Johnny Marr's Management response to Morrissey's allegations (September 17, 2024)

A statement from Johnny Marr's management:

Recent statements made by Morrissey on his website regarding the trademark of
The Smiths' name are incorrect.

Here are the facts:

In 2018, following an attempt by a third party to use The Smiths' name - and upon
discovery that the trademark was not owned by the band - Marr reached out to
Morrissey, via his representatives, to work together in protecting The Smiths' name.

A failure to respond led Marr to register the trademark himself.
It was subsequently agreed with Morrissey's lawyers that this trademark was held
for the mutual benefit of Morrissey & Marr.

As a gesture of goodwill, in January 2024, Marr signed an assignment of joint
ownership to Morrissey. Execution of this document still requires Morrissey to sign.

In the interests of accuracy and clarity regarding the trademark, and to answer
recent reports that Marr ignored a promoter's offer to tour as The Smiths, Marr says:

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

"As for the offer to tour, I didn't ignore the offer - I said no."

Additionally, speculation about Johnny Marr touring with a different singer as
The Smiths is not true. There are no such plans.

Johnny Marr also confirms that he declined a suggestion for another greatest hits
compilation from Warner Music Group given the number already in existence.

---

Related items:

• Morrissey Central: "THE PLOT THICKENS" - September 15, 2024
• Morrissey Central: "SMITHS NOT OK" - September 11, 2024
• Morrissey Central: "WAR IS OLD, ART IS YOUNG" - August 29, 2024

 

[Uncleskinny]

Morrissey is always #1 with farm animals.

Because, sadly, unlike Elizabeth Smart's cigarettes in What She Said, this is literally the last thing he has to hold on to.

 

[Amy]

Everything happened very much as expected, unfortunately. I knew Morrissey would keep childishly pushing and pushing until someone finally would say something.With all the rumours Johnny really could not stay silent forever. Johnny handled it in the most professional way, just keeping it formal and fact oriented. I really don't know why Morrissey does this to his career, he really seems to be seriously mentally ill and just can not help himself, because nobody in their right mind would be that crazy and run himself to the ground on purpose and more than one time. It's just baffling, Der Spiegel, Bonfire/Capitol, now this - he must know, that the other side can produce facts and will do when pushed enough. And what now? He has gained absolutely nothing positive from it. Nothing. Exposed himself as a liar and paranoid lunatic (again), made Johnny even more popular as the guardian and the sane one of the Smiths and the chance that a label would take him on is shrinking even more. I don't get why his super fans call that brutally honest, when he is lying and sabotaging himself. That's not witty nor funny nor artsy, that is seriously ill.

I feel like years ago, it was easy to romanticise Morrissey's depression, social anxiety, interpersonal issues etc because it was packaged up with his "image" in a very fluffy, palatable way - the back-bedroom casualty, chained to the women's section of the library, tucked up in bed by 10pm with tea and toast and all that. "An ailing Victorian" as one journo put it. He could say things like "I just don't like people" or "I expect everything I do to go down in the annals of history" and you could just laugh and appreciate the hyperbole. It was so exaggerated - nobody thought he was really like that.

Now it feels like the real dysfunction has replaced the mythology. What was hyperbole is now genuine alienation, grandiosity, anger, paranoia, a total refusal to 'climb down' when he has made mistakes. I have faith in Johnny's humanity, even though he sometimes lets himself down, and I believe he understands these difficulties more than anyone else. That is the only light in the tunnel for me.

TL;DR:

 

[BrokenFrame]

Because, sadly, unlike Elizabeth Smart's cigarettes in What She Said, this is literally the last thing he has to hold on to.

You're like one of those action figures that just repeats the same things over and over again when you press a button or pull a string.

 

[Uncleskinny]

I feel like years ago, it was easy to romanticise Morrissey's depression, social anxiety, interpersonal issues etc because it was packaged up with his "image" in a very fluffy, palatable way - the back-bedroom casualty, chained to the women's section of the library, tucked up in bed by 10pm with tea and toast and all that. He could say things like "I just don't like people" or "I expect everything I do to go down in the annals of history" and you could just laugh and appreciate the hyperbole. It was so exaggerated - nobody thought he was really like that.

Now it feels like the real dysfunction has replaced the mythology. What was hyperbole is now genuine alienation, grandiosity, anger, paranoia, a total refusal to 'climb down' when he has made mistakes. I have faith in Johnny's humanity, even though he sometimes lets himself down, and I believe he understands these difficulties more than anyone else. That is the only light in the tunnel for me.

TL;DR:

Never apologise, never explain, give me some more money.

 

[Amy]

Never apologise, never explain, give me some more money.

I'm sure he'd have a lot more money though, if he hadn't cancelled tours, fired managers, refused to do PR, become such a pariah that his solo catalogue gets no radio play, alienated Johnny and generally had all the difficulties that he has. So if it was the grand aim, well.. he wasn't great at it. How rich can you be before it just becomes normal and basically meaningless to you? It doesn't protect you from 'the squalor of the mind'.

 

[dallow_bg]

You're like one of those action figures that just repeats the same things over and over again when you press a button or pull a string.

Isn't that the Turkey guy or whoever?

 

[Surface]

Yes, saw that only 16 songs though, with 6 Smiths-covers.

Johnny Marr Setlist at Paramount Theatre, Denver

Get the Johnny Marr Setlist of the concert at Paramount Theatre, Denver, CO, USA on September 17, 2024 from the Johnny Marr & James North American Tour and other Johnny Marr Setlists for free on setlist.fm!

www.setlist.fm

Update on this Thewlis

 

[Uncleskinny]

I'm sure he'd have a lot more money though, if he hadn't cancelled tours, fired managers, refused to do PR, become such a pariah that his solo catalogue gets no radio play, alienated Johnny and generally had all the difficulties that he has. So if it was the grand aim, well.. he wasn't great at it. How rich can you be before it just becomes normal and basically meaningless to you? It doesn't protect you from 'the squalor of the mind'.

Exactly. All the apologists here have their fingers in their ears.

All this contrariness, all this standoffishness - what does it get him? Does it get him what he wants? It does not. It gets him nothing that he wants, which is exposure and money. His behaviour is contrary to his own aims.

 

[Phranc & Open]

I feel like years ago, it was easy to romanticise Morrissey's depression, social anxiety, interpersonal issues etc because it was packaged up with his "image" in a very fluffy, palatable way - the back-bedroom casualty, chained to the women's section of the library, tucked up in bed by 10pm with tea and toast and all that. He could say things like "I just don't like people" or "I expect everything I do to go down in the annals of history" and you could just laugh and appreciate the hyperbole. It was so exaggerated - nobody thought he was really like that.

Now it feels like the real dysfunction has replaced the mythology. What was hyperbole is now genuine alienation, grandiosity, anger, paranoia, a total refusal to 'climb down' when he has made mistakes. I have faith in Johnny's humanity, even though he sometimes lets himself down, and I believe he understands these difficulties more than anyone else. That is the only light in the tunnel for me.

TL;DR:

Absolutely well described. You can literally feel how it moves you.
It used to be romanticised, even flirted with, and now the lyrics are becoming the shrill truth. What is the expression "True to you" still worth?

 

[TheSmiths_1985]

Exactly. All the apologists here have their fingers in their ears.

All this contrariness, all this standoffishness - what does it get him? Does it get him what he wants? It does not. It gets him nothing that he wants, which is exposure and money. His behaviour is contrary to his own aims.

I’m sorry, you’ll have to be more clear - does Morrissey’s contrariness get him what he wants, or not?

 

[Thewlis]

Update on this Thewlis

Good to know, and a nice compromise.

Do you know if Johnny and James play a song or more together, like they did with Laid recently?

 

[dallow_bg]

I feel like years ago, it was easy to romanticise Morrissey's depression, social anxiety, interpersonal issues etc because it was packaged up with his "image" in a very fluffy, palatable way - the back-bedroom casualty, chained to the women's section of the library, tucked up in bed by 10pm with tea and toast and all that. He could say things like "I just don't like people" or "I expect everything I do to go down in the annals of history" and you could just laugh and appreciate the hyperbole. It was so exaggerated - nobody thought he was really like that.

Now it feels like the real dysfunction has replaced the mythology. What was hyperbole is now genuine alienation, grandiosity, anger, paranoia, a total refusal to 'climb down' when he has made mistakes. I have faith in Johnny's humanity, even though he sometimes lets himself down, and I believe he understands these difficulties more than anyone else. That is the only light in the tunnel for me.

TL;DR:

Well said.

 

[DaveJCarr]

Yes. fully expect Morrissey to release post some emails. claim he never had those lawyers, was just a phone call away, etc. because "mangers don't speak for him" only Morrissey speaks for Mrorissey
and the usual apologists will line up to say "see, he never lied! " He's an artist". what integrity.

Bastion of "free speech" that he is, I wouldn't be surprised if he threatens libel/slander etc if he disagrees with an iota of the statement. Hr.'s not going to back down

He "gagged" because a record company won't release Bot, but if someone calls him a racist wanker, he will litigate, or claims they sent a draft agreement to lawyers he never received, he will light the litigation cannons.

 

[Amy]

Absolutely well described. You can literally feel how it moves you.
It used to be romanticised, even flirted with, and now the lyrics are becoming the shrill truth. What is the expression "True to you" still worth?

I could have mentioned your name, I could have dragged you in
Guilt by implication, by association
I've always been true to you

... well, now he has dragged him in. Or tried to. Very sad.

 

[Thewlis]

I feel like years ago, it was easy to romanticise Morrissey's depression, social anxiety, interpersonal issues etc because it was packaged up with his "image" in a very fluffy, palatable way - the back-bedroom casualty, chained to the women's section of the library, tucked up in bed by 10pm with tea and toast and all that. He could say things like "I just don't like people" or "I expect everything I do to go down in the annals of history" and you could just laugh and appreciate the hyperbole. It was so exaggerated - nobody thought he was really like that.

Now it feels like the real dysfunction has replaced the mythology. What was hyperbole is now genuine alienation, grandiosity, anger, paranoia, a total refusal to 'climb down' when he has made mistakes. I have faith in Johnny's humanity, even though he sometimes lets himself down, and I believe he understands these difficulties more than anyone else. That is the only light in the tunnel for me.

TL;DR:

But maybe it wasn’t hyperbole and it was real dysfunction and genuine alienation all along?

I think it was actually. It’s just the celibate part I never really believed, but the alienation, loneliness and maladjusted part always seemed very real to me. In his words and his actions.

 

[Surface]

Good to know, and a nice compromise.

Do you know if Johnny and James play a song or more together, like they did with Laid recently?

Not sure, I was at the Lytham gig and it was a nice surprise. It was a strange afternoon, I really enjoyed Inspiral Carpets as I’d never seen them before, Johnny was great as usual but James did their orchestral thing which worked at Manchester Apollo as it was full of James fans but it wasn’t great for a mixed audience. My wife wasn’t impressed at all but we had seen them a few weeks earlier at the o2 and they were superb there doing a normal gig.

 

[TheSmiths_1985]

 

[Thewlis]

Not sure, I was at the Lytham gig and it was a nice surprise. It was a strange afternoon, I really enjoyed Inspiral Carpets as I’d never seen them before, Johnny was great as usual but James did their orchestral thing which worked at Manchester Apollo as it was full of James fans but it wasn’t great for a mixed audience. My wife wasn’t impressed at all but we had seen them a few weeks earlier at the o2 and they were superb there doing a normal gig.

Yes, I understand that. I’m not a fan of pop/rock-artists going orchestral myself, it seems like the last refuge and a bit pompous to me.

And the life energy that James is known for could very well be lost. I’m still gutted I was on holiday the one and only time James played here some 10 years ago. I don’t think I will ever get another opportunity. But who knows, maybe if this James/JM tour is a success in the US they will continue it in Europe next year. Like I said, Johnny hasn’t performed here in a long time either.

 

[Amy]

Rambling now but when you look at Morrissey's difficulties, and how unlikely it was that he and Johnny would ever have crossed paths in their daily lives, it makes The Smiths even more special. From the outside, it's still insane - the depressed oddball and the pothead party boy?! It was mad, it was magic. Moz used to ask Johnny 'so tell me how you found me' and have him repeat the whole story over and over. And when people choose a 'team' and they hate on one or the other, they take some of the magic away. #TeamSmiths

 

[SuedeMoz]

Yes. fully expect Morrissey to release post some emails. claim he never had those lawyers, was just a phone call away, etc. because "mangers don't speak for him" only Morrissey speaks for Mrorissey
and the usual apologists will line up to say "see, he never lied! " He's an artist". what integrity.

Bastion of "free speech" that he is, I wouldn't be surprised if he threatens libel/slander etc if he disagrees with an iota of the statement. Hr.'s not going to back down

He "gagged" because a record company won't release Bot, but if someone calls him a racist wanker, he will litigate, or claims they sent a draft agreement to lawyers he never received, he will light the litigation cannons.

I hope he doesn't and just lets it die. It seems that once exposed (meaning when the truth comes out) he drops it and doesn't mention it anymore. Of course, there might be a great new FiDo 'article' to explain it all.