Morrissey has declared he is finished with The Smiths.
In a dramatic announcement on his website, the 66-year-old singer revealed that all of his business interests in the iconic band are now up for sale, signalling what he described as a final break from his former bandmates.
‘The songs are me – they are no one else,’ Morrissey wrote in a statement on Morrissey Central.
‘But they bring with them business communications that go to excessive lengths to create as much dread and spite year after year. I must now protect myself, especially my health.’
The rock band, made up of Morrissey, Johnny 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.
In the post, Morrissey goes on to accuse former bandmates of harbouring ‘malicious associations,’ adding that he wants to live ‘disassociated from those who wish me nothing but ill-will and destruction.’
The announcement places Morrissey’s 50% stake in The Smiths brand on the market, with interested parties invited to email a simple address.
Morrissey and Marr have long shared rights to the band’s name and catalogue, but Morrissey has come under fire for his controversial views, specifically his comments critiquing immigration in the UK, from both fans and his bandmates.
Last year, the two clashed over trademark ownership, with Marr rejecting Morrissey’s claim that he had unilaterally secured control of the band’s brand. The dispute ended in compromise, with both men retaining joint ownership.
How the sale of Morrissey’s share would affect the value of The Smiths – a band whose influence continues to echo through indie and alternative music – remains unclear.
Potential buyers would inherit not just a catalogue of beloved songs, but also a web of disputes, lawsuits, and interpersonal bitterness that has surrounded the band since its 1987 breakup.
In his statement, Morrissey made clear he sees no path forward with his old collaborators. ‘I have had enough of malicious associations,’ he wrote. ‘This is the only resolution.’
The decision also comes at a moment of turbulence in Morrissey’s solo career.
Once a staple of British indie, he has found himself increasingly alienated from major record labels.
BMG cut ties with him in 2020, citing a shift toward diversity in its artist roster, something Morrissey publicly derided. His 14th solo album, Bonfire of Teenagers, has been stuck in limbo despite a completed recording and a brief deal with Capitol Records.
The album includes a title track about the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, with lyrics critics have described as unsettling in their treatment of the tragedy.
Though Morrissey has performed the song live since 2022, the record remains unreleased after the singer abruptly parted ways with Capitol in late 2022, claiming the label was blocking its release.
It was recently revealed that Marr, 61, had 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.’
Afterwards, 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.’
Mike Joyce, meanwhile, is preparing to publish a “no-holds-barred” memoir, The Drums, this November, a move likely to stoke further controversy.
For fans, Morrissey’s latest announcement reads like both an ending and a repetition. The Smiths disbanded almost four decades ago, but their music, and the rancour between members, has never stopped making headlines.
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