Morrissey has announced he is putting the entirety of his business interests in The Smiths up for sale “to any interested party/investor”.
The 66-year-old musician, whose full name is Steven Patrick Morrissey, posted on social media and his website, Morrissey Solo, titling the post “A Soul for Sale,” telling fans he “has no choice”.
The deal includes the band’s name and artwork (which he created), as well as his share of merchandising rights, lyrical and musical compositions, synchronisation, recordings and publishing contractual rights.
The musician said he was “burnt out” by his former bandmates Johnny Marr, Mike Joyce and the late Andy Rourke, and had “had enough of malicious associations”.
He went on: “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.”
Morrissey went on in his statement: “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.”
The Smiths split up in 1987 after just five years together, but they remain one of the most influential bands of the decade.
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Morrissey concluded his statement, saying: “I must now protect myself, especially my health.”
Last year, he sought “medical supervision for physical exhaustion,” and cancelled shows in the US.
Morrissey asked any “serious investors” to make contact, and supplied an email address.
Morrissey and Marr have previously traded blows over shares of the rights to the Smiths, with Marr denying acquiring full rights to the Smiths’ trademark “without consultation”.
Marr has previously said he declined lucrative offers for the Smiths to re-form, telling Sky News in 2016 that Morrissey’s apparently pro-Nigel Farage views would be “a slight drawback” to any possible reunion.
Joyce recently announced he will be publishing a tell-all memoir, The Drums, this November.
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Morrissey has been facing difficulties with the release of his 14th solo album, Bonfire of Teenagers, which leads with a song he has been performing since 2022 about the 2017 terrorist attack on an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester that killed 22 people.
He was also dropped by his former label BMG in November 2020, and later parted ways with his new label Capitol Records.
He has since said “every major label in London” had refused the album, calling it his “masterpiece”.
Sky News has contacted representatives for Marr and Joyce for comment.
