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. No dates have yet been announced.
It appears that Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke, the rhythm section of The Smiths, are planning something — a concert? a full tour? — this year with Craig Gannon, the onetime Aztec Camera member who toured with The Smiths as a second guitarist toward the end of the band’s life.
Morrissey’s cancellation as headliner of tonight’s KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas show left The Killers as the evening’s closing act, and Brandon Flowers and Co. took the opportunity to give fans what they weren’t getting, covering both The Smiths’ “This Charming Man” and Moz’s own “Everyday is Like Sunday.”
In what will come as a surprise to absolutely no one, Morrissey has canceled his headlining appearance at KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas in Los Angeles on Sunday, the radio station announced this evening, citing illness in the wake of his two previously scrubbed shows this week.
For the second time in a year, a U.S. tour by Morrissey has stumbled to a halt amid medical-related cancellations. This afternoon, Boston’s Orpheum Theatre announced Moz’s tour-ending concert on Thursday is being canceled “due to illness in the touring party” — the same excuse as when the singer scrubbed his Philadelphia show.
Stop me if you think… never mind. Morrissey, who had gone nearly a month since canceling a concert, has postponed tonight’s performance at The Fillmore in Philadelphia “due to illness in the touring party,” the venue announced via Twitter just hours before showtime.
Record Rack: A round-up of the week’s new albums, expanded reissues and/or box sets, appearing each Monday on Slicing Up Eyeballs. All releases due out this Friday unless noted. This week’s new titles include Morrissey’s latest solo album, ‘Low in High School’ and a new Madness best-of.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 