Just in case you thought there was something in the air that could reunite brothers-in-arms, that could heal decades-old wounds, that could make it about the music again—well, think twice. The Oasis comeback is a one-off event, and frankly, someone should be assigned to carefully keep the Gallagher brothers apart for the next year so that they don’t go back to fighting and cancel their “Live ’25” concerts. Anyway, whatever goodwill Liam and Noel managed to find does not exist between Morrissey and Johnny Marr.

Proving that the market is really keen on reviving Manchester-based alt-rock acts right now, Morrissey revealed on his website that earlier this year, he and Marr were offered a “lucrative” deal to tour as The Smiths in 2025 by AEG Entertainment Group. “Morrissey said Yes to the offer; Marr ignored the offer,” the statement—under the title “War Is Old, Art Is Young“—claimed. The brief message ends with the petty note that “Morrissey undertakes a largely sold out tour of the USA in November. Marr continues to tour as a special guest to New Order.”

A Smiths tour wouldn’t be precisely the same as the Oasis reunion, because Smiths basis Andy Rourke died in 2023. Marr and Morrissey were the driving creative force behind the band, though, and seeing them onstage together would obviously sell tickets. That said, the gulf between the pair only seems to have grown in the years since their breakup in 1987. Marr previously said that the band “never fell out over politics, but we probably would now” as Morrissey has become more conservative. In response to a fan who tweeted “If Oasis can do it The Smiths can too (I’m delusional),” Marr simply responded with a photo of controversial right-wing Brexit party co-founder Nigel Farage. So, it’s no big surprise that Marr would ignore the offer.

Frankly, it’s surprising Morrissey would say yes to the offer. There’s a whole section of The Smiths’ Wikipedia page dedicated to the group saying they would never, ever reunite for any amount of money. Morrissey once famously declared that “I would rather eat my own testicles than reform The Smiths.” It’s unclear why he would agree to the reunion now. As to why he publicized agreeing to the reunion now, it’s clearly a response to Oasis and an opportunity to get a dig in at Marr. Hey, if Liam and Noel Gallagher aren’t making public jabs at each other anymore, might as well hand the baton to Marr and Morrissey. 

The Smiths’ Reunion Offer: A History of Discord

‘Tis the season of rock reunions — but not for the Smiths, according to Morrissey, who has responded to demands for the British rock band’s revival after Oasis unexpectedly announced their return. Although it comes as no surprise (the Smiths have famously rejected similar offers for a reunion tour), Morrissey seemed encouraged to shut down any excitement for a treaty between himself and bandmate Johnny Marr.

A message was posted onto his “Morrissey Central” website on Thursday claiming that the duo were presented with a “lucrative offer” to tour worldwide as the Smiths in 2025. “Morrissey said yes to the offer, Marr ignored the offer,” the statement reads. “Morrissey undertakes a largely sold out tour of the USA in November.

The Smiths broke up in 1987, and much like the Oasis brothers, Marr and Morrissey have hardly spoken to each other, with each going on as solo acts (Andy Rourke, the Smiths’ bassist, died in 2023). Marr slyly responded to fans fantasizing about the Smiths reunion tour on Aug. 26 via X with a photo of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.

The Rift Between Morrissey and Marr

After Oasis announced their reunion earlier this week, a fan asked Johnny Marr if it might compel him to take similar action with The Smiths. Marr was quick to dismiss the idea.

As it turns out — at least if you believe Marr’s estranged Smiths bandmate, Morrissey — there was an offer on the table to reunite The Smiths in 2025, which Morrissey accepted. However, according to Morrissey, Marr “ignored the offer.”

In a brief statement posted to his website, Morrissey claimed that AEG Entertainment Group (the behemoth music promoter behind Coachella) “made a lucrative offer to both Morrissey and Marr to tour worldwide as ‘The Smiths’ throughout 2025.”

The Current State of the Smiths

With Marr having declined the opportunity, Morrissey says he’ll instead be undertaking “a largely sold out tour of the USA in November.” Taking a pot shot at his former bandmate, Morrisssey added that “Marr continues to tour as a special guest to New Order.”

The Smiths are known for their iconic hits like “How Soon Is Now?” and “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” and are considered one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. The band’s music has been covered by numerous artists and continues to be popular today. However, the band’s legacy is complicated by the strained relationship between Morrissey and Marr, which has only intensified in recent years.

While the possibility of a Smiths reunion remains a distant dream for fans, the band’s music will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come. Despite the acrimonious split, The Smiths left an indelible mark on the world of music.

The Smiths’ Legacy: A Mixed Bag of Hits and Discord

Marr previously said that his differences with Morrissey — especially over their politics — have made the possibility of a Smiths reunion unlikely. “Morrissey’s recent [far-right] political views have cast a shadow over The Smiths for me – reaching back into the past and tainting something that was very important to me,” Marr said in a 2022 interview. “I’m so disappointed in him. Has it impacted how you feel about The Smiths or are you able to separate the past from the present, the band from the man? I find it very difficult to do so.”

Further to that point, when dismissing a Smiths reunion earlier this week, Marr responded to a fan with a photo of right-wing UK Parliament member Nigel Farage, who Morrissey previously suggested would be a good candidate for Prime Minister.

Additionally, The Smith’s original bassist, Andy Rourke, passed away in 2023 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Even if Marr could get past Morrissey’s politics, it’s hard to envision him wanting to tour as The Smiths sans Rourke.