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?

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.

To get Morrissey to agree to an interview is no small feat and for him to actually show up (at a celebrity cemetery no less) is even more rare. Do yourselves a favor and read Cameron Bird’s interview with Morrissey for Filter posted on Monday. It’s one of the best talks with the cryptic crooner that I’ve come across in the past couple years.

Morrissey seems to be deeply, and understandably, changed by the tragic sudden death of producer Jerry Finn before the release of the record they made together, Years of Refusal. He even seems more despondent and cynical than usual, musing on topics about death, the state of art, and this interesting bit about poet Anne Sexton:

“…the outside of her body had no relation to what was inside. So, for me, she’s steeped in mystery and interest. And, of course, she ended her life, which is greatly dignified.”

“You think so?” Bird asks.

“Well, it’s dignified in the sense that there’s only one thing we actually control in our lives and it’s whatever’s inside this envelope. It’s all we control. We’re taught to believe that power is outside of us and that other people know better, and they’re all authority figures. And the police know something that we don’t. It’s absolute rubbish—it isn’t true. We control this, absolutely and entirely. If we decide it’s time not to be here, that’s a decision of great dignity.”

Seriously, if you’re a fan of The Smiths, Morrissey, or classic interviews, just click here.

Twitter has turned into a never-ending reality show for rock stars. You’d think they would only use their 140 characters for promotional purposes (some do), but for others in the rock Twitterati, tweets are oddly personal and revealing. Kind of like the confessional on The Real World or Big Brother, et al.

Cantankerous rocker Billy Corgan’s official Twitter (there was an imposter for a while) is chock-full of God shout-outs and pseudo-theological praise for “Love,” “Truth,” “Joy,” and “Peace.” It’s almost like he’s trying to tweet his way out of being an egoist. Of course, some celebs have ghost Twitterers, but in Corgan’s case it would be a Holy Ghost Twitterer.

One tweet from Oasis’ Liam Gallagher cracked me up because the Gallagher brothers are basically estranged, despite being on a successful tour. Liam finally spoke to Noel, however, with the help of Twitter as an intermediary. After Noel slagged off the band in the press as a “rudderless ship,” Liam tweeted that the last gig was “AMAZING! Don’t know what tour your on RKID…” Awww, he called him rkid again.

Then there’s Trent Reznor. Sure, he said yesterday, “I might be happy and engaged, but I can still be a prick,” but his impending nuptials have actually brought out the soft side of the “Head Like a Hole” singer. One example: “Now that I’m in love and gone all soft on you, can anyone recommend any romantic comedies? Got a weird urge,” he tweeted.

It isn’t all God, romance, and brotherly love for twittering rockers though. Joy Division’s Peter Hook had to go and start another round of Smiths reunion rumors. Ugh.