At this point, Smiths reunion and eight figure one-off concert rumors have become just as integral to the iconic band’s legacy as their undeniably great collection of singles. And based on the few recent interviews with Morrissey and Johnny Marr I’ve read, it seems the estranged songwriting team are in agreement that it can’t hurt, at this point, to flaunt their indifference to possessing such a potential cash cow.

Check out Johnny Marr’s brilliant combination of slagging off of the same band the Smiths rebelled against in the 80s, the recently reunited Spandau Ballet, and mischievous rumor-stoking. Via Mail Online (emphasis mine):

I can’t bear the thought of a Spandau Ballet-style comeback. What’s the point? Spandau are reforming, so they put on a big chicken-in-the-basket event, which is all they amounted to in the first place. Maybe someone should pay them £20 million not to reform. Supposedly we were offered $10 million to play a handful of Smiths gigs in 2007 and I wasn’t remotely tempted. I can’t speak for Morrissey, but I know that I’m too busy right now to get the Smiths on the road again. Is that likely to change? Who knows?

Coming from a vegan, Marr’s calling Spandau Ballet a money whore via meat metaphor could make for a tough comeback (Tofurkey-in-a-basket?).

Reunion rumors surrounding The Smiths pop up at least a few times per year, but one rumor that the band were offered, according to “a published report,” $75 million to play 50 shows has refused to die out with the others. In an interview with Xfm London, Johnny Marr confirmed that there was some truth to all that talk about insanely lucrative reunion offers. Sorry to put it “all over the internet,” Johnny, but here’s the quote:

“I think we were offered 50 million dollars for three… possibly five shows,” Marr said. “It’s pretty obscene, it’s pretty gross.” Sure, Coldplay can get $2 million for a gig at the Emirates Palace, but $50 million for a handful of shows is higher than even the rumormongers could dream up.

The Smiths are definitely not reuniting, but Marr adds that “It’s absolutely nothing to do with money.” Well that’s kind of obvious at this point.