Morrissey Rep: ‘The Smiths Are Never Going to Reunite’
“The Smiths are never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever going to reunite – ever,” Morrissey‘s publicist tells Rolling Stone, in reaction to the latest rumors claiming otherwise.
The English group, fronted by the enigmatic and outspoken singer, disbanded 25 years ago and have been the subject of reunion rumors ever since. Most recently, in a widely circulated exchange with Australia’s Herald Sun, Morrissey reportedly claimed that Coachella organizers “offered a 100-percent vegetarian event for the following year if I would agree to headline with Johnny Marr as the Smiths.”
Asked why the group will “never” reunite, the singer’s rep says, “You’d have to ask Morrissey that. There’s got to be a story there, and maybe one day it will be told.”
Guitarist Johnny Marr also rejected the notion via his manager, who told NME that a reunion would not happen. Earlier this year, Marr helped remaster the Smiths catalog without participation from Morrissey, drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke. “Nothing really gets off the ground just purely because of money,” Marr told Rolling Stone then, when asked about the possibility of a reunion. “Certainly, as I see it, so many other things would have to be fixed and we’re just too different to get them fixed, it appears.”
Morrissey, who will appear on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon tomorrow before embarking on his U.S. tour on Friday in Boston, grants few interviews and does them only via email. It is unclear whether he will address the Smiths breakup in his forthcoming autobiography, which will likely see release next year. Asked about its working title and potential publisher, Morrissey’s publicist says, “He wants to keep it under wraps, even within his own camp. But we know it exists somewhere in the universe.”
Though Morrissey has completed his first album since 2009’s Years of Refusal, he lacks a manager and record company. “He’s trying to figure out the right label situation for him right now,” says his publicist.