Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Busted won’t ‘rush’ new album

Busted "don't want to rush" their new album. The pop punk trio - comprising Charlie Simpson, Matt Willis and...

Latest Posts

The Libertines star Pete Doherty reveals his dad told him he couldn’t sing before he shot to fame

Pete Doherty's dad once told him that he had no singing ability. The 45-year-old rock star has enjoyed great...

Professor Green will ‘ruffle feathers’ with new music

Professor Green has promised to “ruffle feathers” with his new music. The 40-year-old rapper hasn’t released an album since...

Sophie Ellis-Bextor reveals she has done more than 100 gigs since the release of Saltburn

Sophie Ellis-Bextor has done more than 100 gigs in 2024. The 45-year-old singer enjoyed a massive career resurgence when...

Beabadoobee doesn’t want perfect songs

Beabadoobee doesn't want her music to be perfect. The 24-year-old singer - whose real name is Beatrice Laus -...

The Smiths never wanted Factory deal


Johnny Marr insists The Smiths would have only signed to Factory Records over his "dead body".

The guitarist claims rumours they were refused a deal by Tony Wilson’s famous label in the 1980s were a "crock of sh*t" and the band preferred being signed to London’s Rough Trade.

He told the NME: "If you were a musician in Manchester at that time, it was almost the law that you went on your hands and knees and begged Tony Wilson for his papal blessing to stick you in the studio, and I wasn’t about to do that.

"So much has been made of Factory apparently turning The Smiths down, but that’s a crock of sh*t.

"The Smiths would have signed to Factory over my dead body … I didn’t want to be assimilated into the Factory aesthetic. Before we knew it, we would’ve had side-partings and khaki shorts, with bongos round our necks … No disrespect to A Certain Ratio."

The musician also said The Smiths – including Morrissey, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce – looked like a band "all the f***ing time" and their jeans were specially manufactured by their manager, Joe Moss.

Johnny, 50, said: "Literally no-one else on the planet had those jeans. Mine had little V’s in the side, as a tribute to the Perry Boys and Stuart Sutcliffe.

"Morrissey had his made with the big baggy seams at the back, so they were almost falling off him.

"But we didn’t have to dress up for Top Of The Pops, because we lived offstage what we lived onstage."

Latest Posts

The Libertines star Pete Doherty reveals his dad told him he couldn’t sing before he shot to fame

Pete Doherty's dad once told him that he had no singing ability. The 45-year-old rock star has enjoyed great...

Professor Green will ‘ruffle feathers’ with new music

Professor Green has promised to “ruffle feathers” with his new music. The 40-year-old rapper hasn’t released an album since...

Sophie Ellis-Bextor reveals she has done more than 100 gigs since the release of Saltburn

Sophie Ellis-Bextor has done more than 100 gigs in 2024. The 45-year-old singer enjoyed a massive career resurgence when...

Beabadoobee doesn’t want perfect songs

Beabadoobee doesn't want her music to be perfect. The 24-year-old singer - whose real name is Beatrice Laus -...

Don't Miss

The Libertines had their ‘best time’ this year

The Libertines had "unparalleled" moments of "unity" during their "best time" as a group this year, according to Pete Doherty.

Chic singer Alfa Anderson dies

Alfa Anderson has died. The singer - who was an early vocalist for Chic and appeared on the group's...

Casey Chaos dead at 59

Casey Chaos has died. The Amen frontman - who was also a member of Christian Death and Scum, and...

Andrew Ridgeley wants to ‘elevate’ Wham!’s legacy

Andrew Ridgely wants to “elevate the Wham! legacy”. The 61-year-old singer has largely stayed out of the spotlight since...

Alex James reveals why he thought a Blur reunion would’ never happen

Alex James thought a Blur reunion would "never happen". The 56-year-old musician shot to fame alongside Damon Albarn, Graham...

Stay in touch

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.