Members of the Smiths will reunite on stage for the first time in more than 30 years this summer. Original members Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce, plus the short-lived “fifth Smith”, Craig Gannon, have collaborated with Manchester Camerata Orchestra on the Classically Smiths performances, reworking the band’s catalogue for a touring concert series.
All three members will perform with the orchestra. Joyce, the band’s former drummer, said: “I’m massively excited to be playing with Andy and Craig again, but introducing a full orchestra into the mix takes this to another level.” He promised a mixture of Smiths classics, and songs that the band never performed live, “in a way they’ve never been heard before”.
Absent from the partial reunion are Smiths founding members Morrissey and Johnny Marr. Both are yet to comment on the announcement. The band’s trademark melancholy lyrics will be performed by guest vocalists, who are yet to be announced.
Manchester Camerata are the orchestra behind the successful Hacienda Classical concerts, and have previously collaborated with New Order on their 2015 album Music Complete.
Tickets for Classically Smiths go on sale on 26 January. Dates confirmed so far are Manchester O2 Apollo (28 June), London O2 Academy Brixton (29 June), and Edinburgh Usher Hall (2 July).
