Manchester minister of misery Morrissey has denied claims from Andy Rourke that he was sacked from The Smiths via a postcard.
The Smiths remain one of the most potent British groups of all time. Their slender back catalogue is hugely influential, with the Manchester band splitting in 1987 after just five years together.
However their reputation as sober indie dons belied a sometimes troubled personal dynamic. Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce have both sued Morrissey for un-paid royalties, with no love being lost between them.
In a new interview with Eye Weekly the bass player has repeated his claims that he was sacked from The Smiths after receiving a hand written note placed under his windscreen wiper.
Morrissey has responded furiously to these accusations, with the singer claiming that Rourke is lying. In a statement to fan’s site True To You the indie icon claimed that nothing in the bass player’s story is true.
Morrissey said: “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'”.
He added: “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”.
“I am naturally irked that such an alleged deed has gone down in the fairy tale footnotes of Smiths lore.”
Continuing, Morrissey went further and said: “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. It would also not be executed by a handwritten note carelessly thrown on to the hood of a car (or window-wipers, as has often been reported). Doesn’t anyone have the wit to work this one out?”
Andy Rourke was sacked from The Smiths in 1986 after becoming a heroin addict. He was re-instated after a fortnight, and went on to play on Morrissey’s initial solo recordings.
