Morrissey has announced that his entire business interests in the Smiths are on the market after he has ‘had enough’ of ‘all connections’ to his previous bandmates.
Morrissey, the 66-year-old former frontman of 1980s rock band The Smiths, put all of his rights to the Smiths brand up for sale today.
But Morrissey wants no more to do with the band, stating in a blog post on his website, Morrissey Central: ‘I am burnt out by any and all connections to Marr, Rourke, Joyce [his former bandmates].
He continued: ‘I have had enough of malicious associations.
‘With my entire life I have paid my rightful dues to these songs and these images.
‘I would now like to live disassociated from those who wish me nothing but ill-will and destruction, and this is the only resolution.
‘The songs are me – they are no one else – 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,’ he concluded.
Morrissey has announced that his entire business interests in the Smiths are on the market after he has ‘had enough’ of ‘all connections’ to his previous bandmates
Pictured: Morrissey and Marr back in their Smiths heyday
The listing simply stated that Morrissey had ‘no choice’ but to put his business interests up for sale – and that interested buyers should email ‘eaves7760@gmail.com’ to enquire.
Morrissey currently shares 50% of the rights of the Smiths with former bandmate Johnny Marr, who was the guitarist and co-songwriter for the band.
Marr previously said he declined an ‘eye-watering’ offer for the band to get back together, referencing the clear political and personal differences between him and Morrissey at the time.
Morrissey and Marr clashed last year over who owned the trademark ownership of the band, with Marr rubbishing Morrissey’s claim that he had acquired the rights to the Smiths’ trademark ‘without any consultation’.
Marr disputed Morrissey’s claim that Marr owned the copyright which would allow the group to tour with a new vocalist, with a spokesperson at the time saying that Marr had eventually agreed with Morrissey’s lawyers that the band’s trademark would be held by both former bandmates.
It remains to be seen whether the sale of Morrissey’s business interests will affect the market value of the brand.
Morrissey’s listing comes after his other former Smiths bandmate, Mike Joyce, announced he would be publishing a ‘no-holds-barred’ memoir, The Drums, this November.
It also follows music label BMG dropping of Morrissey in November 2020 – a split which Morrissey said was due to the label’s ‘new plans for ‘diversity’.’
The Guardian reported that Morrissey also faced difficulties releasing his 14th solo album, Bonfire of teenagers – whose title track is about the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack.
Morrissey has been performing the song since 2022, which includes lyrics about going ‘easy on the killer’ and states ‘I can assure you I will look back in anger ’til the day I die’.
Morrissey and Marr clashed last year over who owned the trademark ownership of the band
Morrissey completed the solo album in May 2021 and his new deal with Capitol should have seen the album released in February 2023.
But at the end of 2022, Morrissey said he had ‘voluntarily’ split from the Capitol label and his management team and claimed that they were now keeping the record from being published.
