highlights the ongoing value of The Smiths’โข music and the fractured relationships โคbetween itsโฃ members. Control of song publishing rights โขtranslates directly into revenue โfrom royalties, licensing, and other uses of the music-a especially lucrative asset inโ today’s market. The โfailed attempt to sell,โ and the swiftโข responseโค from Marr, signals a potential legal battle or โfurther estrangement between the formerโค bandmates.
According to reports, Morrissey initiatedโข contact regarding the sale of his rights. Marr publicly stated he was approached and promptly rejected any offers,โ emphasizing his commitment to โฃprotecting the band’s legacy.โ “I was informed by Morrissey’s representatives โthat he was considering selling hisโข publishing,” Marr wrote. “I immediately replied to say that Iโ woudl not consent to suchโ a sale.”
A representative for drummer Mike joyce statedโค he does not comment on โฃthe actions โof his former โbandmates. The Smiths’ breakup in 1987 was followed โby a contentious legal battleโค over โroyalties initiated by Joyce in 1996, further straining relationshipsโ within the group.
Past attemptsโ at reconciliation have proven unsuccessful. Inโ 2008, Morrisseyโค and Marr โขmet to discuss a potential reunion, wiht Marr describing it as a “very real prospect” for โfour days โฃbefore communication ceased. More recently, Marr revealed he declined an offer from AEG Entertainment Group โfor a reunion that Morrissey had reportedly accepted.Theโ death of bassist Andy Rourke in 2023 effectively closed the door on anyโข possibilityโข of a full reunion.
Morrissey explained his actions by stating,โ “Theโฃ songsโ are me – they are no one else – but they โbring with them business communications that go to excessive lengths to create as much dread and spite year after year. I must now protect myself,โ especially my health.”