Morrissey keen on "lucrative" offer for The Smiths to reunite – Johnny Marr...not so much

Johnny Marr (left) and Morrissey of the group The Smiths pose under the branches of a willow tree in London in 1983.
(Image credit: Photo by Clare Muller/Redferns)

Morrissey says he was ready to sign on for a "lucrative" deal to reunite The Smiths this year – but guitarist Johnny Marr ignored the offer.

With Oasis having stunned the world by announcing feuding brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher will join forces for a 2025 stadium tour, fans were dreaming of another big-name Manchester band getting back together.

But earlier this week Marr seemed to quash the idea when he responded to a post from a fan on X saying if Oasis can reform, so could The Smiths.

You may like

Marr replied with a picture of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage – thought to be a reference to Morrissey's recent trend of expressing right-wing political opinions.

But now the singer has posted on his website claiming he and Marr were approached about a reunion, and that the guitarist ignored it. And Morrissey was unable to resist taking a swipe at Marr, suggesting his own solo career was outshining his former bandmate's.

The Morrissey website post reads: "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. Morrissey undertakes a largely sold out tour of the USA in November.

"Marr continues to tour as a special guest to New Order."

There has been no love lost between Marr and Morrissey since they parted company back in 1987 when The Smiths broke up.

In 2022, Morrissey posted an 'open letter' to Marr on his website, asking, “Would you please stop mentioning my name in your interviews?

“The fact is: you don’t know me. You know nothing of my life, my intentions, my thoughts, my feelings. Yet you talk as if you were my personal psychiatrist with consistent and uninterrupted access to my instincts.

“We haven’t known each other for 35 years – which is many lifetimes ago. When we met you and I were not successful. We both helped each other become whatever it is we are today. Can you not just leave it at that?”

Marr responded to the post by writing, “An ‘open letter’ hasn’t really been a thing since 1953, It’s all ‘social media’ now. Even Donald J Trump had that one down. Also, this fake news business… a bit 2021 yeah?” adding the hashtag 'makingindiegreatagain'.

Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022. 

Read more
The Smiths in 1985
“We feel that music should be used in order to make serious statements”: how The Smiths turned from a good band into a great one on Meat Is Murder
Oasis in 2024
"Any bigmouths talking to the press are gonna get dealt with." Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher fears there is a "mole" inside the band's organisation after "sources" reportedly leak the new Oasis line-up
Liam Gallagher
"It is what it is. I’m the singer, get off my case." Oasis' Liam Gallagher isn't terribly bothered that thousands of Oasis fans are heartbroken having had their dreams of seeing the band shattered by Ticketmaster cancelling their reunion tour tickets
Johnny Rotten and Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols performing live in 1978
“It wasn’t even worth asking John about the reunion tour”: Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones hasn’t spoken with John Lydon since 2008
Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher in 2013
“I got him a drink and it went from there”: how Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher buried the hatchet and became unlikely friends and collaborators
John Lydon of PiL performs on stage during their 'End of World Tour' at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on September 30, 2023
John Lydon is "pissed off" about the Sex Pistols replacing him with Frank Carter: "they’re trying to trivialise the whole show to get away with karaoke"
Latest in
Rick Astley and Rick Wakeman
“Rick Wakeman’s solo albums were just brilliant… when I heard he was doing Henry VIII at Hampton Court Palace, I bought 12 tickets”: Prog is the reason Rick Astley became a singer
Ozzy Osbourne, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Jim Morrison and Joe Strummer onstage
The greatest gig I've ever seen: 24 writers pick the most memorable live shows of their lives
Marillion in 1984
From debauched prog revivalists to pioneers of the internet age: The Marillion albums you should definitely listen to
Queen posing for a photograph in 1978
"Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different, and we tended to encourage them, but sometimes they were not brilliant.” Queen's Brian May reveals one of Freddie Mercury's grand ideas that got vetoed by the rest of the band
Mogwai
“The concept of cool and uncool is completely gone, which is good and bad… people are unashamedly listening to Rick Astley. You’ve got to draw a line somewhere!” Mogwai and the making of prog-curious album The Bad Fire
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Latest in News
Queen posing for a photograph in 1978
"Freddie’s ideas were off the wall and cheeky and different, and we tended to encourage them, but sometimes they were not brilliant.” Queen's Brian May reveals one of Freddie Mercury's grand ideas that got vetoed by the rest of the band
Adrian Smith performing with Iron Maiden in 2024
Adrian Smith names his favourite Iron Maiden song, even though it’s “awkward” to play
Robert Smith, Lauren Mayberry, Bono
How your purchase of albums by The Cure, U2, Chvrches and more on Record Store Day can help benefit children living in war zones worldwide
Cradle Of Filth performing in 2021 and Ed Sheeran in 2024
Cradle Of Filth’s singer claims Ed Sheeran tried to turn a Toys R Us into a live music venue
The Beatles in 1962
"The quality is unreal. How is this even possible to have?" Record shop owner finds 1962 Beatles' audition tape that a British label famously decided wasn't good enough to earn Lennon and McCartney's band a record deal
Lizzo and Sister Rosetta Tharpe onstage
"This is my baby, my passion – because Rosetta deserves": Lizzo to play rock'n'roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in upcoming biopic