Johnny Marr speaks frankly about The Smiths break-up

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Just as the dust has settled on that yet-another The Smiths reunion rumour, Johnny Marr has opened up to The A.V. Club about the band’s demise.

While the guitarist was one to act quick to deny rumours of a return, he seems to speak in quite fond and nostalgic terms of the whole thing considering the original dramatic aftermath of their split.

“I don’t think anything was fucked up,” Marr told the website. “I don’t have that kind of perspective at all. I think it’s sad that four guys who were so tight went through such bitterness…”

The man, who most recently is known for his four year stint with The Cribs, went on to speak of the pride he still has for the influential outfit:

“But I can only speak for myself, and say that I don’t have any negative thoughts about the times back then or the times now, or the people in it. I just personally feel a sense of pride, and an incredible degree of luck. All I want to say about that, on behalf of the other three members of the group, is that we worked very, very hard and we really, really cared.”

It also seems Marr was caught in a particular reflective frame of mind that day, speaking rather frankly about his personal relationship with Morrissey and co.

“I think the only regrettable thing is that as adults, only Andy and myself get together and give each other a hug and make fun of each other and like seeing each other. To be honest, it’s unfortunate that The Smiths don’t have the relationship where they can sit around and even get complaints out, or philosophize. That’s unfortunate for four adults who are always going to have a tie to each other.”

Regarding The Smiths legacy, however, and if Marr would like to see the group initiating into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, the guitarist said:

“Not really, no. I mean, I don’t mean to be ungrateful, and if the opportunity came I would never be ungracious. I hope this doesn’t sound ungracious, but I don’t think awards mean dick. I’m a musician; I’m not in the television business.”

Interesting stuff. It seems that whatever their actual intentions, ambiguous as ever, neither Morrissey nor Marr ever got to complete lengths to totally quash rumours of a return.

Will they one day meet up in Salford even just for a quick pint? Who knows.