The announcement of Rick Astley and Blossoms reviving their Smiths supergroup covers band for a secret set at Glastonbury 2023 has left music enthusiasts in a state of shock. As the pop icon, and most iconic meme ever, opened up about the project and the backlash from former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, the excitement surrounding this unexpected collaboration continues to grow.
Last year, Astley made waves when he joined Blossoms on stage in London for an electrifying performance of Smiths covers. The unexpected partnership then evolved into a series of dedicated gigs paying homage to the iconic ’80s indie icons. However, the venture faced criticism when it was revealed that Johnny Marr had not been informed about the project. In response, Marr addressed the situation and assured that he had personally “dealt with it” after getting in touch with Blossoms, as reported by NME.
Johnny Marr spoke out on the band – describing their collaboration as “funny and horrible at the same time,” he then added that Blossoms failed to tell him about their gigs upon meeting but that he “had no problem” with covers bands or Astley.
Astley expressed his immense joy and passion for the project. Despite acknowledging the potential sacrilege associated with covering the Smiths’ iconic catalog, he boldly stated, “I also just don’t care.” At 57 years old, Astley’s fearless attitude shines through as he embraces this unconventional endeavor. He reassured the members of Blossoms that they can walk away from the project at any moment, emphasizing their position in the middle of their careers with four albums under their belt. Astley himself feels he has nothing to lose, stating, “You can hang me, you can do whatever you want. It doesn’t matter.”
The anticipation for this secret set at Glastonbury is palpable. Fans and critics alike are eager to witness the melding of Astley’s iconic pop sensibilities with the indie spirit of Blossoms, as they pay tribute to the influential Smiths. The revival of this covers band promises to be a unique and unforgettable experience for all in attendance.
This wouldn’t be big unless Morrissey himself gave some kind of weird, off handed, compliment, of course. Former Smiths frontman, Morrissey, thanked Astley and Blossoms for the tribute shows – saying: “Anything that generates interest in that tired old Smiths warhorse is testimony to the wallop it packed”.
Astley added: “I take all of that with a pinch of salt. I met Morrissey a million years ago and we had a photo together – I his behest, I would add. I would never have dared to ask him!”
