Morrissey Central "SMITHS NOT OK" (September 11, 2024)

September 11, 2024

The proposed greatest hits album by The Smiths entitled Smiths Rule OK! has been blocked by J Marr. The album (above), and also the single Hand In Glove (below)

were planned for 2024 worldwide release by Warner Records along with a deluxe box release of The Smiths first album in order to commemorate its 40-year anniversary, and also 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.

SMITHS NOT OK - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - SMITHS NOT OK

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY

www.morrisseycentral.com

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Media item:

• Stereogum: "Now Morrissey Says Johnny Marr Has Blocked A New Smiths Deluxe Reissue" - September 11, 2024

 

[SteveWS]

It was always so predictable, this state of affairs. Inevitable, but sad.

 

[Amy]

Is Morrissey having a ‘shit fit’ ? I don’t see it.

It almost physically hurts me to say this - because for YEARS I've practically broken my back looking for some ray of light - but it's gone. They have grown to hate each other, and no matter who blames who for "starting it", they've both poured petrol on it in different ways and there's no going back or repairing anything now. Maybe the open letter was the end, maybe it was something unseen that we don't know about. Johnny will never, ever come back to the table after this, and that's it.

 

[marred]

Hasn't Johnny Marr already overseen a massive remastering of the entire Smiths catalogue back in 2011?

 

[marred]

Joyce is a floating head

 

[The Alchemist]

M says he can never be deleted from The Smiths, explaining that he was basically the essence of The Smiths.

But then tries to undelete himself from The Smiths by designing an intentionally provocative sleeve.

Two options here:

1) He actually is concerned about 'being deleted'

2) He remains indifferent about 'being deleted', but intentionally creates a sleeve which is primarily designed to ruffle feathers anyway (and is probably not a design he actually cares for either)

Conclusion:

I'm going with option 2.

If that's the case, we are now getting a graphic insight into how far down the self-sabotaging avenue Morrissey currently finds himself.

As a few others have already alluded to, all of this could be very damaging for Morrissey's health, and I can only hope he's okay.

These games are unnecessary and nobody wins. For me, it calls to mind the Bob Dylan lines:

In the final end he won the wars
After losing every battle

Then you're left wondering....
At what cost?
And what was the point?

 

[Young And Alive]

so marr is blocking the proceeds of the smiths rule ok from going to andy rourkes family and the joyces as well,mean sprited.
M doesnt need the money nor does marr but andy rourkes family may need a helping hand.
marrs halo is slipping,blocking a reunion,blocking a greatest hits album.hes hardly keeping the legacy alive.

If we assume that Andy's royalties have been left to his relatives, then there's nothing stopping them from receiving money from existing Smiths albums.

We don't need another one.

If you own Meat Is Murder and The Sound of The Smiths, for instance, then you can listen to "The Headmaster Ritual" whenever you like - as well as on YouTube and streaming services of course.

The Smiths stopped creating new songs in 1987 after Johnny walked out. Everything is out there already. This re-issue would have offered nothing new.

 

[Young And Alive]

I'm old enough to remember when Smiths/Morrissey artwork was clever and interesting.

Everything in that regard (and many others) seems to have absolutely gone to shit since around 2010 onwards.

I do wonder what the Morrissey of 1985 or even 1995 would make of the Morrissey of 2024.

 

[Thewlis]

Not that it’s impossible. But why do you think it’s likely that M is not telling the factual truth?

Because he usually takes liberty with ‘the truth’.
This is his truth, but Marr’s is likely very different.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

It almost physically hurts me to say this - because for YEARS I've practically broken my back looking for some ray of light - but it's gone. They have grown to hate each other, and no matter who blames who for "starting it", they've both poured petrol on it in different ways and there's no going back or repairing anything now. Maybe the open letter was the end, maybe it was something unseen that we don't know about it. Johnny will never, ever come back to the table, that is it.

I agree. Though, I’m not sure I would use the words ‘hate each other’.

 

[Phranc & Open]

Remember the days when "The best of 1 & 2" were a must-have in 1992. On CD!

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Because he usually takes liberty with ‘the truth’.
This is his truth, but Marr’s is likely very different.

hmmm.

 

[Rufusindigo]

Sorry, I’m not familiar with that phrase.



No one? really? If these reissues were going to be sold only and exclusively to guests and members on solo.com then I think you may have a point there.




alone? really? If that were true, what you’re saying is, that Marr is not adult enough to work with Morrissey and suggest different artwork, since it would be a reflection of both of their work? He’s just gonna cross his arms, stamp his feet and say ‘no’ like a child, to the whole reissue instead? hmmm, maybe.




Who says Morrissey doesn’t believe this isn’t the best artwork?

Sorry, don’t know the Lidl reference.

Hi Zoom,

1. Own goal= self sabotage or doing something that will achieve the opposite of what you intended. In other words, suggesting this artwork to JM is unlikely to win approval which seems necessary in order to achieve M's goal of getting these released.
2. Of course someone out there might buy it with that horrible cover, but I'm using the responses on this thread as an indication that most people do not see that cover as something desirable, aesthetically pleasing or in keeping with what was a very strong Smiths 'brand' ie. the responses here indicate its not a great selling point.
3. I think what I was trying to say was that the awful artwork alone would inevitably trigger a negative response. Yes, one would hope that the two of them would be adult enough to negotiate various hurdles and disagreements, but what I am saying is that cover is so far below the established quality threshold that the only possible response to it is to refuse it. Is the negative pay off then that JM gets painted as obstructing everything?
4. I guess that's possible, but it just seems an enormous stretch that someone who was renowned for the meticulous care they invested into previous artwork could think that was acceptable, let alone the best art work.
5. Lidl - a very low budget supermarket in the UK which has a middle aisle full of useless tat (and yes, I do shop there!)

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

If we assume that Andy's royalties have been left to his relatives, then there's nothing stopping them from receiving money from existing Smiths albums.

But also any new reissues.

We don't need another one.

If you own Meat Is Murder and The Sound of The Smiths, for instance, then you can listen to "The Headmaster Ritual" whenever you like - as well as on YouTube and streaming services of course.

The Smiths stopped creating new songs in 1987 after Johnny walked out. Everything is out there already. This re-issue would have offered nothing new.

 

[Amy]

I agree. Though, I’m not sure I would use the words ‘hate each other’.

I would give almost anything for somebody to convince me otherwise.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Remember the days when "The best of 1 & 2" were a must-have in 1992. On CD!

I was probably too busy enjoying the Your Arsenal album and shows at the time.

 

[Phranc & Open]

I was probably too busy enjoying the Your Arsenal album and shows at the time.

I really thought you were going to include "But Marr..." in your answer.

 

[Thewlis]

It almost physically hurts me to say this - because for YEARS I've practically broken my back looking for some ray of light - but it's gone. They have grown to hate each other, and no matter who blames who for "starting it", they've both poured petrol on it in different ways and there's no going back or repairing anything now. Maybe the open letter was the end, maybe it was something unseen that we don't know about. Johnny will never, ever come back to the table, and that's it.

It was Johnny posting the Farage tweet after Oasis announced their return. Thus reducing his former friend and former bandmate and the person whose lyrics he sings on stage everyday to some politician whose name Morrissey mentioned once or twice 5 years ago…

I do agree that there’s no going back now.

 

[goinghome]

Sorry, I’m not familiar with that phrase.

An own goal comes from football, when you mistakenly hit the ball into the opposite team's net, to your own defeat.

Sorry, don’t know the Lidl reference.

Lidl is a cheap supermarket brand, common around Europe.

Surely if they had got to the point where they were choosing artwork then the project as a whole was pretty far down the pipeline anyway, which must have been with JM's consent??

That'd mean Warner's people were speaking to them separately. They need to get the two of them in the same room or on the same video call, with a skillful intermediary, for an opportunity to calm the waters, air views and work it out.

Looking at the responses to this post, absolutely no one wants to see that released with that cover!

It'd be snapped up though. Permitting those who like the cover to admit it e.g.

Maybe I'm losing my mind, but I really like the whole "Smiths Rule OK!" title and artwork. Daft, but in a really camp, playful and retro way. Ah well.

It's war, it's war, it's war, it's war, it's war
War, war, war, war, war

And a ceasefire is a must, because world peace depends on it!
"Peace in ourselves: peace in the world" - Thich Nhat Hanh

Doing it all in public is hideous.

you didn't even phone me
because it's not your style
to dial

Come on!!

 

[No 27]

But Marr is acting like a child, he is fighting, these actions of Marr’s are his reply to Morrissey.

Morrissey is just letting it be known publicly how Johnny is acting.

Each time Morrissey publicly discloses that he's had to go grovelling to Johnny Marr, only to be rebuffed -- more than once now -- he humiliates himself, and the best bit is that he's too stupid to see it. What an undignified and unedifying end to Steven's life. It's simply beautiful.

 

[The Alchemist]

He's even selected photos of the others in bland clothing, while he stands out in a beguiling jacket, directly underneath the word SMITHS.

I actually want to laugh, because it's so ridiculous and on one side, I can see this as typical Morrissey humour - which maybe it is, and I would like to hope it is (even if it's still pointless to point-score)

But if it's for real... which I fear it is... well then I'm really concerned.