Johnny Marr releases single Ophelia amid European tour dates and Wembley postponement
The former Smiths guitarist has unveiled the second single from his upcoming fifth solo album while navigating a mixed landscape of European live dates and high-profile venue postponements.
Johnny Marr has released ‘Ophelia’, the second single from his fifth solo album, ‘The Age Of Everything’, scheduled for release on October 2. The track follows the lead single ‘Spin’ and draws its thematic inspiration from William Shakespeare’s character in Hamlet.
Marr explained that the character of Ophelia has a "real nobility and strength which reminds me of someone in my life," causing the name to stick. He added that as a songwriter, "sometimes these things happen where it just sings really well over the track and you go with it."
The release coincides with a complex period for the musician's live schedule across the UK and Ireland, highlighting the operational realities of the current European concert circuit. While Marr recently played a major homecoming show at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl this month and has an upcoming date at Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens, his October 24 concert at London’s OVO Arena Wembley was postponed earlier this week.
‘The Age Of Everything’ will succeed his 2022 record ‘Fever Dreams Pts 1–4’, which received a four-star review from NME for being "a soulful record fuelled by fresh ideas". The new studio effort follows a busy period of live and collaborative projects for the artist.
Last year, Marr issued the live album ‘Look Out Live!’, featuring 22 tracks recorded during his 2024 ‘Spirit Power’ tour at London’s Eventim Apollo. His recent portfolio also includes a 2023 best-of compilation featuring the new track ‘Somewhere’, contributions to Gorillaz’s album ‘The Mountain’, and work on the War Child charity album ‘Help(2)’.
Beyond his solo and collaborative output, Marr remains a central figure in the enduring public fascination with The Smiths, a dynamic that continues to generate cultural friction. Last month, his former bandmate Morrissey launched a lengthy public attack regarding a new BBC documentary about the group.
This recent dispute follows an earlier incident this year where Morrissey publicly corrected Marr concerning the historical details of The Smiths signing with the Rough Trade label. These ongoing public exchanges underscore the lasting cultural footprint of the band and the intense scrutiny that surrounds its surviving members.
