Johnny Marr responds to Morrissey’s claims he ignored a reunion tour offer: “I didn’t ignore the offer – I said no.”

nme.com:

Johnny Marr has disputed a string of recent claims from Morrissey, who says that Marr declined a lucrative reunion tour offer, blocked a greatest hits album and acquired the trademark rights to The Smiths without informing him.On Sunday (September 15) Morrissey took to his website to allege that his ex-bandmate had acquired “trademark rights and Intellectual Property” of The Smiths, and could tour as a band without him.

He stated that the action was taken without warning him or giving him a chance to object.It followed his claims only a day prior that a Smiths ‘Greatest Hits’ album had been “blocked” by Marr.

Before that, the former frontman also weighed in on the Oasis reunion, telling fans that he had received a lucrative offer for a Smiths reunion, but the prospect was quashed by Marr.Now, Marr has responded to all claims via a statement from his management.

In a post shared to Twitter/X today (September 17), his representatives say that Morrissey’s comments regarding the trademark of The Smiths’ name are “incorrect”.“Here are the facts,” the statement begins. “In 2018, following an attempt by a third party to use The Smiths’ name – and upon discovery that the trademark was not owned by the band – Marr reached out to Morrissey, via his representatives, to work together in protecting The Smiths’ name.”The statement says that “a failure to respond” led to Marr registering the trademark himself, but that there was a subsequent agreement with Morrissey’s lawyers that the trademark was “held for the mutual benefit” of both parties.It goes on to say that “as a gesture of goodwill”, Marr signed an assignment of joint ownership to Morrissey in January this year. “Execution of this document still requires Morrissey to sign,”.