Fans respond to Morrissey’s claims of Johnny Marr shutting down chances of a Smiths reunion

30 August, 2024

The Smiths perform live in 1984.

Fans have been sharing their thoughts following Morrissey claiming that Johnny Marr shut down any chances of a Smiths reunion.

It comes after a statement was posted to the singer’s official Morrissey Central website yesterday (August 29) which read: “In June 2024 AEG Entertainment Group made a lucrative offer to both Morrissey and Marr to tour worldwide as ‘The Smiths’ throughout 2025.”

It added: “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.”

The post comes after conversation broke out about the potential of the ‘80s icons getting back together amid the huge Oasis reunion news, and also saw Marr respond to a fan asking about a return.

The Smiths formed back in 1982 and released four studio albums: 1984’s ‘The Smiths’, 1985’s ‘Meat Is Murder’, 1986’s ‘The Queen Is Dead’ and 1987’s ‘Strangeways, Here We Come’.

Now, following Marr allegedly putting a dampener on any hopes of the band joining forces once again, fans have been taking to social media to weigh in their thoughts.

Some expressed their relief that a reunion won’t be happening anytime soon. “I never saw The Smiths, and I would’ve liked to. I have seen Morrissey and Marr on their own, and they both do their own thing superbly. But I now think it’s a reunion that should never happen,” one wrote.

Another shared a similar outlook, explaining that some fans would likely be left disappointed by the shows if they did materialise. “I’d love to see The Smiths but I’m not sure it would be the same in 2025. These guys produced some of the greatest songs of theirs or any other era but it’s been so long.”

Others agreed, but explained that the recent death of bassist Andy Rourke is the main reason why they wouldn’t want the reunion to come together.

“I never saw #TheSmiths live but with Andy now gone, I hope a reunion never happens as it just wouldn’t be the same,” one wrote. “The Smiths were Morrissey, Marr, Rourke and Joyce. Morrissey the lyrics, Marr the music but the band was a whole a unit. I’m glad the tour offer was turned down.”

While the majority seem relieved that the band won’t be reforming, particularly following Rourke’s death, others remained hopeful that it could come to fruition at a later date.

“The fact Mozza even considered it is fascinating and gives me just a tiny bit of hope… it would put the Oasis reunion a v low priority,” one shared, while another added: “Oasis reunion, come on The Smiths don’t be shy.”

Check out more fan responses below.

Speculation about a potential Smiths reunion has been at play for years now, although it has always looked unlikely that anything could materialise due to the tension between the bandmates.

Earlier this month for instance, Morrissey said the band’s popularity had not waned as it was all about “a refusal to surrender to enemy propaganda”, and in January, the former frontman claimed that he had been “deleted” from the “essence” and history of The Smiths.

Before then, in 2022, Marr opened up about his spat with Morrissey, saying that he felt he had to “defend [himself]”. It came after Morrissey asked the guitarist to stop mentioning him when giving interviews.

Similarly, when writing in his 2016 memoir Set The Boy Free, Marr spoke about a meeting with Morrissey in 2008 where the pair discussed the possibility of reuniting The Smiths. “I was happy to see him – it was 10 years or more since we’d last met,” he recalled. “We caught up with personal news and family and reminisced a bit.”

A main source of hostility between the two stems from Morrissey’s political stance. In 2016, Marr responded to Morrissey’s remarks about being pro-Brexit and being in favour of Nigel Farage – adding that their differing political beliefs were yet another reason why a Smiths reunion was unlikely.

Following the EU Referendum, Morrissey faced backlash from many of his fans when he hailed the result as “magnificent” and called Farage a “liberal educator”. Marr subsequently sought to distance himself from his former bandmate’s beliefs.

Then, in 2019, Marr spoke to NME about whether or not he was worried about people viewing the music and legacy of The Smiths differently given the controversy surrounding Morrissey’s political beliefs and statements.

“I don’t think you can change history,” he said. “I’ve said that before. I’m not worried. It’s got nothing to do with my world or my life. The songs are out there for people to judge, relate to and hear. I think that’s all going to be forgotten in a few weeks, as these things inevitably are – for better or worse. It’s always been that way. I understand the issue, but I’m used to stuff coming and going.”

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