Johnny Marr, the legendary guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, has revealed the key reason he won’t reunite with his band
The rock band, composed of Morrissey, Marr, the late Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce, was formed in 1982 and split just five years later in 1987 after reports of internal tensions.
Now, Marr, 61, has revealed why he decided to reject a recent offer to reunite the band over 30 years later, despite being offered a shed-load of money.
‘We got made an offer recently, but I said no,’ said Marr on the Stick to Football podcast.
‘It was a little bit about principles, but I’m not an idiot, I just think the vibe’s not right. Bad vibe.
‘It was an eye-watering amount of money, but also, I really like what I’m doing now which makes it a lot easier. I really like where I’m at. I still work, I craft, I still want to write the best song I’ve ever written. I want to be a better performer.’
He added that, unlike other professions like being a footballer, he hasn’t grown out of his work and will be able to be a songwriter well into his later life.
This isn’t the band’s first refusal to reunite, despite huge pressure from fans and being offered bucket loads of money.
Amid fan speculation, a post on the Morrissey Central website revealed that Morrissey was keen to reunite the band.
A post in August 2024 revealed: ‘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.’
The post added pointedly: ‘Morrissey undertakes a largely sold-out tour of the USA in November. Marr continues to tour as a special guest to New Order.’
Over the years, Morrissey and Marr have exchanged barbs, also disagreeing about The Smiths’ trademark.
The Back to the Old House singers have given numerous reasons for the original break-up over the years, with some suggesting it was Marr’s departure that led to the breakdown of the band.
Marr said he was taking a break due to being exhausted from the band’s schedule. Easterhouse guitarist Ivor Perry briefly replaced him, but the group split up weeks later.
Marr rejected NME’s claim that The Smiths broke up because Morrissey was frustrated at him wanting to work with other artists, as he told the publication in a 1978 interview: ‘The major reason for me going was simply that there are things I want to do, musically, that there is just not scope for in The Smiths.’
In the years since, Morrissey’s conservative political views have been at odds with Marr’s – meaning the gap between the pair has only grown.
In 2024, a fan asked Marr on X about a reunion: ‘If Oasis can do it, The Smiths can too (I’m delusional).’
To this, Marr seemingly made a dig at Morrissey as he shared an image of Reform politician Nigel Farage.
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