The volatile history of this band forces us to take this suggestion with a huge grain of salt… but given how utterly awesome it would be if it were true, we have to risk it.
England's Music-News.com reports that wildly influential Manchester combo The Smiths (see "How Soon is Now," "The Queen is Dead," "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" et al) are reforming, possibly for a show and maybe (oh pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease) a tour or more.
Apparently, after decades of bickering and backbiting (not to mention legal wrangling) the foursome –singer Morrissey, guitarist/songwriter Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce - are throwing their differences aside and returning to the live stage this autumn.
There's little doubt any tour mounted by The Smiths would be a cash cow – even in their heyday, the sad-sack foursome didn't tour like maniacs and they've actually enjoyed more acclaim outside the UK since they've disbanded.
Indeed, their catalog has gained enormous cult currency in the past 20 years among those who never had a chance to see them the first time around. Titles like Meat is Murder and The Queen is Dead today are alt-rock pillars; hearing those songs performed live would be killer.
I mean, seriously, can you even imagine Dashboard Confessional having happened without The Smiths? Yup, it'd be huge.
As Music-News adds, any show The Smiths (once signed to London's legendary Rough Trade label) might mount would be their first since their acrimonious split in 1987.
The site adds the announcement "comes after a source revealed that the 80s icons had been in talks to perform with a well-known promoter. The decision was said to have been made after fellow Mancunians, the Stone Roses, gave in and reformed."
Howvever, Britain's NME were quick to dispel the rumour, also citing sources close to the band. In February guitarist Marr told the music paper, "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."
It's been reported that The Smiths had previously turned down multi-million dollar offers to tour the U.S. but, as your Granny would remind you, everybody has their price. Plus, even the most strident conflicts tend to soften with age.
I've been a big fan of this band for decades now, and I'm pretty confident that a reunion will never happen. I'd love to be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not.
I've been a big fan of this band for decades now, and I'm pretty confident that a reunion will never happen. I'd love to be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not.
Posted by: j-rock | 04/30/2012 at 09:14 PM