'NME Apology Will End Lawsuit' Says Morrissey

Morrissey has called for the NME to publicly apologise to him.

The Smiths frontman has said that he will drop his lawsuit against the publication - issued after he felt they portrayed him as a racist - if he receives an apology.

He said in a statement: "As the year dies, I return to England to prepare for the High Court circus of the NME case," he said in a statement.

"Instead of simply saying 'sorry' (for re-writing the answers to my last NME interview in 2007 in order to make me sound racist), the imperious NME would rather spend hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds in a High Court duel to the death."

He continued: "The fact that they have chosen a court drama over simply apologising reinforces the notion that their original intent all along was to invent a sensation.

"So, here it is... now is the NME's big chance to scorch me off the human map for good. And what a triumph that would be for them. What a proud and eternal boast."

The Smiths are currently back in the public eye as they have provided the song 'Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want' for the John Lewis Christmas advert.