The Smiths deny Coachella 2009 reunion rumors

The tradition of the Coachella Festival in Indio, Calif. reuniting bands is now legendary. As the story goes, the festival organizers were having a hard time getting a headlining band in 2001, so they found a friend to convince Jane's Addiction to get back together and play. Since then, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Pixies, Bauhaus, Gang of Four, Rage Against the Machine, The Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine have all rejoined for the festival.

This year was looking to be no different. A British newspaper reported that sources close to The Smiths said the band "could play Coachella for a ludicrous amount of money."

But now news comes that Marr's manager calls the rumor "rubbish" and that there will be no hatchet-burying next summer. Morrissey has claimed before that the band even turned down an offer of £40 million to play back in 2006.    

It would have been the first time the band had played together since Johnny Marr announced he was leaving in 1987, two months before Strangeways, Here We Come was released. That Marr, who has been playing with Modest Mouse, and Morrissey, whose solo career has continued to thrive in recent years, will not be sharing a stage soon is somewhat unsurprising, as the band's split was notoriously messy. So was the production of an upcoming Smiths Greatest Hits release, due in November via Rhino.

With The Smiths out, the question remains: what back-room magic deals will the Coachella organizers make for next year's festival?

Related links:
Morrissey-Solo.com
ModestMouse.com
Coachella.com

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