Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Smiths Reunion "Report" Is Pure Rubbish, Here's Why
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 26, 2012
Modified Apr 26, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Apr 26, 2012
Modified Apr 26, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Stop me if you think that you've heard this one before: this morning, rumors ran wild after British website Music-News.com reported that legendary rock band The Smiths were in talks to reform for a major fall tour. Pitchfork (warily) picked it up, Twitter almost imploded, and millions of charming men and women found themselves on the brink of comas. But of course, The Smiths are not reuniting. As Morrissey once said, "I would rather eat my own testicles than re-form The Smiths, and that's saying something for a vegetarian."
How we know The Smiths aren't reuniting:
- Music-News.com claims the decision to reform was inspired by The Stone Roses reuniting. This makes absolutely no sense. You'd need Oasis to reunite as well before The Smiths even considered completing the Manchester Trilogy.
- NME reports sources close to members of the band "strenuously denied" the rumors. If there was even a whiff of truth to the report, NME would scrap whatever it's working on and publish a new issue filled with incisive speculation about possible setlists and wardrobes today. NME would literally murder The Libertines if it got The Smiths to reunite.
- Guitarist Johnny Marr posted on his official Facebook page: "The rumours of the Smiths reunion is untrue. It's not happening.[sic]"
- Marr had previously said that the band would only reunite if the UK coalition government stepped down—that has not happened. Nor would it (most likely).
- Here's another quote from Morrissey about a possible reunion: "Why? What's the point? Just to satisfy other people's nostalgia? That's all it is—nostalgia! No, I can't see any reason for it; I do not see the point. But if anybody does, I'd be delighted to hear it. I don't think there is any (unfinished business). I really don't. Really, I'm okay by myself... And I don't say that to have a dig at anybody else. So, no, I do not see the point of it, it eludes me."
- Morrissey has not eaten his testicles (as of the time of publishing).
So no matter how many times you listen to "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" on repeat, it's not happening. Just about every other band we've ever loved that broke up has been tempted by the reunion carrot (Pixies, Pavement, Blur, Guided By Voices, Van Halen, Backstreet Boys). But The Smiths—along with the original Talking Heads, Pink Floyd and Guns 'N' Roses—are never getting back together because certain members hate other members too much. Oh, and testicles are not vegetarian.
Tagged
band
dreams
morrissey
Music
reunions
rock
rumors
the smiths
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
On HBO's “The Gilded Age,” Ben Ahlers is New York high society’s man of the hour
The actor plays Jack Trotter, a fictional inventor of an impressive alarm clock. He’s developed an enthusiastic following.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Nov 5, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET
Bowling, burgers and civilian housing: Life on the Fort Hamilton Army installation
We went behind the gates to see what's happening on the leafy plot beneath the Verrazzano Bridge.
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Bowling, burgers and civilian housing: Life on the Fort Hamilton Army installation
We went behind the gates to see what's happening on the leafy plot beneath the Verrazzano Bridge.
By
James Ramsay
When turning back the clock means going under an NYC sidewalk
By
Hannah Frishberg
Yes, Stevie Wonder is playing MSG. No, you can't afford tickets. See these shows instead.
By
Hank Shteamer
'The Muppets Take Manhattan' in Queens and more November films in NYC
By
Emma Stefansky
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .