Rumours that legendary Manchester band The Smiths are set to reunite have been scotched by Johnny Marr and sources close to the band. The group who formed in 1982, and split just 5 years later, had been rumoured to be following in fellow Manc legends The Stone Roses’ footsteps.
Marr stated on his official website ” “Once again the rumours of a Smiths reunion are untrue. It’s not happening” while drummer Mike Joyce told The Mirror “When I first heard about it I was… to say surprised and rather shocked was a bit of an understatement. “Obviously I had to keep my emotions in check because there’s a lot of people in the office.” “It’s not happening folks, as far as I know – which could be a good thing,”. Of course memorably the same thing happened with The Stone Roses in the immediate weeks before they announced their “ressurection”.
A story on musicnews.co.uk this morning had suggested that singer, Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr were in talks with a well known promoter about a Smiths reunion. Talk has been lively as to a reunion, whether it be with just the core two members or with fellow bandmates Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce. Tensions have reportedly been high with the other two members since they sued Morrissey and Marr in 1989 for royalty payments.
Morrisey famously claimed in 2006 that “I would rather eat my own testicles than reform The Smiths, and that’s saying something for a vegetarian.”. Marr meanwhile has been more open to a reunion with his former writing partner, telling the NME recently that “We won’t be reforming this week. Maybe if the government stepped down. If this government stepped down, I’ll reform the band. How’s that? That’s a fair trade, isn’t it? I think the country would be better off, don’t you? I’ll do it if the coalition steps down.”
Marr also talked about his contact with Morrissey saying: “I don’t not speak to him, because that implies a certain standoff or whatever.” He continued: “He’s doing his thing and I’m doing mine, and we go through periods of time when we’re in communication and at times when we’re not. I’m not sure he wants to communicate, so I’ll just carry on doing what I’m doing, and live my life and be a musician.”
Reaction among music fans has been mixed with many mourning the lost prospect of the reunion, while other fans have said it’s a victory for the band’s legacy. The Smiths last concert was at London’s Brixton Academy with many top artists of the britpop era having claimed to have been in attendance including Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and Suede guitarist/Duffy producer Bernard Butler. For Smiths fans who are either wondering ‘How Soon Is Now’ or thinking ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’, many bookies still have relativly favourable odd’s on the band reforming by 2014!
