JOHNNY MARR - MARR REVEALS SECRET SMITHS REUNION

JOHNNY MARR has revealed he once tried to reunite the members of THE SMITHS before a court battle in the late 1990s left them bitter.

The guitarist, whose departure led to the break-up of the cult quartet, admits he almost reformed the group in the mid-1990s in an exclusive interview in a new Q/MOJO magazine special on the group.

Marr explains his pal CHRISSIE HYNDE urged him to try and patch up differences between himself, MORRISSEY, ANDY ROURKE and MIKE JOYCE - and he actually managed to get the four Smiths in a room together.

Marr reveals, "I did reconvene the band. It was before the court case, not immediately before it - and not because of it.

"I got us together on Chrissie Hynde's recommendation, because she's smart and she thought a relationship that had been so important shouldn't be left unresolved.

"We actually got together a few times - all four of us."