Johnny Marr declines Smiths reunion tour offer for 2025

Johnny Marr has publicly denied Morrissey's claims regarding a lucrative offer for a Smiths reunion tour in 2025, stating that he did not ignore the proposal but simply declined it. This statement comes amid a trademark dispute between the two former bandmates, which has drawn attention to their ongoing tensions since the band's split in 1987. Marr's management revealed that he took the initiative to trademark the Smiths name to safeguard the band's legacy after discovering that it was not owned by the band, following an attempt by a third party to use it in 2018. Marr reached out to Morrissey to collaborate on protecting the Smiths' name, but a lack of response led him to register the trademark independently. An agreement was later established with Morrissey's lawyers to hold the trademark for their mutual benefit. In a gesture of goodwill, Marr signed an assignment of joint ownership to Morrissey in January 2024, although it still requires Morrissey's signature to be finalized. Additionally, Marr dismissed rumors of a potential tour with a different frontman, asserting that there are no such plans in place. He also turned down an opportunity to release another greatest hits compilation with Warner Music Group, citing the existence of several compilations already available. The public nature of this dispute has raised eyebrows, with Mike Joyce, the band's drummer, expressing that such matters should be handled privately by legal representatives rather than aired publicly. This ongoing saga highlights the complexities of the relationships within the band and the challenges of managing their legacy.