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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Everett

Morrissey savages former Smiths bandmate Johnny Marr in scathing open letter

Morrissey has released an open letter demanding his former bandmate Johnny Marr stop mentioning him in interviews.

The Smiths singer didn't hold back in his statement, which he insisted wasn't a 'rant'.

The star repeatedly said 'please' to ensure the message came across politely, which he posted on his website, Morrissey Central.

Morrissey, 62, began the post with: "This is not a rant or an hysterical bombast. It is a polite and calmly measured request: Would you please stop mentioning my name in your interviews?

"Would you please, instead, discuss your own career, your own unstoppable solo achievements and your own music? If you can, would you please just leave me out of it?"

Morrissey has issued an open letter to Johnny Marr (Eugene Adebari/REX/Shutterstock)

Despite being former bandmates, Morrissey claimed that Johnny didn't know anything about him, but claimed he speaks as if he is Morrissey's 'personal psychiatrist'.

He went on to explain that the pair hadn't been close for 35 years, which he described as 'many lifetimes ago'.

The star insisted they were not successful when they first met and instead found fame together in The Smiths.

Morrissey added: "Must you persistently, year after year, decade after decade, blame me for everything … from the 2007 Solomon Islands tsunami to the dribble on your grandma’s chin?"

During their time in the band, which spanned six years, they released four albums together: 'The Smiths' (1984), 'Meat Is Murder' (1985), 'The Queen Is Dead' (1986), and 'Strangeways, Here We Come' (1987).

The band produced music for six years (Getty Images)

Acknowledging this in the letter, Morrissey said: "You found me inspirational enough to make music with me for 6 years. If I was, as you claim, such an eyesore monster, where exactly did this leave you? Kidnapped? Mute? Chained? Abducted by cross-eyed extraterrestrials? It was YOU who played guitar on ‘Golden Lights’ – not me.

"Yes, we all know that the British press will print anything you say about me as long as it’s cruel and savage. But you’ve done all that. Move on. It’s as if you can’t uncross your own legs without mentioning me.

"Our period together was many lifetimes ago, and a lot of blood has streamed under the bridge since then. There comes a time when you must take responsibility for your own actions and your own career, with which I wish you good health to enjoy. Just stop using my name as click-bait."

Morrissey asked Johnny to stop talking about him (Facebook / imagemdosom)

Morrissey claimed he had never 'attacked' Johnny's career since they parted ways, and instead has 'openly applauded' his work instead.

The Smiths split by the time Strangeways, Here We Come was released which was thought to be due to Morrissey's irritation with Johnny's work with other artists and his frustration with Morrissey's musical inflexibility.

But it seems since this Morrissey thinks that Johnny openly speaks to the press when they need an 'ugly slant' on things he's said in the past.

He finished the statement with: "Please stop. It is 2022, not 1982."

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