The Pop Corporation

The longest face in pop music is at it again, using the classic grift of being ‘gagged’ and everyone apparently being against them. Seeing as Morrissey has been saying problematic stuff since the mid ’80s, you’ve only yourself to blame for any feelings of disappointment you have as a Smiths fan.

While Johnny Marr manages to carve out a career as being something akin to kindly elder statesman of Mancunian pop, generally being unproblematic and self effacing enough to be wheeled out for talking head gigs and guest guitar spots, he’s been championing new bands, talking about his love of disco and good pop music and everything else besides… and Mozza… well… he’s wallowing and trying to muster up enough ire to look like someone with something to say.

Of course, Morrissey has always been like that and now he’s in the unenviable position of being ostracised not by his peers, but rather, himself, looking increasingly twitchy and paranoid. Couldn’t happen to a nicer person, honestly.

And what with Marr looking like someone who has a similar stance to say, Paul Weller, in that getting the old band back together for a lucrative payday isn’t something that interests him, The Smiths getting back together is almost never, ever going to happen. For people who like The Smiths, consider it Marr protecting the legacy of the group and not ruining your memories of it. For the haters, just be thankful in general.

Morrissey has spoken about all this on his dreadful little message board ‘Messages from Morrissey’, where he appears occasionally to take umbrage with how unfair everyone is to him all the time, saying that The Smiths are now resolutely out of his hands.

It would appear that Johnny Marr has successfully applied for the rights to the group’s name and intellectual property, and seeing as he’s still got an ounce of creativity in his bones, he’ll not be allowing anyone to take a shit on his old group, much to the chagrin of ol’ sour chops Morrissey.

Morrissey says: “J Marr has successfully applied for 100% trademark rights / Intellectual Property ownership of The Smiths name. His application has been accepted on whatever oaths or proclamations he has put forward. This action was done without any consultation to Morrissey, and without allowing Morrissey the standard opportunity of ‘objection’. Amongst many other things, this means that Marr can now tour as The Smiths using the vocalist of his choice, and it also prohibits Morrissey from using the name whilst also denying Morrissey considerable financial livelihood.”

Morrissey signs off with: “Morrissey alone created the musical unit name ‘The Smiths’ in May 1982.”

LOL.

This follows the news that Johnny Marr turned down a big money offer to get the old group back together. Morrissey wrote: “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.”

LOL.

Morrissey has obviously been embroiled in all manner of things lately, to which Smiths fans get visibly annoyed at the mention of them. However, their annoyance is to be ignored as, let us not forget that Morrissey is a champion of primo fash Tommy Stephen Yaxley Lennon Robinson, Marie Le Pen, and in 1986 called reggae music the “absolute total glorification of black supremacy – I don’t have very cast iron opinions on black music other than black modern music which I detest… obviously to get on Top Of The Pops these days, one has to be, by law, black.” And just in case you thought that was a fluke, in ’92, he said: “I don’t really think, for instance, black people and white people will ever really get on or like each other.”

Anyway Morrissey apologists, you crack on with working out whether or not you’re going to try the ol’ ‘separating the art and the artist’ chat with someone again, while no doubt bemoaning people for lacking in backbone and not having original thought or whatever. Better still, is when they pretend they’re engaging you in other music you like, while secretly trying to listen out for anyone you like who may be problematic – don’t fall for it. Don’t talk to Smiths fans about anything. Ever.

Regardless, Johnny Marr has seemingly shored up The Smiths, so any pipe dream anyone had about a reunion is probably going to the grave with him.

LOL.