Morrissey has written an open letter to Johnny Marr asking his former bandmate to stop talking about him in interviews.

The pair were part of The Smiths, famous for hits such as This Charming Man and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, for about five years together, in the 1980s.

They split in 1987 after press speculation of a rift between guitarist Marr and singer Morrissey and never reformed – however both have gone on to have successful solo careers.

Writing on his website, Morrissey said: “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?”

He also said that they have not known each other for 35 years, adding that they both made each other as successful as they are.

“Can you not just leave it at that? 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?”

Morrissey’s manager criticises The Simpsons’ portrayal of star as ‘hurtful and racist’

Morrissey’s UK gigs cancelled amid row over anti-racism protest

Morrissey ‘sparks walkout at Glasgow gig after criticising Nicola Sturgeon’

Morrissey continues: “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.”

He goes on to wish good health upon the guitarist, and asks him several more times to leave him out of interviews.

“Please stop. It is 2022, not 1982.”

Marr responded to the letter, tweeting: “Dear [Morrissey].

“An ‘open letter’ hasn’t really been a thing since 1953, It’s all ‘social media’ now. Even Donald J Trump had that one down. Also, this fake news business… a bit 2021 yeah?”

Related posts:

Glastonbury Festival gets grant as part of £400m Culture Recovery Fund Rapper DMX ‘in grave condition’ in hospital following heart attack, says lawyer Daniel Kaluuya jokes about Meghan and Harry race row in SNL debut Madonna and Levi’s pay tribute to Nick Kamen – ‘the man who made the 501 even more iconic’ Line of Duty finale, The Pursuit of Love and Oxygen Coldplay’s new single is out of this world (quite literally) Cinderella not going to the ball as Lloyd Webber withdraws musical from live events COVID pilot Actor who played Gunther in Friends reveals cancer diagnosis ‘Slave labour’: Johnny Rotten gives evidence over rights to use music in TV show ‘Forever’: Kourtney Kardashian and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker are engaged! ‘Full beast mode’: Succession stars promise ‘more conniving, more manipulation’ in new series Danny Dyer to appear in film about mental health written by 17-year-old