Morrissey has claimed responsibility for the initial idea of the iconic photograph of The Smiths taken outside Salford Lads Club, and corrected Johnny Marr about the history of the band signing with Rough Trade.
The now-iconic photograph of the band was taken in December 1985 by Stephen Wright and used on the inner-sleeve of their album ‘The Queen Is Dead’. It sees Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce standing outside the historic youth club, with them framed under the distinctive terracotta arches.
It has gone on to become one of the most recognisable images in music, and displayed both in the National Portrait Gallery and in the Manchester Art Gallery. Fans have also shared their love of the photograph in the years since, with it being commonplace for them to head over to the venue and recreate the image.
Now, in a new statement from Morrissey shared on his official website, the singer has dismissed claims that the photo was a joint effort from The Smiths, and clarified that it was his individual idea.
“For those who care about detail, being photographed outside of Salford Lads Club was not a Smiths idea or design, it was solely my idea, to which as usual the other three initially viewed as more unnecessary Morrissey lunacy,” he wrote.
MORRISSEY HAS SPOKEN pic.twitter.com/RTVJGM9L3l
— Salford Lads’ Club (@salfordladsclub) April 12, 2026
“Now that millions of people come from all over the world to be photographed on that very spot, it is claimed as a Smiths idea. It wasn’t, it isn’t, and it never shall be,” the former frontman added. “If I had suggested a photo outside Kellogg’s the likelihood is that the other three would have done that instead.”
The comments echo that of Wright, who shared last year with Manchester Evening News that it was “Morrissey’s idea to go to Salford Lads Club” and explained that he was brought on board as photographer having “shot them previously at various live events”.
At the shoot, Wright captured the band with five reels of film with 36 pictures on each, with a £150 Nikon camera, and the Salford Lads’ Club has celebrated the iconic photograph in following years by selling shirts that feature the image.
Morrissey’s comments about having the idea to be photographed outside the historic space also comes as he donated £50,000 to help save the venue in 2024, after the owners confirmed it was facing closure due to rising costs and a drop in grant funding.
the smiths outside the salford lads’ club in 1985, photographed by stephen wright pic.twitter.com/ooOsEpnIGN
— morrissey pics every day (@mozpicsdaily) November 30, 2024
He joined over 1.1k people in raising funds to protect the venue, and the head of youth operations at the space said that they were “deeply grateful” for his contribution – before confirming that they had hit the target and would be remaining open.
Before then, Morrissey also donated £20,000 back in 2007, when the club was raising money to fund essential maintenance to the building.
Alongside The Smiths’ connection, Salford Lads Club has also been featured in TV series and films such as Peaky Blinders, Last Tango In Halifax, Mrs Biggs, Cold Feet, Blue Murder, and more.
As well as clarifying the story behind the Salford Lads’ Club image, Morrissey has shared another statement, correcting Johnny Marr on the history of the band and Rough Trade.
He claims that the guitarist and former Smiths bandmate gave an interview to The Guardian to “commemorate the 50th anniversary of Rough Trade Records” and recall that “Marr and Andy Rourke had traveled to Rough Trade Records many icebergs ago to offer the Smiths first recording (‘Hand in Glove’) in consideration of a contract.”
This, Morrissey wrote, was “deliberately untrue”, and clarified that it was actually “Morrissey and Marr who made that journey to Rough Trade” as it was “at a time when Andy Rourke would not yet commit to becoming a group member.”
“Marr must be fully aware of this distortion, but he nonetheless approved the text which, being written by a Guardian-stasi functionary, mentioned Morrissey only as a footnote in the Smiths history, and not as a founding member who solely created the group name,” the singer continued.
He also said that “true will always be true, despite the efforts of Marr and his Guardian to shift the narrative”, and concluded that both Rough Trade and Warner Records have assured him that the “50th anniversary article will never be printed anywhere”.
The Smiths signed to Rough Trade after handing a demo tape containing ‘Hand In Glove’ and a live version of ‘Handsome Devil’ to the label’s founder – having already been turned down by Factory Records and EMI (via Magnet).
They were then signed to a one-single deal by Rough Trade and released ‘Hand In Glove’ as a single in May 1983, before signing to a wider contract later that year.
NME has reached out to a representative for Johnny Marr over the latest claims made by Morrissey.
Back in September, the singer Morrissey revealed that he was wanting to sell off all of his business interests in The Smiths as he was “burnt out by any and all connections” to his former bandmates.
The year prior, he appeared somewhat sentimental as he reflected on the legacy of the band – saying he was “incredibly grateful to anyone who walked out to buy, or who stayed in to download, Smiths’ music” – and later alleged that while he had agreed to a “lucrative” 2025 Smiths reunion tour, the offer was “ignored” by Johnny Marr.
Around that same time he claimed that a Smiths ‘Greatest Hits’ album had been “blocked” by the guitarist, and claimed Marr owns all of the “trademark rights and Intellectual Property” of The Smiths, and can tour as a band without him.
Later, a representative from the guitarist’s management team called Morrissey’s comments on various topics “incorrect” in a statement on X/Twitter. As for the reunion offer, Marr responded: “I didn’t ignore the offer – I said no.”
Shortly after Marr’s refutal, Morrissey issued a statement on his website that he had “severed all connections” with his management team, and later said that his openness to have a Smiths reunion wasn’t anything to do with “any emotional attachment” he has to Marr.
In June last year, Johnny Marr spoke out about why he turned down an “eye-watering” amount of money for a Smiths reunion tour – saying he did so because the “vibe” wasn’t right.
Before then, the guitarist spoke to NME in 2019 about whether he thinks Morrissey’s divisive political views could stop new generations discovering the band’s music. “No. I don’t think you can change history,” he said. “I’ve said that before. I’m not worried. It’s got nothing to do with my world or my life. The songs are out there for people to judge, relate to and hear.”
“I think that’s all going to be forgotten in a few weeks, as these things inevitably are – for better or worse. It’s always been that way,” he continued.
“I understand the issue, but I’m used to stuff coming and going. I don’t worry about people missing out on the culture. That would be like saying to a teenage me ‘Are you worried about you and your mates missing out on The Velvet Underground?’ That was never going to happen. I know the way things go. Things come and go.”
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