posted by davidt on Saturday July 21 2007, @12:00PM
This Charming Man sends the link:

Smiths reunion ruled out by bassist and drummer - NME.com
Bassist says Morrissey is uncontactable

Former bassist with The Smiths Andy Rourke has quashed hopes for a future Smiths reunion, insisting Morrissey is impossible to even contact, let alone coax into reforming.

Rourke spoke at the launch of documentary 'Inside The Smiths' last night (July 19) alongside drummer Mike Joyce, who refused to pass comment on the elusive star.

"He makes himself unavailable. He only communicates in postcards. But I suppose time is a great healer, and can change your perception of people," he told fans, implying they would have to patch up their relationship before any reunion could take place.

The bassist made a cheeky joke about the singer's enigmatic sexuality when asked if Morrissey ever had any groupies, quipping, "He had a delivery once and the boy was in there with him for a good ten minutes, but apart from that, I don't think so."

Meanwhile Joyce claims in the documentary, which also features talking heads including Kaiser Chiefs, Buzzcocks and Mark E Smith, that once guitarist Johnny Marr left the band, he realised how difficult Morrissey could be to work with.

The crunch, for Joyce, apparently came when the band and crew were sitting down for a meal.

"Morrissey was giving me the eye as if to say, 'we need to have a word'," recalled Joyce. "So he took me aside and said, 'Who are these people we're eating with?' I said, 'Well, they're the producer, the engineer, the bassist, guitarist and me.' He said, 'I don't want to eat with these people'. What do I do? Tell them to piss off and not eat with us? That was the brief."
---
Also, link posted by Young And Alive in the forums (original post):

Smiths drummer: 'Morrissey's curse failed' - Digital Spy

Ex-Smiths drummer Mike Joyce has insisted that he remains unaffected by the curse Morrissey placed on him a decade ago.

In 1996 Joyce successfully sued his former bandmates Morrissey and Johnny Marr for an equal share of performing and recording royalties from The Smiths' back catalogue.

Morrissey later described the case as a "terrible miscarriage of justice" and wished Joyce "the very, very worst for the rest of his life".

However, the drummer insisted that the curse has failed, telling the NME: "Well it's not worked so far. Things are fantastic. But I'm only 44 - there's plenty of time for that to kick in. I'm looking out the window now and everything seems alright. Apart from a huge fireball..."
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  • they certainly have been all over the press this week. wonder if it'll increase the number of people who are actually gonna buy their DVD beyond the usual smiths fanatics... doubt it somehow.
    Jealous of Youth -- Saturday July 21 2007, @12:17PM (#269101)
    (User #14655 Info)
    "so many women, my head should be spinning. Ah, but no..."

  • And if you have 10 minutes to spare
    Then I'll tell you the story of my life : ...
    I like it here - can I stay ?
    Do you have a vacancy
    For a Back-scrubber?"
    Granvik -- Saturday July 21 2007, @02:12PM (#269111)
    (User #14586 Info)
    • Re:Grupie... by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday July 22 2007, @02:52PM
      • Re:Grupie... by Granvik (Score:0) Monday July 23 2007, @05:52PM
  • Why are we expending any bits and bytes on Andy Rourke? He is enemy of the people. Not to mention hideous looking nowadays. If anyone still has so-called hopes for a Smiths reunion -- a Marr-Morrissey maybe but the full Smiths -- then they haven't been paying attention to the full history of Morrissey, Marr, Joyce and Rourke. Ain't no way, no how, Moz would ever share a stage -- or new revenues -- with Joyce and Rourke. Now let this be the last of it buggers.
    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @02:39PM (#269114)
  • Let's not get too excited by all this nonsense.

    The Smiths were fabulous but are now in the past. Morrissey has had a successful career post-Smiths.

    There's no point in going back.
    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @03:03PM (#269116)
    • Re:History by Anonymous (Score:0) Saturday July 21 2007, @03:05PM
    • Re:History by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday July 22 2007, @02:49PM
      • Re:History by Anonymous (Score:0) Monday July 23 2007, @01:40AM
  • I absolutely LOOOOOOVVVVEEEE hearing stories like this. Moz is such a queen at times.
    Good writer, but bitchy queen.
    Lurv it.
    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @03:35PM (#269120)
  • The view from the Mighty Swallowneck's window does not involve a huge fireball, but on every other Thursday a young man named Albert can be seen in Swallowneck's garden stripped to the waist tending to Swallowneck's shrivelled buds...

    Swallowneck, of course, watches from behind a silky curtain with relentless glee.

    Albert the gardener only charges £5 an hour!
    MarkFromScatter -- Saturday July 21 2007, @03:54PM (#269123)
    (User #16900 Info)
    If you don't like me, don't look at me...
  • I went to see Rourke and Joyce at Renoir cinema last Wednesday. Andy seemed a bit out of it - or was he being all rock star? eg: "Robbie Williams's been in touch"... to be the singer in our new band - with Peter Hook et al. Rourke kept it together nicely, answering questions sincerely and wittily - and even dealing with the dodgy microphone with grace and humour. Seemed really happy to be there. shame the film was pretty lame and cheap looking. No Smiths songs and very careful (and non-litiguous). bought a copy anyway and got it signed - only 2 more sigs. to get!

    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @04:24PM (#269128)
  • As the Goddard book reveals, Morrissey's shitty character pretty much broke everyone down.

    If this was Elton John, the fans on here would be calling him a grand prick, but since it's Morrissey they'll focus on casting slurs at Andy, and Mike.

    The judge apparently nailed it when he said that Moz appeared to be devious, truculent and unreliable.

    Who are these people? Jesus, the man had to have his hand-held at every turn. I also like the quip about the rent-a-boy, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was absolutely true.
    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @04:35PM (#269130)
  • Yes and..who cares.
    Johnny Marr and Morrissey were The Smiths.
    You 2 can be replaced.
    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @05:52PM (#269142)
  • Apply at UPS in hopes of ever delivering to Morrissey himself.

    -DAVIDismyHERO
    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @06:28PM (#269145)
  • What are Joyce and Rourke expecting with this kind of comments in the press? They're spent, useless mercenaries of a non-existing studio in neverland. Morrissey has managed to have a real life post-Smiths, while all they can do is the 2536th Smiths Manchester tour with some lazy journalists. Farewell Mike, you're not money.
    Retired Whore <[email protected]> -- Saturday July 21 2007, @06:51PM (#269148)
    (User #3238 Info)
    Sweet F.A.
  • I am torn. I secretly love reading the goss about the old Smiths days BUT I also feel for Morrissey and what he has endured at the hands of these auld users. Morrissey always was a bit on the naive and innocent side and it's a shame Joyce and Rourke took advantage of that. Having said that - I suppose they have the right to put out 'their' story as long as there are people willing to buy it. They were there after all.

    I personally am looking forward to the book Johnny Marr is planning on writing (as per MOJO - June 07 interview). I'll be first in line for that. I only hope it prompts a book from Morrissey to tell his side of the tale.
    celibateyetstillf*kd -- Saturday July 21 2007, @07:46PM (#269151)
    (User #19691 Info)
  • Cheap shot bastard Rourke!! I never heard Moz pop at your love life. Remember your freeloading girlfriend trying to milk a bit of dosh of Roy Keane?

    Then again, neither does Roy. Both have bigger lives to lead than a twee press conference for a DVD that'll keep you in red wine for a month!!
    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @08:42PM (#269158)
  • Must suck for those two scrubs to have absolutely nothing else to talk about but the 80s.

    Smiths is dead. Wake the fuck up.

    9 x Fined -- Saturday July 21 2007, @08:59PM (#269160)
    (User #18826 Info)
  • So Morrissey can sit around and take cruel shots at people, but if Rourke & Joyce take the piss, they are asses?

    Also, I would rather tour under the attraction that I played music with The Smiths, than to be relegated to Morrissey online bodyguard.

    The vast majority of you are pathetic. You have little sense of irony, or reason. Your are left destroying other people over a pop idol that couldn't care less who you are.

    Anonymous -- Saturday July 21 2007, @09:17PM (#269163)
    • Re:Hypocrites by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday July 22 2007, @11:02AM
  • we had enough news of Andy and Mike last weeks,
    so lets end the atttention we give it, and go
    over to the news of the day, which is Morrissey,
    daily.
    Celibate Cry <[email protected]> -- Saturday July 21 2007, @10:02PM (#269168)
    (User #220 Info)
    and the hills are alive with celibate cries
    • Re:I think by Anonymous (Score:0) Sunday July 22 2007, @12:01PM
  • "Tell them to piss off and not eat with us? That was the brief."

    hilarious. surely Moz must have had some affection for Mike Joyce whilst he was in The Smiths. He was part of Moz's little gang. Personally I think that all the band members were upset and confused when Johnny left and the band had effectively fallen to pieces and they just started taking it all out on each other. Despite everything that has happened, I'm sure all members of the band are still sad about what happened and how they all turned on each other just like that. It's bizarre that the people that love the band and made them famous, want to celebrate and have the band forever, yet some of the band themselves are almost celebrating or enjoying its demise. I haven't spoken to my friend for 13 years, were best friends from the age of 5 until were were in our twenties and then we fell out over women and our often stupid behaviour towards each other. Despite all this, we loved each other and shared everything, lived together and so on. Sometimes I laugh and howl to myself about the hilarious things we used to do and I wish I could just see him again. We no longer live close but I know how to contact him with the internet. But then I think about it and I start thinking that I can do without the baggage that comes with it and I don't think there would be room for it in my life now. Maybe that's how Moz and Marr feel, apart from the fact that they are artists in their own right. Perhaps some things are best left in the past.

    Anonymous -- Sunday July 22 2007, @01:30AM (#269177)

  •   In most band reunion situations, the band members usually can bury the hatchet for one show, ten shows or sometimes they can even force a grin or two for a whole North American tour. Case in point, The Police! It all boils down to the mighty dollar or the mighty pound. We all know that money can pretty much make someone's decision about anything turn from "no" to "yes", or even "guilty" to "not guilty" such as the O.J. Simpson case. But when you think about the Morrissey forgiving someone like Mike Joyce, its going to take an awful lot to do so. I truly believe that Morrissey is a man that sticks to his beliefs, decisions and words. {please do not bring up "Paint A Vulger Picture"-smile} I cannot see him forgiving Mike Joyce for any amount of money and then inviting him over his house for tea the next day! I do not see The Smiths re-forming in the near future unless they do so with a substitute drummer. At which point you could not bill the shows as a "Smiths reunion" because it will not include all original band members could you? Imagine, these guys were as tight as 4 brothers at one time? "Fame fame fatal fame, it can play hideous tricks on the brain. But still I'd rather be famous than rightous or holy, anyday anyday anyday".
    Paneeks -- Sunday July 22 2007, @05:37AM (#269186)
    (User #13051 Info)
    "A beach is a place where a man can feel, its the only soul in the world thats real".
  • Smiths reunion not happening? Joyce and Rourke can't contact Morrissey? Joyce has a crack at him? Moz used to be an awkward git around people with an apparent tendency to look down on folk? Since when the hell is this news? I think it was pretty obvious a reunion wasnt on the cards once Moz turned down a cool 5 million (was it?) to re-group because "it wasn't about the money"....and it's been pretty obvious from any book written on the Smiths that towards the end Moz was difficult to work with-hence all the troubled relations with managers and the over dependency on Marr to produce, and handle affairs....this hasn't been news since the mid-90's! The Smihs probably shouldn't reform as it would rob them of a fair bit of the romanticism in my eyes, plus you would just get concerts full of people jumping on the band wagon due to all the press it would get...and we all know Moz is a git sometimes-but we've also seen footage of him being loving and courteous towards his fans....so what difference does this "news" make? It makes none!
    RockLobster800 -- Sunday July 22 2007, @06:49AM (#269192)
    (User #19445 Info)
  • Haaaaaaa - I am writing this for someone - you know who she is - but psychology won't work with her. She is not going to fall into this mouse trap Mr. Gross but she does have one comment for you - "Why aren't you dead yet?"

    P.S. This was from Morrissey's soul mate.

    P.P.S. I have to agree with her that it is too too funny that Morrissey chose to cast aways millions of dollars just so he wouldn’t have to be remotely near you

    P.P.P.S. She speaks in codes

    There
    Anonymous -- Sunday July 22 2007, @09:25AM (#269200)
  • I bought this "Inside the smiths" dvd yesterday and watched it last night. Very enjoyable documentary and the Andy Rourke out-takes are absolutely hilarious. I couldn't believe my ears however when Andy Rourke discussing Johnny Marr's leaving the band said (*spoiler*)"We'd just ordered our fish'n'chips and whatever, when Johnny came in and announced he was leaving the band"...or words to that effect. Well fair play to him for sticking to his principles. Afterall fish have feelings too!
    MozzerAnt -- Sunday July 22 2007, @01:28PM (#269228)
    (User #13105 Info)
  • Is Mike Joyce completely stupid as well as greedy? Moz wishes the absolte worst for Joyce and has said so on more than one occasion. Like we really need confirmation from these 2 that the Smiths aren't reformong?

    How sad.
    marred -- Sunday July 22 2007, @03:51PM (#269244)
    (User #16308 Info)
  • Effin Hell: The man is milking it BIG time. We know that the Smiths were a Great band - but this was 20 years ago. I mean 20 YEARS ago. What has he done since the Smiths split up? Nothing at all. Apart from talking about Morrissey.
    Joycie, get yourself a job or get on the DHSS and Social Security. Please stop making yourself a twat. Nobody is interested that you were once a drummer in the Smiths.
    Anonymous -- Sunday July 22 2007, @04:47PM (#269258)
  • No! Say it isn't so Mike and Andy! Morrissey has been pleading for a reunion for years! Why don't you get off your high horse and talk to the guy?
    suzanne -- Sunday July 22 2007, @05:28PM (#269267)
    (User #36 Info)
    I scare dead people.
  • I think it's interesting to hear that Morrissey remains "uncontactable" and only communicates with postcards (surely not in 2007!?). I like the fact that he cuts himself off, does not answer the phone and only takes messages via his manager. Nothing has changed since 1987!
    The Smiths reunion will never happen. Rourke & Joycie are clutching their straws with this DVD.
    Anonymous -- Monday July 23 2007, @01:34AM (#269321)
  • If you want to listen to this for yourselves check out the Download section of the forum under 'Inside The Smiths Q & A'. Where there is an uploaded recording of the event.

    http://forums.morrissey-solo.com/showthread.php?t= 76145
    Anonymous -- Monday July 23 2007, @05:43AM (#269331)
  • MJ and AR, did you guys miss the 90s? Whether justified or not, you sued Morrissey and JM. Combine that with the fact that neither of them need the $$ as you 2 do and both of them can stay VERY busy without reforming The Smiths and you have all the reasons you need to stop even talking about a reunion.
    mozzer8633 -- Monday July 23 2007, @08:19AM (#269344)
    (User #17019 Info)
  • I pray the quip about the 10 minute backstage visit was not true....I cannot picture my idol that way...it cannot be true.
    Anonymous -- Monday July 23 2007, @12:26PM (#269373)
  • Hey everyone, just looked at the charts here
    in the UK and I see that Inside the Smiths is
    at No2 in the uk charts and at No1 In the HMV
    charts.. who was it on this site that said it
    would not see the light of day!! just bought it
    and watched it. Its the most honest Smiths film
    ever, no bullshit just truth, so all you mozzer
    lickers get a load of this: ANDY ROURKE AND MIKE
    JOYCE have made around 3.5 million this week
    alone get yer fuckin heads around that whilst
    you are watching it, no spin no bollocks just
    decent guys tellin the truth, love it!
    Anonymous -- Monday July 23 2007, @09:41PM (#269437)
  • Oh no, the lawnmower men have ruled out a reunion, and it was all simply hinging on them agreeing to it too!
    sarahT -- Tuesday July 24 2007, @10:42AM (#269557)
    (User #14686 Info)
    • Re:Reunion by Granvik (Score:0) Tuesday July 24 2007, @02:05PM
  • "Morrissey was giving me the eye as if to say, 'we need to have a word'," recalled Joyce. "So he took me aside and said, 'Who are these people we're eating with?' I said, 'Well, they're the producer, the engineer, the bassist, guitarist and me.' He said, 'I don't want to eat with these people'. What do I do? Tell them to piss off and not eat with us? That was the brief."

    How credible is this story? Joyce is talking, I believe, about some post-Johnny shows in 1988 unless I'm very much mistaken. "The producer" in question would be Stephen Street, and the bassist would be Andy Rourke -- both of whom Moz had been working with for years at that point. I'm not sure but wouldn't the guitarist have been Vini Reilly, whom Sandie Shaw said Morrissey got along very very well with (as he did the whole band who worked on "Viva Hate"). So what was the problem? Moz actually knew all of those people he was asking Mike Joyce about.
    Anonymous -- Tuesday July 24 2007, @12:32PM (#269578)
  • Thought that this would bring a laugh or two to these discussions - but god help him if Bernard
    produced Tshirts or artwork!:

      Former New Order bassist Peter Hook has threatened to sue his ex-bandmates after they decided to keep the group going without him.
    Writing on MySpace, Hook said: "This group has split up. You are no more New Order than I am... see you in court."

    Hook said in May the band had broken up. But Bernard Sumner and Stephen Morris recently said the group had not split and they would carry on.

    New Order released their last album, Waiting For The Sirens' Call, in 2005. Writing his blog, Hook said: "You may have two thirds, but don't assume you have the rights to do anything New Ordery 'cos you don't. I've still got a third!"

    Sumner and Morris, who announced their decision to continue as New Order last week, said Hook had not approached them personally about the decision to end the band.

    Hook replied: "Just in case you hadn't noticed, we've not had a personal relationship for a long time now... years in fact!

    "Whenever you contact me, it's through the management. I did exactly the same. You all knew what was happening re the split in February."

    Sumner and Morris have declined to comment on the development.

    Anonymous -- Tuesday July 31 2007, @03:45PM (#270450)
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