MORRISSEY - MORRISSEY: 'THE SMITHS REUNION IS A ROMANTIC NOTION'

LATEST: MORRISSEY has further dashed the hopes of THE SMITHS fans hoping for a reunion, insisting such a venture is "just a romantic notion". The British singer/songwriter recently turned down $5 million (GBP2.9 million) to reform his old band for this summer's (06) Coachella Valley Arts + Music Festival in California. And now he insists no amount of money will prompt him to get back on stage with JOHNNY MARR, ANDY ROURKE and MIKE JOYCE - because he can't work with people he isn't friendly with. Morrissey is particularly upset by Smiths drummer Joyce's ongoing efforts to sue him for royalties - insisting he can't just forgive and forget for the sake of fans. He tells Spin magazine, "We're not friends. Why would we make music together if we're not friends? "It's not something you can do with people who don't really like you, who have every intention of stopping you from progressing over the last 18 years."