Morrissey Central "WAR IS OLD, ART IS YOUNG" (August 29, 2024)

August 29, 2024

In June 2024 AEG Entertainment Group made a lucrative offer to both Morrissey and Marr to tour worldwide as 'The Smiths' throughout 2025.
Morrissey said Yes to the offer; Marr ignored the offer.

Morrissey undertakes a largely sold out tour of the USA in November.
Marr continues to tour as a special guest to New Order.

WAR IS OLD, ART IS YOUNG - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - WAR IS OLD, ART IS YOUNG

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

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Related item:

• Morrissey-solo.com: "Johnny Marr uses Nigel Farage image to dismiss reunion talk" - August 27, 2024

 

[Eliza]

Very interesting indeed.
I'm wondering what made him change his mind, as he's always said 'no, no, no' to a Smiths reunion....

Morrissey’s willingness to reunite and move beyond differences says a lot for him and his open-mindedness to be willing to work with someone he may not agree with on everything, his willingness to move past the past. I wonder if everyone Marr plays with shares all of his views. How dull and absurd if so!

 

[TheSmiths_1985]

While many of his woes are of his own making, you have to feel a bit sorry for Morrissey. He might give it the big-man routine in public, but there must be times when he is on his own and thinks, “how the f*** have things ended up like this?”

 

[gashonthenail]

I do wonder did the death of Andy in May 2023, and also maybe the death of Mike Hinc in January 2024, bring about a situation where Morrissey and Marr felt obliged to at least talk to each other? Death often has that effect on former friends who have become estranged. Some of the 'mood music' towards The Smiths on Morrissey Central have certainly struck a very different tone over the past year.

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

"In June 2024 AEG Entertainment Group made a lucrative offer to both Morrissey and Marr to tour worldwide as 'The Smiths' throughout 2025.
Morrissey said Yes to the offer; Marr ignored the offer."
Interesting timing to mention this now after Noel & Liam have blow up the internet/press/news cycle (without a "lucrative offer" from a corporation) decide to communicate & subsequently bury the hatchet. Years of banter, baiting and sometimes hilarious exchanges end, and the process to move forward grows organically.
If Morrissey was so interested why not mention this sooner? Not once does he mention talking to his band mate about the idea, something that would surely need to happen if there was every going to be a chance of a reunion. Most respectable band decisions are not handled in cubicles of a corporate office.
Seems with the incredible amount of coverage and Oasis hoopla everywhere, M is in the background trying to remind people of the significance of The Smiths. The Smiths are the best thing in indie history, but M is somewhat embarrassing himself with the "look at me, I am here" and the gaslighting of Johnny Marr. The same Johnny Marr he asked to keep his name out of interviews when asked about The Smiths.

maybe you’ve been living under a rock, but Morrissey’s mention of this reunion offer is most likely in reply to Marr’s recent dig at Morrissey and a reunion …

and we should also note, as much as we agree that it would be professional of them to keep this private, both have chosen to make it public.

 

[Anonymous]

While many of his woes are of his own making, you have to feel a bit sorry for Morrissey. He might give it the big-man routine in public, but there must be times when he is on his own and thinks, “how the f*** have things ended up like this?”

This reminds me of the joke about George Best staying in a hotel. The cleaner comes in to do his room and finds him in bed with several naked young women, surrounded by bottles of champagne. Cleaner shakes his head sadly and says "Ah, George, how did it come to this?!".

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

I do wonder did the death of Andy in May 2023, and also maybe the death of Mike Hinc in January 2024, bring about a situation where Morrissey and Marr felt obliged to at least talk to each other? Death often has that effect on former friends who have become estranged.

Some of the 'mood music' towards The Smiths on Morrissey Central have certainly struck a very different tone over the past year.

which should remind those that believe that it’s all about the money.

 

[billybu69]

Morrissey’s willingness to reunite and move beyond differences says a lot for him and his open-mindedness to be willing to work with someone he may not agree with on everything, his willingness to move past the past. I wonder if everyone Marr plays with shares all of his views. How dull and absurd if so!

It says a lot for him not having a record company and not being able to release a record for half a decade, and these tours he's so proud of selling out being no bigger than 2,500, and the fact he has and always will be a bread head.

 

[Innes]

100% with Marr on this… morrissey has no one to blame but himself, he’s a disgrace and no one with any dignity would take anything to do with him..

Broke my heart

 

[Anonymous]

If nothing else, this will hit the news headlines, and drive up the price of any offers and give both Moz and Marr some publicity. Although I suspect Morrissey's statement is just a dig at Marr, I hope he takes some time to think before he responds, and doesn't just reflexively post a picture of Donald Trump and 'fake news' on Twitter.

If he can take the high ground and respond with a little dignity, I think Moz is also offering an olive branch alongside the obvious thorns.

 

[billybu69]

Would I be happier Morrissey getting together Boorer, Whyte, Day and Cobrin. The Classic Morrissey line up to tour a Pre Maldjusted set list? Than this not Really The Smiths thing? I think I would.

 

[Fabiossey]

To be honest if Morrissey wants a reconciliation he should clarify/soften his political position. Johnny is worried that the Smiths will reform and then Morrissey will embarrass him. Its a reasonable fear "The Smiths" have one voice and largely it belongs to old big mouth. Both need to make an effort to rebuild trust. The slightly disappointing thing is that Morrissey appears (from this statement) to be interested soley in the money and at the same time prepared to play silly one up manship power games (my audience is bigger than yours). Whem arguably their solo careers are equally faltering. They both need to grow up and immediately. Personally I'm not that interested in feeling exploited by watching 60+ year old men, who visibly dislike each other, run through their greatest hits, from 40+ years ago, with a unrelated rhythm section, in an drafty arena, when its all just for the money.

No, they still love each other. They dont want to admit it.

 

[Supersonicandknuckles]

It's likely Marr has known about the Oasis reunion for a while now. He will probably even support/show up on stage with them at a few of the Manchester gigs.

Moz isn't in The Loop about this sort of stuff.

So Marr may have "ignored the offer" as he already knew about the big Oasis reunion on the horizon and didn't want to be competing with that.

 

[The Wild Turkey]

Would I be happier Morrissey getting together Boorer, Whyte, Day and Cobrin. The Classic Morrissey line up to tour a Pre Maldjusted set list? Than this not Really The Smiths thing? I think I would.

Really more excited to see Moz in
November.
Haven't had a chance to see him
with Camila and Carmen.

 

[The Alchemist]

I didn’t use the word hate. I said dislike. Johnny Marr just doesn’t like Morrissey anymore, and wants nothing to do with him. The only people who do are crazed fans, and non-entity musicians with nothing else going for them. Even Alain Whyte walked away from the shit-show Morrissey has become.

What about A$AP Rocky?

 

[Anonymous]

Haven't had a chance to see him
with Camila and Carmen.

When I saw this lineup on the UK tour last year, they weren't very good, and a definite step down from the previous lineup. Hopefully things have improved.

 

[TheSmiths_1985]

What about A$AP Rocky?

Exactly.

 

[The Alchemist]

Exactly.

I couldn't help but set that one up.

 

[The Alchemist]

You'd have to say that when Moz 'backed out' of a reunion in 2008, things were pretty sweet for him after the releases of Quarry and Ringleader etc. Playing to large crowds and big money rolling in.

Fast forward to 2024 and things are quite different from Morrissey's side now. A lot has changed in that time (including the passing of some people very close to them, which obviously puts things in perspective)

 

[Amy]

This pic is from the same '83 session as the Central post.

Come on Johnny, it's 1-1 now between the bickering children, redeem yourself and bat this one back:

 

[Billy A]

You'd have to say that when Moz 'backed out' of a reunion in 2008, things were pretty sweet for him after the releases of Quarry and Ringleader etc. Playing to large crowds and big money rolling in.

Fast forward to 2024 and things are quite different from Morrissey's side now. A lot has changed in that time (including the passing of some people very close to them, which obviously puts things in perspective)

That’s a good way to look at this. You’re probably right. Time, age and money can change a man.