The Smiths Announce New 7" With Unreleased Material

The Smiths have announced the release of a new 7" with two previously unreleased tracks.

As Morrissey fansite True To You reports, the record will feature previously unheard versions of "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" and "Rubber Ring". 

A release date has not yet been announced, but you can check out the Morrissey-designed artwork for the release, which features a photo of Salford-born actor Albert Finney, below.

Johnny Marr On Releasing Autobiography: "Is going to happen"

Following Morrissey's well-publicised recent memoirs, former Smiths bandmate Johnny Marr has revealed that he is set to begin writing his autobiography after signing a book deal.

Talking with Brooklyn Began recently, the Smiths legend said: 

"I've had so many offers and so many people advising me that my story is worth it, but I understand it's something that I have to do."

"I'll do it in the next couple of years. I'm into from the stance that I want it to be so thorough that I don’t make a record or tour whilst I was doing it. It is gonna happen, and I've already made an agreement with a publisher for it, so I will get it done." 

As well as his now seminal work with The Smiths in the 80's, Johnny Marr has worked with many different musicians and bands on a lot of projects, including Electronic, The The, Modest Mouse and The Cribs.

Marr released his debut solo album 'The Messenger' in February.

Watch: Johnny Marr Reveals New Video For "New Town Velocity"

Johnny Marr has revealed the video for his latest single "New Town Velocity" taken from the critically acclaimed album 'The Messenger', released back in February via Sire/ADA . 

The song is part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com and was inspired by Marr's own story of the day he left school aged fifteen to pursue a life as a musician and features him in the council estate of Wythenshawe where he grew up. 

The video, directed by  David Barnes (who directed the Upstarts video and art directed by Subset) was shot around various buildings and areas of Greater Manchester and is based on the Psychogeography philosophy of the Situationist Movement.

Watch it below.

Watch: Johnny Marr and Andy Rourke Perform "How Soon Is Now?" in Brooklyn

Johnny Marr reunited with his former bandmate Andy Rourke to cover The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?" at the Music Hall of Williamsburg stage in Brooklyn last night (May 3).

Near the end of the show Marr invited Rourke onto the stage and gave him a great intro, telling the crowd: 

"When I was 15, I formed one of the first bands with my best friends. He was at that time one of the best musicians I'd ever heard; we were just kids. Then in 1982 I formed a band in Manchester and I asked my best friend to come and play the bass with me, and he was still one of the best musicians I'd ever heard. And tonight, 30 years later, I'm gonna invite [onstage] one of my best friends in the world - and he's still one of the best musicians I've ever heard." 

Watch the video below.

The Smiths Drummer Mike Joyce 'Dreams' On Reunion

Mike Joyce, former drummer for The Smiths, still believes the band could reunite. 

Joyce told The Sun: "I actually had a dream that Morrissey, Johnny, Andy and me were all in the same room and we actually agreed to do a tour. Morrissey said, 'What song shall we open with?', and we replied in unison, ‘Hand In Glove’. That’s what the show should open with. Then I woke up laughing."

"It would sound great. I’m a better player than I was. Morrissey’s voice is still incredible, Johnny is playing great. With the equipment and PA systems 30 years on, if we got up on stage and played, it would sound incredible. A promoter asked me, ‘Why don’t you just do it — it would make millions of people happy?’ I said, ‘You’re asking the wrong man.'" 

"I don’t think about it every day. But if they asked me, I’d probably say yes. If you put everyone in the same room it’s amazing how things can turn around.” He added.

The Smiths ended abruptly in 1987 shortly after Johnny Marr announced he was quitting the band at the height of their powers. In 1989 Mike Joyce sued his former bandmates Morrissey and Johnny Marr over missing royalties.

Watch: Johnny Marr Shares New Video For "Upstarts"

Johnny Marr has unveiled his new video for "Upstarts", the lead single off his forthcoming solo debut, The Messenger. The song is now part of our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com.

The video was directed by David Barnes. Watch it below.

The Messenger hits stores February 26th via Sire/ADA, pre-order here. ‘Upstarts’ will be precede the record on 18 February as a Download, CD single and & 7" Vinyl. The B-side is Psychic Beginner, a non-album track which was a favourite from last years live shows.

Johnny Marr Announces Debut Solo Album "The Messenger"

Jonnhy Marr, who is celebrating his birthday today, is set to release his debut LP titled 'The Messenger' sometime next year.

The song has been added to our current playlist www.koolrockradio.com

"It is late in the day to be making my debut," Marr said in a recent interview. 

"I didn't want to be in someone else's band at this point. In the past I might have been reluctant to stand up front, and I've been lucky enough to be in bands with great singers, so it wasn't necessary. But this is my band now, and the frontman in my band has to play guitar. I do both." He continued.

Speaking about the rumours that his former band The Smiths are set to reunite, he said: "Everybody seems to know more about a Smiths reunion than I do. Those rumours are like a sport for everyone involved bar the people who were in the group 30 years ago. But it's not happening."

No further information has been offered yet. We'll keep you updated.

The Smiths Lost 1992 Documentary Released Online - Watch

The Smiths filmed a short documentary in 1992 meant to be part of a press promo for the band’s 'Best' album in the early '90s.

Well, the documentary has now been put online to promote 'The Smiths - Complete Duluxe Edition Box Set', which will see eight of their albums re-released., newly remastered by Johnny Marr and set for release on October 3.

There will also be a limited edition boxset of the whole back catalogue along with rare artwork, a DVD of videos and high-quality prints of the disc's sleeves available to buy.

Watch the documentary below:

Morrissey Speaks About Lady Gaga and Modern Pop Music

Morrissey, not a fan of modern pop music.

In a interview with Billboard he was asked whether he felt artists like Lady Gaga were anything new or different to what he had witnessed during his time in the music industry.

"I say without bitterness that it is nothing new. I like the idea of women who are in full control, but I am tired of seeing singers who cannot deliver a song without the aide of seven hundred and fifty frenzied dancers assuming the erotic," Morrissey said.

"It is actually fraudulent, and the exact opposite of erotic."

 

He then went on to mock Madonna, comparing her to Edith Piaf.

He said: “Edith Piaf was seven inches high, always wore a modest black dress, and sang without stage sets or lights, and her voice roared above the wind, with the most incredible powers of communication.

“I'd like to see McDonna [Madonna] attempt that.”

Morrissey Completes Work On New Album

Morrissey has revealed to fans that work on his new studio album is over, despite not having a record label to release it on.

Writing to fans, the singer explained that the material is "ready" despite not being signed to a label. "The follow-up to (2009's) 'Years Of Refusal' is ready and fluttering wildly against the bars," he explained. "There is still no record label and the years shuffle like cards. My talents do not lie in DIY."

The full statement deals with the way his comments on the Royal Wedding were reported. Interviewed by Radio Four, Morrissey explained that the Q&A session was heavily edited by the BBC.

"If my interview sounded chopped and cropped, that's because it was," he wrote. "I had spoken fluently about the royal dreading, but an Iranian censorship confiscated all of my views. It is distressing, but in all manner of British media in 2011 we are only allowed to hear the same old thoughts and feelings expressed over and over and over again."

Morrissey will tour the UK and Scandinavia in July.

Johnny Marr Leaves The Cribs

Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, has left The Cribs in order to focus on his own solo career, it's been announced.

Marr joined the group in 2008 and featured on their latest album 'Ignore The Ignorant'. In a statement, he said: "Touring and recording with Ryan, Gary and Ross has been fantastic and 'Ignore The Ignorant' is something I'm really proud of.

“We ended up doing much more than we originally set out to, and I've made three good friends."

Marr told Billboard that he is currently working on new solo songs and planned to put out two new albums over the next year.

He also said he hoped to continue his film soundtrack work after scoring the movie Inception alongside Hans Zimmer.

New Tribute Album To The Smiths

A new tribute album to The Smiths has been arranged featuring The Wedding Present and more.

American Laundromat Records have managed to secure a series of special cover versions by some modern acts. 'Please, Please, Please: A Tribute To The Smiths' is due to be released later this year, and contains a raft of guest appearances. Fellow Northern indie types The Wedding Present have agreed to take part, tackling the band's debut single 'Hand In Glove'.

Elsewhere, The Leisure Society cover 'That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore' while Katy Goodman - Vivian Girls, La Sera - also contributes. Joy Zipper cover the classic single 'What Difference Does It Make?' while Built To Spill singer Doug Martsch takes on the early album track 'Reel Around The Fountain'.

Available on CD, the tribute album opens with a version of 'London' by David Gedge's other group Cinerama. You can't help but feel that John Peel would have enjoyed listening to this album...

The tribute album will be adorned by a classic picture of Sandie Shaw. The Smiths frequently used 50s and 60s pop culture icons as their cover art, and backed Sandie Shaw on a rendition of 'Hand In Glove' in 1983.

American Laudromat lynchpin Joe Spadaro was delighted by the results of the compilation. "I’m a huge Smiths fan and have been planning a tribute for a few years now. Timing just never seemed right" he explained.

"Then late last year, for several weeks, everywhere I went, I heard The Smiths playing… at the mall, at restaurants, on my car radio. It was weird… I felt like the universe was telling me now was the time. I started reaching-out to artists in November and the response was overwhelmingly positive. This is going to be one of the best tributes we’ve ever produced."

The 'Please, Please, Please: A Tribute To The Smiths'  disc is now available for preorder from the label.

Tracklisting:

Cinerama / London

Class Actress / Ask

Dala / Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me

Doug Martsch (Built To Spill) / Reel Around the Fountain

Elk City / I Know It's Over

Greg Laswell / Half A Person

Joy Zipper / What Difference Does It Make?

Katy Goodman (Vivian Girls, La Sera) / track to be announced

Kitten / track to be announced

Mike Viola / How Soon Is Now?

Sara Lov / track to be announced

Sixpence None the Richer / I Won’t Share You

Tanya Donelly w/Dylan in the Movies / Shoplifters Of The World Unite

The Leisure Society / That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore

The Rest / Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

The Wedding Present / Hand In Glove

Trespassers William / There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

William Fitzsimmons / Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want