The internet is abuzz with chatter this afternoon which seems to imply the most far-fetched of all rock n' roll reformations might be about to happen. Sources are reporting that The Smiths, even after their acrimonious break-up in 1987 seemed to indicate that they'd never set foot in the same room as each other again, are set to call a truce and reform for a series of gigs next summer.
According to reports this is already a done deal, with four dates booked already for next year - including Glastonbury. Another option is the Coachella festival in California, which promised to go 100% vegetarian in an effort to appease notoriously anti-meat frontman Morrissey. In fact, the U.S. festival's offer made it clear that they only required Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr - the rest of the band were optional.
Several Smiths reunion gigs have been mooted in the past, mostly by the media and rarely by anyone properly connected to the band. A $75million Morrissey/Marr world tour was turned down by the pair in 2007 and, as recently as April this year, Johnny Marr refuted any possible chance of the band getting back together.
However, the guitarist did mention in another interview that he and Morrissey were on "good terms" once again and that he and Smiths bass player Andy Rourke were spending time together and perhaps working on new material. Ex-drummer Mike Joyce, who was embroiled in a three-year court case over music rights with Marr, appears to still be in the bad books and it's unknown whether or not he would take part in the mooted reunion.
So it seems that Morrissey may soon have to revaluate his vegetarianism, seeing that in 2006 he said "I would rather eat my own testicles than reform The Smiths, and that's saying something for a vegetarian." We'll get you a plate, Moz.
