Wales On Sunday

Morrissey and Marr discussed reunion

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FORMER Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has revealed he met one-time writing partner Morrissey to discuss a reunion, but believes their friendship cannot be rekindled.

The 51-year-old musician said their relationsh­ip had “run its course”.

The pair formed a powerhouse writing partnershi­p which shot them to prominence in the early 1980s.

The demise of the Manchester four-piece saw drummer Mike Joyce and bassist Andy Rourke taking Morrissey and Marr to court over royalties in 1989.

Talk of the band’s reformatio­n has dogged both Marr and Morrisey for decades.

He told The Guardian Weekend magazine: “I don’t feel unfriendly in any way towards Morrissey – there’s just no need for it.

“One of the things we had in common was that we lived for work, and we’re too busy doing what we’re doing now.”

Marr, who left The Smiths 29 years ago, also said a conversati­on about reforming the band came out of the blue when the pair met in a south Manchester pub in 2008.

He said: “I didn’t go there with that in mind. But there had been quite a few rumours about it, so naturally we discussed it. ‘It could happen...’ ‘How d’you feel about it?’ ‘What if?’ And off we went.

“I think we were both as keen as each other.”

They spoke a few times after leaving the pub, but then Marr toured with the Cribs and didn’t hear from Morrissey again.

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