For the first time in almost 20 years, Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and bassist Andy Rourke met on stage in the band’s hometown of Manchester as part of the Manchester v. Cancer benefit. SPIN.com previewed the benefit last month (read more). The January 28 fete also included Doves, Badly Drawn Boy, and New Order. According to NME.com, the duo, backed by Marr’s band the Healers, covered the Smiths’ “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” and “How Soon Is Now.” “I first played with this guy at school in 1978 and we last played together in 1987,” Marr told the capacity Manchester crowd. “We’ve done some good things and some not so good things, but it’s been too long really and now is a good a time as ever.”
Across the pond, ex-Smiths frontman Morrissey is gearing up to play the South by Southwest festival in mid-March, according to the recently updated SXSW website. Morrissey’s tenth solo album, Ringleader of the Tormentors, is out April 4 on Sanctuary Records.
Johnny Marr + the Healers official site
Morrissey official site
Smiths fansite
