Editing The Smiths (section)

==Solo careers==
[[Image:MorrisseySXSW2006.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Morrissey performing at [[SXSW]] in Austin, Texas in 2006]]
Following the group's split, Morrissey began work on a solo recording, collaborating with producer [[Stephen Street]] and fellow Mancunian [[Vini Reilly]], guitarist for [[the Durutti Column]]. The resulting album, ''[[Viva Hate]]'' (a reference to the end of the Smiths), was released in March 1988, reaching number one in the UK charts. In the following years, he invited several singers for backing vocals on several songs such as [[Suggs]] of [[Madness (band)|Madness]] on "[[Piccadilly Palare]]" and [[Chrissie Hynde]] of [[the Pretenders]] on "[[My Love Life]]". He recorded a duet with [[Siouxsie Sioux]] of [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]], "[[Interlude (Timi Yuro song)|Interlude]]" which was released under the banner of both artists. He also collaborated with arranger [[Ennio Morricone]] on "Dear God Please Help Me". At the beginning of the 90s, he enjoyed a new popularity in North America, following his first tour as Morrissey. Morrissey continues to perform and record as a solo artist and had released 13 studio albums as of 2020.

Marr returned in 1989 with [[New Order (band)|New Order]]'s [[Bernard Sumner]] and [[Pet Shop Boys]]' [[Neil Tennant]] in the supergroup [[Electronic (band)|Electronic]]. Electronic released three albums over the next decade. Marr was also a member of [[The The]], recording two albums with them between 1989 and 1993. He has worked as a session musician and writing collaborator with artists including [[the Pretenders]], [[Bryan Ferry]], Pet Shop Boys, [[Billy Bragg]], [[Black Grape]], [[Talking Heads]], [[Modest Mouse]], [[Crowded House]] and [[Beck]].
[[File:Johnny Marr (The Cribs) at the 9-30 Club 1.jpg|right|upright|thumb|Johnny Marr performing as part of the group [[the Cribs]] at the [[9:30 Club]] in Washington, DC, in 2010]]

In 2000, he started another band, Johnny Marr + the Healers, which released only one album, ''[[Boomslang (album)|Boomslang]]'' (2003), to moderate success, then split up shortly afterwards. He later worked as a guest musician on the [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] album ''[[Heathen Chemistry]]'' (2002). In 2006, he began work with [[Modest Mouse]]'s [[Isaac Brock (musician)|Isaac Brock]] on songs that eventually featured on the band's 2007 release, ''[[We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank]]''. Modest Mouse subsequently announced that Marr was a fully fledged member and the reformed line-up toured extensively in 2006–07. In January 2008, it was reported that Marr had taken part in a week-long songwriting session at Moolah Rouge recording studio in Stockport with Wakefield indie group [[the Cribs]].<ref name=":1">Adam Moss, [http://www.citylife.co.uk/news_and_reviews/news/751_marr_rocking_the_cribs "Marr Rocking the Cribs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121171307/http://www.citylife.co.uk/news_and_reviews/news/751_marr_rocking_the_cribs |date=21 January 2012 }}, ''Manchester Evening News'', 26 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref> Marr's association with the band lasted three years and included an appearance on its fourth album, ''[[Ignore the Ignorant]]'' (2009). His departure was announced in April 2011.<ref>[http://www.thecribs.com/news.php?id=219 "Cribs Back to a 3 Piece"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416084408/http://www.thecribs.com/news.php?id=219 |date=16 April 2011 }}, thecribs.com, 11 April 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref> He recorded three solo albums, ''[[The Messenger (Johnny Marr album)|The Messenger]]'' (2013), ''[[Playland (album)|Playland]]'' (2014) and ''[[Call the Comet]]'' (2018). In addition to his activities as a musician and songwriter, Marr produced [[Marion (band)|Marion]]'s second album, ''[[The Program (album)|The Program]]'' (1998) and [[Haven (band)|Haven]]'s debut album, ''Between the Senses'' (2002).<ref>Talia Soghomonian, [https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/whatever-happened-to-marion-761843 "Whatever Happened To Marion?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816063935/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/whatever-happened-to-marion-761843 |date=16 August 2018 }}, ''NME'', 26 October 2011. Retrieved 18 January 2019.</ref><ref>Siobhan Grogan, [https://www.nme.com/reviews/artistKeyname/6059 "Haven: Between the Senses: Promising Indie Debut"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305135935/http://www.nme.com/reviews/artistKeyname/6059 |date=5 March 2016 }}, ''NME'', 5 February 2002. Retrieved 9 January 2012.</ref>

Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce continued to work together. They toured with [[Sinéad O'Connor]] in the first half of 1988; Rourke also appeared on her 1990 album ''[[I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got]]''. Still in 1988, they were recruited (with Craig Gannon) to [[the Adult Net]], but left the band soon afterwards. In 1988 and 1989, they recorded singles with Morrissey. In 1998, they toured and recorded with [[Aziz Ibrahim]] ([[the Stone Roses]]). In 2001 they formed Specter with Jason Specter and others. The band played in the United Kingdom and the United States, but did not prosper.<ref>Joe D'Angelo, [http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1443991/exsmiths-sniff-us-deal.jhtml "Two Ex-Smiths Sniffing for Record Deal"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210155059/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1443991/exsmiths-sniff-us-deal.jhtml |date=10 February 2012 }}, ''MTV'', 23 May 2001. Retrieved 7 January 2012.</ref> In the same year they recorded demos with [[Paul Arthurs]] ([[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]), Aziz Ibrahim and [[Rowetta|Rowetta Idah]] ([[Happy Mondays]]) under the name Moondog One, but the project went no further. Towards the end of 2001, they played together in the veteran Manchester band Jeep.<ref>Originally reported in the ''Manchester Evening News'', 14 December 2001. See the [http://www.morrissey-solo.com/articles/01/12/20/1729245.shtml discussion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120173332/http://www.morrissey-solo.com/articles/01/12/20/1729245.shtml |date=20 November 2012 }} at morrissey-solo.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012.</ref> In 2005, they played with Vinny Peculiar, recording the single "Two Fat Lovers" (Joyce also appeared on the 2006 album ''The Fall and Rise of Vinny Peculiar'').<ref>[http://www.vinnypeculiar.co.uk/about/ "About Vinny Peculiar"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721234307/http://www.vinnypeculiar.co.uk/about/ |date=21 July 2012 }} and [http://www.vinnypeculiar.co.uk/shop-3/two-fat-lovers/ "Two Fat Lovers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019041926/http://www.vinnypeculiar.co.uk/shop-3/two-fat-lovers/ |date=19 October 2013 }}, at ''Vinny Peculiar''. Both retrieved 10 January 2012.</ref> In 2007 they released the documentary DVD ''Inside the Smiths'', a memoir of their time with the band, notable for the absence of Marr, Morrissey and their music.

Joyce recorded with [[Suede (band)|Suede]] (1990); toured and recorded with [[Buzzcocks]] (1990–91); toured with [[Julian Cope]] (1992); toured with [[John Lydon]] and [[Public Image Ltd]] (1992); recorded with [[P.P. Arnold]] (1995); toured and recorded with [[Pete Wylie]] (1996–98); toured with Vinny Peculiar and [[Paul Arthurs]] (2007); and toured with Autokat (2008–09).<ref>[http://www.mikejoyce.com/ "History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229011315/http://www.mikejoyce.com/ |date=29 December 2011 }}, mikejoyce.com. Retrieved 10 January 2012. Joyce says he played with PiL in 1993, but it was the ''[[That What Is Not]]'' tour of 1992. See the [http://www.fodderstompf.com/MEMBERS/1992.html ''Fodderstomp''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126024239/http://www.fodderstompf.com/MEMBERS/1992.html |date=26 January 2012 }} database. Retrieved 10 January 2012.</ref> He presented the ''Alternative Therapy'' radio show on [[The Revolution (radio station)|Revolution 96.2 FM]] until the station changed format in 2008, later reviving it on Manchester Radio Online and Tin Can Media.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2008/sep/03/post106 "The Revolution: how not to relaunch a radio station?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418031209/http://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2008/sep/03/post106 |date=18 April 2016 }}, ''The Guardian'', Organgrinder Blog, 3 September 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2012. [http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-broadcasting/no-revolution-for-joyce-as-he-joins-manchester-radio-online-200902184696/ "No Revolution for Joyce as he joins Manchester Radio Online"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307140553/http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-broadcasting/no-revolution-for-joyce-as-he-joins-manchester-radio-online-200902184696/ |date=7 March 2012 }} ''How Do'', 18 February 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2012. [https://archive.today/20120709114339/http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-11211596/ONLINE-RADIO-Smiths-man-returns.html "Smiths man returns to indie charts with Coalition airing"], ''Music Week'', 22 August 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2012.</ref> He hosts ''The Coalition Chart Show'' on [[East Village Radio]], which streams from New York.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110623093059/http://www.eastvillageradio.com/shows/mikejoycescoalitionchartshow/ ''Mike Joyce's Coalition Chart Show'']. Retrieved 10 January 2012.</ref>

Rourke played and recorded with [[the Pretenders]] (featuring on ''[[Last of the Independents]]'', 1994); [[Badly Drawn Boy]] (with whom he played for two years); [[Proud Mary (band)|Proud Mary]] (featuring on ''Love and Light'', 2004); and [[Ian Brown]] (featuring on ''[[The World Is Yours (Ian Brown album)|The World Is Yours]]'', 2007). In 2007, he formed [[Freebass]] with fellow bassists [[Peter Hook]] ([[New Order (band)|New Order]] and [[Joy Division]]) and [[Gary Mounfield|Mani]] ([[the Stone Roses]] and [[Primal Scream]]).<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Beaumont-Thomas |first=Ben |date=2023-05-19 |title=Andy Rourke, bassist for the Smiths, dies aged 59 |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/may/19/andy-rourke-bassist-for-the-smiths-dies-aged-59 |access-date=2023-05-19 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Rourke co-founded the [[Manchester v Cancer]] concert series, later known as [[Versus Cancer]], to raise money for cancer research.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}} He concentrated on his radio career, beginning with a Saturday-evening show on [[XFM]] Manchester. He was a regular on [[East Village Radio]], where his colleagues include Joyce.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110623121120/http://www.eastvillageradio.com/shows/andyrourkesjetlag/ ''Andy Rourke's Jetlag''.] Retrieved 10 January 2012.</ref> Rourke relocated to New York in early 2009.<ref>[http://jetlagnyc.blogspot.com.au/search/label/info "About Jetlag"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110024755/https://jetlagnyc.blogspot.com/search/label/info |date=10 January 2021 }}, ''Jetlag''. Retrieved 10 January 2012.</ref> There, he formed Jetlag, a "DJ and audio production outfit", with Olé Koretsky.<ref>[http://jetlagnyc.blogspot.com.au/ ''Jetlag''.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019083229/http://jetlagnyc.blogspot.com.au/ |date=19 October 2013 }} Retrieved 10 January 2012.</ref> In April 2014, the [[The Cranberries|Cranberries]] vocalist [[Dolores O'Riordan]] joined the group and they changed their name to [[D.A.R.K. (band)|D.A.R.K.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://consequence.net/2016/09/cranberriessmiths-supergroup-d-a-r-k-share-gothic-club-track-the-moon-listen/ |work=Consequence of Sound |title=Cranberries/Smiths supergroup D.A.R.K. share gothic club track 'The Moon' |first=Alex |last=Galbraith |date=6 September 2016 |access-date=18 January 2019 |archive-date=26 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226155708/https://consequence.net/2016/09/cranberriessmiths-supergroup-d-a-r-k-share-gothic-club-track-the-moon-listen/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Reunion speculation===
Marr and Morrissey have repeatedly said that they will not reunite the band. In 2006, Morrissey declared, "I would rather eat my own testicles than reform the Smiths, and that's saying something for a vegetarian."<ref>Scott Colothan, [http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=15239 "Morrissey: 'I'd Rather Eat My Testicles Than Reform The Smiths{{'"}}], {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212084806/http://www.gigwise.com/article.php?contentid=15239 |date=12 December 2008 }} ''Gigwise'', 30 March 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2012.</ref> When asked why in another interview the same year, he responded, "I feel as if I've worked very hard since the demise of the Smiths and the others haven't, so why hand them attention that they haven't earned? We are not friends, we don't see each other. Why on earth would we be on a stage together?"<ref>Daniel Melia, [http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=18006 "Morrissey: 'The Smiths Don't Deserve to Be on Stage with Me{{'"}}], {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212045141/http://www.gigwise.com/article.php?contentid=18006 |date=12 December 2008 }} ''Gigwise'', 5 June 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2012.</ref> In a February 2009 interview on [[BBC Radio 2]], he said, "People always ask me about reunions and I can't imagine why&nbsp;[...] the past seems like a distant place, and I'm pleased with that."<ref>[http://www.idiomag.com/peek/64678/morrissey "Morrissey turns down The Smiths&nbsp;... again"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327140952/http://www.idiomag.com/peek/64678/morrissey |date=27 March 2012 }}, ''Idio'', 13 February 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref> In 2002, Joyce said he was not interested in reforming as he felt the Smiths had run its course.<ref>{{cite web |last1=ITV |title=The Smiths – These Things Take Time (documentary) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG0Gi5KeWLI | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211029/WG0Gi5KeWLI| archive-date=2021-10-29|website=YouTube |date=3 April 2011 |access-date=11 April 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In November 2004, [[VH1]] screened a ''Backstage Pass Special'' episode of ''[[Bands Reunited]]'' showing host [[Aamer Haleem]] trying and failing to corner Morrissey before a show at the Apollo Theater.<ref>The encounter is described in an [http://www.morrissey-solo.com/articles/04/11/12/153226.shtml anonymous post] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120173430/http://www.morrissey-solo.com/articles/04/11/12/153226.shtml |date=20 November 2012 }} at morrissey-solo.com, 12 November 2004; retrieved 8 January 2012. See also the VH1 [http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Coming+Up+on+VH1+November+5+-+November+11,+2004.-a0124018186 media release] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305130213/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Coming+Up+on+VH1+November+5+-+November+11,+2004.-a0124018186 |date=5 March 2016 }}, 3 November 2004; retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref> In March 2006, Morrissey said the Smiths had declined a $5&nbsp;million offer to perform at the [[Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival]], saying, "Money doesn't come into it ... It was a fantastic journey. And then it ended. I didn't feel we should have ended. I wanted to continue. [Marr] wanted to end it. And that was that."<ref name="billboard">Barry Jeckell, [https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59064/morrissey-smiths-turned-down-millions-to-reunite "Morrissey: Smiths Turned Down Millions to Reunite"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025153029/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59064/morrissey-smiths-turned-down-millions-to-reunite |date=25 October 2018 }}, ''Billboard'', 16 March 2006. Retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref>

In August 2007, it was widely reported that Morrissey had that summer declined an offer of $75&nbsp;million – nearly £40&nbsp;million at the time – from a "consortium of promoters" to reunite with Marr for a fifty-date world tour under the Smiths' name in 2008 and 2009. ''[[NME]]'' gave Morrissey as its source for the story.<ref>[https://www.nme.com/news/the-smiths/30599 "Morrissey rejects fresh attempt at Smiths reunion"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306021322/http://www.nme.com/news/the-smiths/30599 |date=6 March 2016 }}, ''NME'', 23 August 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2011.</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' cited his publicist.<ref>Elizabeth Goodman, [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/morrissey-turned-down-mega-bucks-smiths-reunion-offer-over-johnny-marr-20070823 "Morrissey Turned Down Mega-Bucks Smiths Reunion Offer Over Johnny Marr"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113162036/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/morrissey-turned-down-mega-bucks-smiths-reunion-offer-over-johnny-marr-20070823 |date=13 November 2017 }}, ''Rolling Stone'', 23 August 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref> The offer was also reported at true-to-you.net, an unofficial fan site tacitly supported by Morrissey.<ref>[http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_070822_01 "Press release regarding tour dates"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510055058/http://true-to-you.net/morrissey_news_070822_01 |date=10 May 2012 }}, 22 August 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2012.</ref> It was later described as a hoax, although it is unclear who was hoaxing whom.<ref>[http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=26177_0_2_0_C "Morrissey announces new album – reunion tour Smiths a hoax"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609063109/http://www.side-line.com/news_comments.php?id=26177_0_2_0_C |date=9 June 2012 }}, 3 October 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref> In October, Marr said on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]]: "Stranger things have happened so, you know, who knows? ... It's no biggie. Maybe we will in 10 or 15 years' time when we all need to for whatever reasons, but right now Morrissey is doing his thing and I'm doing mine."<ref>[http://everyjoe.com/entertainment/johnny-marr-doesnt-rule-out-smiths-reunion-with-morrissey/ "Johnny Marr Doesn't Rule Out Smiths Reunion with Morrissey"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308040831/http://everyjoe.com/entertainment/johnny-marr-doesnt-rule-out-smiths-reunion-with-morrissey/ |date=8 March 2012 }} ''Every Joe'', 23 October 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref>

In 2008, Marr resumed contact with Morrissey and Rourke while remastering the band's catalogue.<ref name="guardmarr">{{cite web|last1=Hattenstone|first1=Simon|title=Johnny Marr: 'The conversation about re-forming the Smiths came out of the blue'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/oct/29/johnny-marr-the-smiths-morrissey-simon-hattenstone|website=The Guardian|access-date=29 October 2016|date=29 October 2016|archive-date=30 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030081914/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/oct/29/johnny-marr-the-smiths-morrissey-simon-hattenstone|url-status=live}}</ref> That September, Morrissey and Marr met in Manchester and discussed the possibility of reforming the band.<ref name="guardmarr" /> The two kept in contact over the next four days and decided to exclude Joyce from any prospective reunion and to wait until after Marr completed his commitments to [[the Cribs]].<ref name="guardmarr" /> Communication between the two abruptly ended while Marr was touring in Mexico with the Cribs and the topic of a reunion was never brought up again.<ref name="guardmarr" /> Marr said that he did not hear from Morrissey again until a brief email correspondence in December 2010.<ref name="guardmarr" /> In June 2009, Marr told an interviewer on London's [[XFM]], "I think we were offered 50 million dollars for three&nbsp;... possibly five shows." He said that the chances of a reunion were "nothing to do with money" and that the reasons were "really abstract".<ref>[http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2009/johnny-marr-weve-been-offered-50-million-to-reform-the-smiths "Johnny Marr: 'We've Been Offered $50 Million To Reform The Smiths{{'"}}] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826130122/http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2009/johnny-marr-weve-been-offered-50-million-to-reform-the-smiths |date=26 August 2012 }}, Radio XFM London 104.9, 30 June 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2012.</ref>

In January 2006, Marr and the Healers played at Rourke's [[Manchester v Cancer]] benefit concert, where Marr performed "How Soon Is Now?" with Rourke.<ref>[http://www.johnny-marr.com/dates/shows-archive "28 January 2006 – Johnny Marr and The Healers – Manchester vs Cancer – MEN Arena – Manchester UK"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120101023608/http://www.johnny-marr.com/dates/shows-archive |date=1 January 2012 }}, Shows Archive, johnny-marr.com. Retrieved 8 January 2012.</ref> Marr and Rourke also performed "How Soon Is Now?" at the Lollapallooza Brazil festival in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://musica.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2014/04/06/com-andy-rourke-johnny-marr-faz-show-possivel-do-smiths-no-lollapalooza.htm|title=Com Andy Rourke Johnny Marr faz show possivel do Smiths no lollapalooza|publisher=musica.uol.com.br|access-date=6 April 2014|archive-date=7 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407074927/http://musica.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2014/04/06/com-andy-rourke-johnny-marr-faz-show-possivel-do-smiths-no-lollapalooza.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Rourke died of [[pancreatic cancer]] on 19 May 2023, aged 59.<ref name=":3" />

In August 2024, Morrissey said in a post on his website, Morrissey Central, that he and Marr had received a "lucrative offer" to tour as the Smiths in 2025.<ref name="moz central 2024">{{cite web |last1=Morrissey |title=WAR IS OLD, ART IS YOUNG |url=https://www.morrisseycentral.com/messagesfrommorrissey/war-is-old-art-is-young |website=Morrissey Central |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref> The singer claimed that he accepted the invitation, but that Marr did not respond. Marr soon after posted a picture of [[Reform UK]] leader [[Nigel Farage]] to rebuke calls to reunite in the aftermath of [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]]'s reunion. Marr previously said in 2016 that Morrissey's politics aligned with Farage's, joking that any potential Smiths reunion would feature the politician as their replacement guitarist.<ref name="bbc reunion 2024">{{cite web |last1=Long |first1=Chris |title=Morrissey claims Johnny Marr 'ignored' 2025 Smiths reunion offer |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp352111wyxo |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=2 September 2024}}</ref> Weeks later, on Marr's official [[Instagram]], Marr's management issued an official statement in response to Morrissey's claims that Marr ignored the offer: "As for the offer to tour, I didn't ignore the offer – I said no."<ref name="Marr Variety"/> Marr's statement also clarified other claims made by Morrissey's team on Morrissey's website such as that Marr had filed for 100% ownership of the Smiths' intellectual property and [[trademark]] rights without having consulted with Morrissey despite the fact that "Morrissey alone created the musical unit name 'The Smiths' in May 1982".<ref>{{cite web | title=MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY | website=MORRISSEY CENTRAL | date=16 September 2024 | url=https://www.morrisseycentral.com/messagesfrommorrissey/the-plot-thickens | access-date=2024-09-17}}</ref> In Marr's statement, it was clarified that Marr discovered that the band did not own the trademark, and in an effort to protect the trademark from a third party attempt made in 2018 to use the band's name, Marr registered the trademark solely under his name after a failure to receive a response from Morrissey and his representatives. In January 2024, Marr signed an agreement to share ownership of the name with Morrissey, an agreement Morrissey has yet to follow up on. Marr further clarified that the efforts to take the trademark were not to tour under the Smiths' name with a singer of Marr's choice (contrary to the claims made by Morrissey's team), but rather simply to protect the band's name and use of the name.<ref name="Marr Variety">{{cite web|last=Aswad|first=Jem|title=Johnny Marr Responds to Morrissey's Claims About Smiths Reunion Tour, Name Ownership: 'It Was Left to Me to Protect the Legacy'|work=Variety|date=17 September 2024|url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/smiths-johnny-marr-responds-to-morrissey-reunion-tour-1236147686/|access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref>