Rick Astley and Blossoms have introduced the return of their Smiths supergroup covers band for a secret set at Glastonbury 2023, with the pop icon telling NME about what went into it and the backlash from Johnny Marr.

Astley, who this weekend made his Glastonbury debut by opening up the Pyramid Stage, made headlines final yr when he joined Blossoms on stage in London to carry out quite a few Smiths covers – earlier than they then performed quite a few full gigs devoted to the enduring ’80s indie icons. Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was lower than happy having not been informed about it, earlier than telling NME that he’d been in contact with Blossoms and “handled it“.

Now, they’ve introduced that the tribute undertaking will likely be acting at Glastonbury on the Woodsies stage at 6pm tonight (Friday June 23), filling in one of many TBA slots with a secret set.

“I can’t inform you how a lot I really like doing this,” Astley informed NME of the covers band. “I do know it’s sacrilege and they need to dangle the lot of us on the road for doing it, however I additionally simply don’t care. I’m 57. I’ve talked it over with the fellows from Blossoms many instances and stated, ‘If at any second any of you determine that you simply don’t need to do that, simply holler’. They’re in the midst of their profession, 4 albums in. I’ve acquired nothing to lose. You may dangle me, you are able to do no matter you need. It doesn’t matter.”

He continued: “I’ve had an unbelievable time in music and I’m ever so grateful for it. I’m conscious of how fickle it’s, how one can be completely out within the desert and nobody will choose up the telephone or allow you to within the constructing. It’s a fragile factor enjoying these songs as a result of they imply a lot to individuals. They imply a lot to me and the fellows too. We bonded over that reality.”

The ‘By no means Gonna Give Up’ star stated that forming a Smiths covers band was one thing he’d “at all times needed to do”.

“Even after I was in bands as a child we by no means performed The Smiths’ songs as a result of they had been a bit too intricate for us,” he stated. “I by no means noticed The Smiths however I’ve seen covers bands of them, and I simply fall in love with them each time.

“I constructed a shed in my again backyard a few years in the past whenever you couldn’t go anyplace or do something [during lockdown], and did this factor the place you return to the beginning of an artist’s profession and play each single document they ever made. When it got here to do it for The Smiths, I used to be like ‘What the hell, man’.”

Not lengthy after Astley and Blossoms introduced their first reveals, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr gave his verdict on the stunt – describing their collaboration as “humorous and horrible on the similar time,” earlier than including that Blossoms failed to inform him about their gigs upon assembly however that he “had no drawback” with covers bands or Astley.

Responding to the response, Astley informed NME: “I’ve by no means met Johnny Marr and I daresay our paths might by no means cross, however I get it. I don’t know the way I’d really feel about it if I used to be Johnny Marr. What are you able to say? It’s his work and his life, however it doesn’t seem to be they’re ever getting again collectively – so there are both bands who go on the market and do it, or… It’s a troublesome one, however I did it from a spot of absolute pleasure and love for these songs.”

He continued: “If we burn in hell for doing it, then we’ll must dwell with that. The audiences that we’ve executed it for prior to now have at all times acquired it, acquired concerned and liked it. You’re both a Smiths fan otherwise you’re not, and in case you are then it’s very hallowed floor. Studying the songs reaffirms how nice however particular person they had been as a band.

“Sure, it was a Marmite state of affairs. I’ve acquired a great deal of mates who don’t perceive it, however they’re in a poorer world due to it. We simply must do it with love and hope individuals get that.”

Former Smiths frontman Morrissey, nevertheless, thanked Astley and Blossoms for the tribute reveals – writing: “Something that generates curiosity in that drained outdated Smiths warhorse is testimony to the wallop it packed”.

Talking of Morrissey’s reward, Astley added: “I take all of that with a pinch of salt. I met Morrissey 1,000,000 years in the past and we had a photograph collectively – I his behest, I might add. I might by no means have dared to ask him!”

Take a look at all the most recent from Glastonbury 2023 on the NME liveblog right here, and see extra information, evaluations, pictures, interviews and extra right here.