The Smiths Reunion Reportedly Scuttled By Johnny Marr

With the recent reunion of Oasis leading to unprecedented demand for new shows, some music fans couldn’t help bringing up bands they’d love to see reunited one day, including The Smiths.

A reunion that’s unlikely to ever happen, with frontman Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr estranged and the passing of bassist Andy Rourke last year, Morrissey claims that a “lucrative offer” for a reunion of The Smiths was put on the table, but Marr allegedly shot it down.

In a brief statement posted to his website, Morrissey claimed that AEG Entertainment Group – the world’s second-largest promoter of live music and entertainment events, behind Live Nation, and annual promoter of Coachella – made a “lucrative offer” to Morrissey and Johnny Marr in June of this year.

According to Morrissey, the tour would have gone worldwide under the name “The Smiths” and would have lasted through 2025. Morrissey reportedly said yes to the offer, and Marr allegedly “ignored” it.

The singer concluded (not without firing at his former bandmate), “Morrissey undertakes a largely sold out tour of the USA in November. Marr continues to tour as a special guest to New Order.”

Earlier this week, Johnny Marr replied to a fan on X (formerly known as Twitter), who wrote: “If Oasis can do it The Smiths can too (I'm delusional)”. In response, Marr posted a photo of right-wing UK politician Nigel Farage, who Morrissey previously suggested could be a prime candidate for Prime Minister of the UK.

In a 2022 interview, Marr said that he and Morrissey had never fallen out over politics but “probably would” in the present day. After a fan said they were “so disappointed” in Morrissey’s expression of far-right political views – so much so that it had impacted their relationship with The Smiths’ music – Marr answered that Morrissey’s views “hasn’t impacted” how he feels about the band.

Morrissey recently toured Australia to celebrate 40 years of his career. However, the tour didn’t exactly start smoothly, with the singer abruptly cancelling his first show in Perth due to “unforeseen logistical issues.”