Morrissey Looking to Sell His Rights to The Smiths’ Catalog

A post on Morrissey’s Instagram and the Morrissey Central website titled ‘A SOUL FOR SALE’ claims that The Smiths’ 66-year-old frontman has “no choice but to offer for sale all of his business interests in ‘The Smiths’ to any interested party/investor.”

Up for sale:

• The sale would include Morrissey’s full and exclusive rights to:

• The name ‘The Smiths,’ as created by Morrissey

• All Smiths artwork, as created by Morrissey

• All Smiths merchandising rights

• All Smiths songs lyrically/musically

• All synchronisation rights

• All Smiths recordings

• All contractual rights for Smiths publishing

• It’s worth noting that while there is a Gmail address for “serious investors” to make enquiries, Pitchfork’s email to the address bounced back.

“Burnt out”:

• Accompanying the post is a quote by the singer who claims to be “burnt out by any and all connections” to his former bandmates, guitarist Johnny Marr, late bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce. “I have had enough of malicious associations,” he says.

• He adds: “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.”

• And: “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.”

The band:

• The Smiths formed in Manchester in 1982 and released four studio albums before disbanding in 1987.

• The years since have been colored by in-fighting around royalties and trademarks, not to mention handsome offers from festivals such as Coachella to reunite – all of which have been refused.

• Neither Marr nor Joyce have commented on this latest development.