Morrissey Central "THE PLOT THICKENS" (September 15, 2024)

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 alone created the musical unit name 'The Smiths' in May 1982.

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Media items:

• AV Club: "Morrissey claims that Johnny Marr owns name "The Smiths" now" - September 16, 2024
• NME: "Morrissey claims Johnny Marr now owns “100 per cent trademark rights and Intellectual Property” of The Smiths name" - September 16, 2024
• Stereogum: "Morrissey Says Johnny Marr Has Acquired The Smiths Trademark, Can Replace Him As Band’s Vocalist" - September 16, 2024

 

[Famous when dead]

This might get a bit nasty...
Not sure this is more "no meaning yes" in terms of a reunion as suggested elsewhere.
FWD.

 

[Ashley_TakeABow]

Ah holy shit. J Marr being a extremely sleezy motherfckr.
Nice guy, my ass.

I have spent my whole life in ruins because of people who are "nice"!

 

[Anonymous]

Morrissey must have pissed Marr off proper. Does this mean we finally get Smiths merchandise?

 

[Ryan]

If you can’t beat ‘em… act like a cun t just like ‘em!

 

[bhops]

If true, and I emphasize 'if' that would be an incredibly sleazy move from Marr.

 

[unloveable]

Fffffffffffff whatever this means I take it as a friendly warning from Moz, we know and Johnny should know that Morrissey can get pretty mad about this and at the end of the day once again, The Smiths without Stephen Patrick Morrissey is just “ instrumental”

 

[Gray Fruit]

Whoever said that Marr was much smarter than Morrissey was dead on. Moz has been out-manoeuvred by Marr on this and obviously did not have his legal ducks in a row. Not even sure how this was even possible - did the trademark expire or was it never applied for?

At any rate, it looks like that open letter to Marr was the worst move of Moz' career.

 

[karenina]

completely disgusting if true... but lets wait and see

 

[manfields]

We don't even know Marr's real motivation or if this is true, yet some of you are already insulting him. Moz fans don't do him any favour by treating him as some sort of martyr.

I have to admit that I've always been fascinated by their relationship. However, things are really getting out of hand now. It's truly sad

 

[JerryCan]

Whoever said that Marr was much smarter than Morrissey was dead on. Moz has been out-manoeuvred by Marr on this and obviously did not have his legal ducks in a row. Not even sure how this was even possible - did the trademark expire or was it never applied for?

At any rate, it looks like that open letter to Marr was the worst move of Moz' career.

Given the ticking time bomb of the failure of the band to have proper written up signed dotted and crossed agreements/contracts back in the day this is not surprising. FFS.

 

[Katsneezle]

A quick lookup of trademarks shows Johnny's company has owned THE SMITHS since 2018. How is Morrissey just finding out now? Was he trying to tour as the Smiths without Johnny? Checkmate!

 

[Johnnie Ray]

Karma, sweet karma.

 

[Marty Funkhauser]

Idk.. Kinda feel like Johnny would be better served by writing a few solo songs on par with EDILS, Playboys, ICMPTG, Jack The Ripper, Speedway


EDIT: as per, Simon Goddard is far more articulate than me. From his review of Autobiography and Set the Boy Free:

"Both men make defiant virtue of their post-Smiths successes, but it is Marr who reveals himself as infinitely needier of his old group’s oxygen to keep him in public view."

 

[Chuckles]

View attachment 111407

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 alone created the musical unit name 'The Smiths' in May 1982.

THE PLOT THICKENS - MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY CENTRAL - THE PLOT THICKENS

MESSAGES FROM MORRISSEY on MORRISSEY CENTRAL

www.morrisseycentral.com

Well I expect that was in response to Gene Simmons’ suggestion that Moz tours as The Smiths with any guitarist. Still a dog act though.

 

[April Snow]

Oh my gosh - my heart sank to see this bitterness............it is quite shocking
Could this also mean Marr could request Morrissey stop performing any Smiths songs?

 

[Johnnie Ray]

Just spit balling here, what if Johnny resurrected The Smiths with Martin Rossiter on lead vocals, Mike Joyce on the drums, Alain Whyte on rhythm guitar, and Stephen Street on the bass. Would you go see that?

 

[ZOOM FROM GLOOM]

Just spit balling here, what if Johnny resurrected The Smiths with Martin Rossiter on lead vocals, Mike Joyce on the drums, Alain Whyte on rhythm guitar, and Stephen Street on the bass. Would you go see that?

just you.

 

[SuedeMoz]

IDK... maybe after seeing that cringe cover for "Smiths Rule OK!" and the other ways Morrissey has run his reputation into the ground Marr figured he had to do this out of necessity. I don't believe Johhny intends to tour as The Smiths without Morrissey.

 

[Anonymous]

IDK... maybe after seeing that cringe cover for "Smiths Rule OK!" and the other ways Morrissey has run his reputation into the ground Marr figured he had to do this out of necessity. I don't believe Johhny intends to tour as The Smiths without Morrissey.

Getting a trademark is not an instantaneous thing. It’s probably been in the works for some months and Morrissey’s team just found out about it. They should have been on top of things like Johnny’s team. Did they have joint ownership before?