The Smiths Plan Two Unheard Songs for Seven-Inch Single

The Smiths will release a new seven-inch single containing two previously unheard tracks: a demo mix of “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” and an alternate version of “Rubber Ring.” No release date has been announced, according to Morrissey‘s fan website, True to You.

“The Boy” originally appeared on 1986’s The Queen Is Dead and was released as a single in 1985 with “Rubber Ring” as the B-side. “Ring” appeared on the 1987 compilation album, Louder Than Bombs. The new seven-inch cover features a photograph of actor Albert Finney. The sleeve was designed by Morrissey with layout by Darren Evans.

Despite the release, the Smiths have no plans for a reunion. In his recent memoir, Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr wrote about a 2008 meeting with Morrissey – the pair’s first in over a decade – to discuss a potential Smiths reunion, though the plan later fell apart. “I think [the band has] run its course,” Marr said in a recent interview with the Guardian. “I don’t feel unfriendly in any way towards Morrissey – there’s just no need for it. One of the things we had in common was that we lived for work, and we’re too busy doing what we’re doing now.”

Last week, Morrissey postponed the remaining dates on his American tour to accommodate keyboardist Gustavo Manzur’s recovery from an illness. Moz’s trek currently wraps December 17th in San Antonio, Texas.