Credit: Far Out / Alamy
Sat 12 September 2026 21:06, UK
Since Oasis reunited, it feels like there aren’t many former bands on the planet who wouldn’t be prepared to leave their problems in the past if the right financial opportunity came along. But The Smiths don’t fall into that category.
Even the thought of Johnny Marr and Morrissey being in the same room together in 2026 seems like a farcical proposition that could only happen in an alternate reality. However, it hasn’t always been such a far-flung concept, and for many years, there were murmurings that they could put their rift to bed and perform together once again.
The reality in the modern day is that a comeback has been an implausible possibility for at least a decade, even before the sad death of bassist Andy Rourke in 2023, which meant a true Smiths reunion could never happen.
Unlike other bands that will find a way to travel without seeing each other and live with their contempt for one another if the money is right, The Smiths could never do that. It’s not for the lack of lucrative offers either, but everything would have to be suitable for those involved, not just the number of zeroes on the cheque.
In the late 2000s, when it seemed the most likely that a reunion could occur, Golden Voice, the festival promoter behind Coachella, gave it their best shot at attempting to encourage the band to reunite at the Californian event. Many bands have succumbed to the temptation of Coachella, such as Jane’s Addiction, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Bauhaus, Rage Against The Machine, Pixies, LCD Soundsystem, and No Doubt, but not The Smiths.
In 2012, the festival’s founder, Paul Tollett, claimed that he made a ploy “every year” to bring The Smiths to the desert. With each rejection, the next offer increased, but once it reached the $5 million mark and they still said no, Tollett finally accepted it wasn’t to be.
Morrissey did discuss the prospect once with Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper, even revealing that Coachella offered to become an entirely vegetarian-friendly event if The Smiths headlined. “Fascinatingly, they made it clear that they would ‘not require’ the Smiths’ bass player or drummer, which I thought certainly said something,” the singer added.
Further reading: From The Vault
Meanwhile, in Johnny Marr’s 2016 memoir, Set The Boy Free, the guitarist revealed they “were talking about the possibility of the band re-forming, and in that moment it seemed that with the right intention it could actually be done and might even be great” in the 2000s.
The guitarist explained that he could do his work with The Cribs while Morrissey did his solo work, before noting of their final encounter, “We hung out for a while longer, and after even more orange juice (for me) and even more beer (for him) we hugged and said our goodbyes.”
He said that a reunion was a “very real prospect” but only for “four days,” and Marr even believed “with all our experience we might even be better than before.” Sadly, Marr said he was met with “radio silence” from his former accomplice, adding: “Our communication ended, and things went back to how they were and how I expect they always will be.”
Credit: Far Out / Andy Cotterill / YouTube Still
After how things turned out last time that he entertained the proposition, Marr wasn’t prepared to listen when another opportunity came calling in 2024, which Morrissey made public in light of Oasis getting back together, claiming, “Morrissey said Yes to the offer; Marr ignored the offer.”
Morrissey later said he agreed to it because it seemed like “the last time such a thing would be possible,” before adding, “We’ve all begun to grow old. I thought the tour that was offered would be a good way of saying thank you for those who have listened for what suddenly feels like a lifetime. It wasn’t because I had any emotional attachment to Marr. I have absolutely none.”
In the two years since then, Marr has largely kept a dignified silence while Morrissey continues to throw jibes his way, including accusing him of “destroying the legacy of The Smiths” in a deleted essay in June. Although after Morrissey made his initial reunion claims, Marr succinctly wrote, “As for the offer to tour, I didn’t ignore the offer – I said no.”
Perhaps, in the 2000s, when Coachella routinely came calling, a Smiths reunion could have been a beautiful thing, but now that ship has firmly sailed. Both Marr and Morrissey are touring if you want to hear Smiths songs live, but nobody wants a half-hearted second innings that spoils what they once were.
