THE SMITHS - THE SMITHS' 50M OFFER

THE SMITHS' 50M OFFER

Johnny Marr has revealed The Smiths were offered $50 million to reform for just five concerts.

The Smiths were offered $50 million to reform.

The iconic 80s band - who split acrimoniously in 1987 - were promised the staggering sum for playing just a handful of shows, with former guitarist Johnny Marr labelling the amount "obscene".

He said: "I think we were offered 50 million dollars for three - or possibly five - shows. It's pretty obscene, it's pretty gross."

Despite the incredible offer, the 'This Charming Man' musician insists the group would never reform for the sake of a pay-off.

He added to XFM radio's Razor Cuts host Pete Mitchell: "It's absolutely nothing to do with money. It's really abstract, it's pretty random."

Johnny - whose feud with singer Morrissey caused him to quit - recently admitted he hasn't ruled out working with the frontman again - but not as The Smiths.

Asked about the possibility of the duo ever sharing a stage again, he said: "I doubt it very much, unless he's interested in guesting with one of the bands I'm in, so I don't think that's going to happen really for some reason."

Earlier this year, Morrissey admitted he didn't understand why people wanted The Smiths to reform for a series of concerts, because they rarely performed live at the height of their success.

He said: "It confuses me I don't know why people go on about it, wanting something that isn't there.

"The Smiths didn't tour that much really, not worldwide. But it was of its time. The songs are very strong so that make me everlasting.

"The offer reports are very impressive but it's simply another time and it isn't now, it's just not my life now."