Morrissey has said that he no longer listens to The Smiths, as “his pride lies” with the bulk of his work as a solo artist.
Speaking on his own new website Morrissey Central (during a controversial interview in which we also discussed accusations of racism, referred to Hitler as ‘left wing’ and said that London Mayor Sadiq Khan “can not talk properly“) the former Smiths frontman spoke about his frustrations regarding his celebrated legacy.
Asked about whether he would listen to work by his past band, Morrissey replied: “No. It was beautiful, but it’s gone.
“My pride is with ‘Low In High School‘, ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business‘, ‘Years Of Refusal‘, ‘Ringleader Of the Tormentors‘, ‘You Are The Quarry‘, ‘Swords’, ‘Southpaw Grammar’, ‘Your Arsenal’, ‘Vauxhall and I’ … they are me, whereas The Smiths was a great but simplistic time.
He continued: “I cannot imagine my life without those solo albums, yes, and even ‘Maladjusted’! I love them so much.”
The singer also went on to say that he was annoyed at the lack of press recognition for the members of his solo band.
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“Last year I did an interview with The Times newspaper and the piece emerged with an enormous photograph of The Smiths…who weren’t even mentioned in the conversation,” Morrissey continued. “I must live with it. There can never be enough detail to look beyond The Smiths, or to write a headline that wasn’t a Smiths song.
“I don’t think it’s a hateful gesture to keep pulling me back to 1983, but there’s certainly a morbid sentimentality. It’s a bit like referring to David Bowie only in relation to The Laughing Gnome.”
Naturally, this makes the chances of a Smiths reunion seem ever more unlikely. This comes after bassist Andy Rourke denied half of the group coming back together for the ‘Classically Smiths’ concerts earlier this year.
Responding to fans calling for a reunion in February, guitarist Johnny Marr simply quipped “get a grip”.
Meanwhile, Marr is preparing to release his third solo album ‘Call The Comet‘ on June 15.
Johnny Marr tour dates and tickets
Marr’s upcoming tour dates are below. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan scheme, which is now open for fans to register their interest.
MAY
12th – Ireland, Dublin, Button Factory
14th – UK, Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
16th – UK, London, Islington Assembly Hall
18th – Sweden, Stockholm, Nalen
19th – Denmark, Copenhagen, Vega
20th – The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Paradiso Noord
21st – Germany, Berlin, Festsaal Kreuzberg
24th – France, Paris, La Gaîté Lyrique
30th – Canada, Toronto, Velvet Underground
31st – USA, New York, Gramercy Theatre
JUNE
2nd – USA, San Francisco, August Hall
5th – USA, Los Angeles, Teragram Ballroom