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Johnny Marr 'too busy' for Smiths tour - for now

'Is that likely to change? Who knows?' says Cribs man

Johnny Marr has said that he is "too busy" to reunite with his old band The Smiths for live gigs – but has not completely ruled out the possibility of his schedule freeing up to allow it to happen.

The Cribs' guitarist has repeatedly said that he is not interested in reuniting with singer Morrissey, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. He even released a statement last December outlining that there was no truth in any Smiths reformation rumours.

However, in a new interview with the Daily Mail he has refused to rule out the possibility of being persuaded to take to the stage again with the band, who split in 1987.

"I can't speak for Morrissey, but I know that I'm too busy right now to get The Smiths on the road again," he said. "Is that likely to change? Who knows?"

He added: "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 (£6.2 million) to play a handful of Smiths gigs in 2007, and I wasn't remotely tempted."

The Cribs' new album, 'Ignore The Ignorant', is out on Monday (September 7). You can listen to it in full, free, at NME.COM/the-cribs now.

 

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Comments (6)

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Picture My Own Grave 

Sep 2, 2009

Well at least it's a step in the right direction for a reunion and they're not being quite as stubborn as The Stone Roses by the look of things. Come on!!!

sydbarrett5 

Sep 2, 2009

Slow news day?

0jspicer123 

Sep 2, 2009

Wishful thinking from the legendary Johnny Marr here- thing is mr Marr, your once dear friend Steven Partrick Morrissey would "rather eat his testicles" than ever reform the smiths, so the ball will NEVER EVER be in your court as far as a reunion goes

wellduhobviously 

Sep 2, 2009

It's just a shame he's too busy because of The Cribs and not the vastly superior Modest Mouse.

seeb123 

Sep 2, 2009

Ah the annual Smiths reform artical, Stone Roses last month, Oasis for january?

Trashy Chick 

Sep 3, 2009

Why is Johnny Marr always going on about it and saying it's not going to happen because of him - Morrissey isn't interested! I don't think Mike Joyce or Andy Rouke would do it either. The Smiths are my favourite band ever and I don't think I would want them to get back together - although that is sad to say

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Johnny Marr is to make his debut as a university lecturer next month.
The legendary guitarist from The Smiths and now The Cribs will address students at Salford University on November 4 in a lecture entitled 'Always On The Outside: Mavericks, Innovators and Building Your Own Ark'. Pic: Tom Oxley

Johnny Marr is to make his debut as a university lecturer next month. The legendary...

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