Johnny Marr shares how his musical relationship with Morrissey evolved

The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and frontman Morrissey may not be the best of friends, but their musical relationship clearly benefitted from one another’s presence. Marr would say as much about his ex-Smiths bandmate and praised Morrissey for helping him to “evolve” as an artist. The guitarist, who went on to work with The Pretenders, Zak Starkey, and Gorillaz, added that he too had helped the Suedehead hitmaker with his musical evolution.

Though the two are hardly getting back on stage together anytime soon, the duo worked one some of the greatest albums of all time, including The Queen is Dead and Meat is Murder. Despite their fractured relationship now, Marr openly spoke about the benefits of being in a band with Morrissey at the helm in an interview with NME.

He said: “As he [Morrissey] was evolving that would encourage me to evolve and vice versa. That could be down to something as simple as what you’re wearing on tour or on Top Of The Pops, or digging deeper and taking on themes that you haven’t yet taken on. For instance, where I’d musically be trying to do something that I haven’t done before but is still impressive, Morrissey would be doing the same lyrically.”

Despite heaping praise onto his former bandmate, Morrissey has made it clear he wants nothing to do with The Smiths, Marr, or his ex-bandmates. The Notre-Dame songwriter would try and sell his share of the band’s assets and rights late last year. A post to his website confirmed that he was “burnt out” and wanted nothing more to do with the group.

A statement to Morrissey’s website confirmed not only his desire to sell, but an email address for those with genuine interest in purchasing those “full and exclusive rights”. The offer includes merchandising rights, recordings, and The Smiths name. A full list of what Morrissey is selling, along with his statement, can be found below.

• The name ‘The Smiths’, as created by Morrissey
• All Smiths artwork, as created by Morrissey
• All Smiths merchandising rights
• All Smiths songs lyrically and musically
• All synchronisation rights
• All Smiths recordings
• All contractual rights for Smiths publishing

Morrissey said: “I am burnt out by any and all connections to Marr, Rourke, Joyce. I have had enough of malicious associations. With my entire life I have paid my rightful dues to these songs and these images.

“I would now like to live disassociated from those who wish me nothing but ill-will and destruction, and this is the only resolution. The songs are me – they are no one else – but they bring with them business communications that go to excessive lengths to create as much dread and spite year after year. I must now protect myself, especially my health.”