In a recent interview with former Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, Eye Weekly’s Chandler Levack asked about a rumored story involving Rourke’s 1986 dismissal from the band in which Morrissey allegedly left a post-it note on his windshield reading: “Andy – you have left The Smiths. Goodbye and good luck, Morrissey.”
“That’s true, yeah,” Rourke said of the story. “I thought it was a parking ticket, but it was a lot worse than that.”
Well, Morrissey has gotten word of Rourke’s claims and the Moz is none too happy. Check out the statement he fired out to fan site True To You earlier today:
I am forced to defend myself – again – from a comment made by Andy Rourke last week on the eyeweekly website. It is a recurring comment whereby Andy confirms that his dismissal from the Smiths was made via a handwritten postcard from me telling Andy “you have left the Smiths.” I would like to state to anyone interested in the truth of this matter that no such postcard was ever written by me, and no dismissal postcard was ever placed on Andy’s car with my knowledge or consent, and I am naturally irked that such an alleged deed has gone down in the fairy tale footnotes of Smiths lore. If such a postcard ever existed, it is likely that an unfunny stunt was played on Andy by someone attempting Morrissey-scrawl – easily done. Secondly, Andy’s “dismissal” from the Smiths would not be a decision solely made by me, and would not be announced by me on a note bearing only my name, and it would also not be executed by a handwritten note carelessly thrown onto the hood of a car (or window-wipers, as has often been reported.) Doesn’t anyone have the wit to work this one out?