Morrissey has never been shy about airing grievances through his official website, Morrissey Central. Over the years, the site’s “Messages From Morrissey” section has become a vehicle for the singer to voice frustrations about the music industry, critics, and even his former bandmates. But a new post published Sept. 3 has sparked questions about whether he is now seeking to part ways with his most enduring legacy: The Smiths.

The message, titled “A Soul for Sale,” states that Morrissey is offering up all of his business interests connected to the band to “any interested party or investor.” The post outlines a sweeping list of assets on the table, including the Smiths’ name, merchandising and artwork rights, publishing and synchronization rights, and recordings.

“Morrissey has no choice but to offer for sale all of his business interests in ‘The Smiths’ to any interested party / investor,” the post reads. It is unclear whether Morrissey personally authored the message, though it includes a quote attributed directly to him: “I am burnt out by any and all connections to Marr, Rourke, Joyce. I have had enough of malicious associations. 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.”

The Smiths disbanded in 1987, but tensions between members have often resurfaced in public. Guitarist Johnny Marr has largely distanced himself from Morrissey in recent years, while drummer Mike Joyce’s relationship with his former bandmates fractured after a bitter 1996 lawsuit over royalties. Bassist Andy Rourke, who passed away in 2023 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, had intermittently reconciled with Marr but remained estranged from Morrissey.

Morrissey’s latest post underscores his long-running disputes, particularly with Marr. Last year, the singer claimed he had accepted a “lucrative offer” from AEG Entertainment Group to reform The Smiths with Marr, but alleged that Marr ignored the deal. Marr countered in a public statement, saying: “I didn’t ignore the offer. I said no.”

With Rourke’s death, any possibility of a full reunion was eliminated, leaving Morrissey and Marr as the only surviving principal members with creative and financial ties to the band’s catalog.

While the post suggests Morrissey is serious about selling his rights, questions remain about the legitimacy and logistics of such a deal. The note concludes with contact information for “serious investors,” though when journalists attempted to follow up, the provided email address reportedly bounced back. Reps for Morrissey have not responded to requests for comment, leaving the scope and seriousness of the offer uncertain.

Industry insiders note that the rights to The Smiths’ catalog are complex, shared across various contracts and entities dating back to the 1980s. Even if Morrissey were to sell his stake, the other surviving members, particularly Marr, would remain rights holders.

In the quoted statement, Morrissey frames his decision as an act of self-preservation. “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,” he allegedly wrote. “I must now protect myself, especially my health.”

The language echoes Morrissey’s frequent complaints about the toll of ongoing disputes, both personal and professional. While he has long positioned himself as the creative heart of The Smiths, the stress of what he calls “malicious associations” appears to have pushed him toward an extreme resolution: selling off the very works that defined his career.

If Morrissey does follow through, the sale would represent one of the more unusual moves in the ongoing wave of artists selling rights to their catalogs. In recent years, major acts from Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen have inked multi-million-dollar deals to cash in on their music. But those transactions were structured with clear financial partners and industry players, unlike Morrissey’s vague call for investors.