Drummer Si Wolstencroft: Why I turned down The Smiths

In the early 1980s Johnny Marr and bassist Andy Rourke of The Smiths were in a band called Freak Party along with drummer Si Wolstencroft, who discovered two lost tracks on a cassette in his cellar. He's releasing the first of them next week.

Si spoke to 5 live Breakfast about how he almost ended up playing for the Smiths: “I was in a band with Ian Brown and John Squire of the Stone Roses when Johnny invited me to try out for the Smiths. Morrissey came in and gave me a brief nod, and a bag full of lyrics.”

It wasn’t to be for Si, who decided it wasn’t for him, and he missed out on being in both the Smiths and the Stone Roses.

“I wasn’t really that interested, I said thanks Johnny, but no thanks. It took me a while to get over that decision, but I am now and busier than ever,” added the drummer.

This clip is originally from 5 live Breakfast on Saturday 22 October 2016.