At this point, Smiths reunion and eight figure one-off concert rumors have become just as integral to the iconic band’s legacy as their undeniably great collection of singles. And based on the few recent interviews with Morrissey and Johnny Marr I’ve read, it seems the estranged songwriting team are in agreement that it can’t hurt, at this point, to flaunt their indifference to possessing such a potential cash cow.
Check out Johnny Marr’s brilliant combination of slagging off of the same band the Smiths rebelled against in the 80s, the recently reunited Spandau Ballet, and mischievous rumor-stoking. Via Mail Online (emphasis mine):
I can’t bear the thought of a Spandau Ballet-style comeback. What’s the point? Spandau are reforming, so they put on a big chicken-in-the-basket event, which is all they amounted to in the first place. Maybe someone should pay them £20 million not to reform. Supposedly we were offered $10 million to play a handful of Smiths gigs in 2007 and I wasn’t remotely tempted. I can’t speak for Morrissey, but I know that I’m too busy right now to get the Smiths on the road again. Is that likely to change? Who knows?
Coming from a vegan, Marr’s calling Spandau Ballet a money whore via meat metaphor could make for a tough comeback (Tofurkey-in-a-basket?).