The Smiths, from left: Mike Joyce, Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Craig Gannon, Andy Rourke
After cryptic hints Friday, the cat’s now out of the bag: The Smiths’ Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce, plus “fifth member” Craig Gannon, will perform the band’s beloved songs backed by a full orchestra in the U.K. this summer, the Manchester Evening News reported today.
UPDATE: Despite a quote from Rourke appearing in that newspaper report, Rourke’s publicist now tells Spin magazine that the bassist has not signed on to play the Classically Smiths shows.
“The production company Bad Projections had HOPED Andy Rourke would be a part of the project,” Rourke’s rep told Spin, “but was at no time confirmed and nothing was ever approved by Andy Rourke or team.”
Rourke’s team then issued a fuller statement to the music media, saying, “At no point in time did Andy Rourke agree to participate or otherwise license or authorize the use of his name, likeness or any personal quotes in any manner in connection with this Classically Smiths project.”
A statement from Rourke himself reads:
“I am deeply saddened that during the week of the death of my dear friend Dolores O’Riordan, that false statements are made on my behalf. At no time did I give my consent for anyone in connection with this Classically Smiths project to act on my behalf or my name and nothing was ever confirmed, approved or contracted by me or my team.”
Original post: The group, dubbed Classically Smiths, will be backed by the Manchester Camerata Orchestra and feature yet-to-be-named guest vocalists, and will perform concerts in Manchester, London and Edinburgh before embarking on a full U.K. tour later in the year, the newspaper reported.
“There’ll be Smiths classics in the set, but I can’t wait to play the songs that have never been heard live before,” Joyce told the newspaper. “With the addition of an orchestra, it will sound as totally unique as it will immense. I’m really looking forward to fans being able to hear the songs in a way they’ve never been heard before, either on record or live. On the stage, or out front, this is going to be quite an experience for us all.”
Songs being considered, according to the paper, include: “The Boy With the Thorn In His Side,” “A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours,” “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want,” “Oscillate Wildy,” “Shoplifters of the World Unite,” “Girlfriend in a Coma” and “Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me.”
No word yet on what Morrissey and Johnny Marr think of all this.
Read the full report via the Manchester Evening News.
Classically Smiths tour dates:
June 28: O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK
June 29: O2 Academy Brixton, London, UK
June 2: Usher, Edinburgh, UK
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Watch: Morrissey debuts new songs, covers The Pretenders in 55-minute set for BBC
- Morrissey announces 16-date U.S. tour this fall in support of ‘Low in High School’
- Hollywood Bowl exit on Los Angeles’ 101 freeway hit with guerrilla Morrissey promotion
- Morrissey announces new album ‘Low in High-School,’ plus Hollywood Bowl concert
- The absolute best of The Smiths: All 70 songs ranked by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ readers
Anything to do with the Smiths is a fucking mess. Just put it to bed.
Wait, Andy Rourke has a team?