Morrissey: Smiths Turned Down Millions To Reunite - Billboard.com
"If people must know, it was 5 million [dollars]," he told journalist David Fricke today (March 16) during an interview at the South By Southwest Music & Media Conference in Austin, Texas.
After gasps from the fans in the audience subsided, Fricke asked Morrissey if he had considered it. "No, because money doesn't come into it," a response that drew applause from the crowd.
Of the critically adored act, he said, "It was a fantastic journey. And then it ended. I didn't feel we should have ended. I wanted to continue. [Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr] wanted to end it. And that was that."
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Just concluded in front of full conference hall.
Please add details in the comments section if you have them (Update: 03/16 23:48 GMT: see details/photos link posted by Suzanne).
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Update: 03/17 00:31 GMT: Links posted anonymously (unless otherwise noted) as they are sent in:
- Quotes from the Morrissey interview with David Fricke (Rolling Stone) at SXSW on the Record of the Day message board.
- Morrissey flaunts brutal honesty - mp3.com
- Morrissey gets his say at South by Southwest - Newsday.com
- The Smiths offered millions to reform - NME.com (link from Strangeways Johnny)
- Moz and the Japan bands - Pop Candy, usatoday.com (link from Some Old Queen)
- Morrissey labels Artic Monkeys 'insecure' - soundgenerator.com (link from there is a light)
- Young, Morrissey reflect on craft - Fort Worth Star-Telegram (link from Torr)
- Morrissey apologises to Arctic Monkeys - NME.com (link from man0lo)
Topics included:
Playing the Apollo in NY, "At Last I Am Born", "Reel Around The Fountain" banned by BBC, celibacy, Jeff Saltzman, producers.
The writing process, titles of songs, "Life Is A Pigsty, playing instruments, writing with Johnny Marr, Johnny Marr's music and influences, largest offer for a Smiths reunion ($5 million for Coachella 2006), NY Dolls, seeing the original Ziggy Stardust tour in 1972, writing lyrics (started at age 6 yrs old, listened to The Righteous Brothers, "You've Lost That Loving Feeling"). First confirmation w/The Smiths on songwriting - "Hand In Glove"
American Idol, Eurovision, Los Angeles, being interviewed by the FBI, Special Branch, process of being interrogated. Thatcher, politics, "I Will See You In Far-off Places", British celebrity, Pete Doherty, critics, Robert Smith, Mark E. Smith, Manchester, Joy Division ("incredibly boring", records - "flat as pancakes"), advice for new bands such as Arctic Monkeys.
