(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Morrissey insists he isn't an "anarchist".

The singer-songwriter rose to prominence in alternative rock band The Smiths. The British star, who is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of all time, is known for his outspoken nature and provocative remarks. Morrissey says some of his controversial statements have probably harmed his reputation at times.

"I think it's inevitable, yes," he mused. "But I'm not an anarchist, I'm a very quiet and composed person. But really, isn't it more to do with the fact that there's nobody in modern pop music who makes any social statement whatsoever? And there's a massive dumbing-down in England now, which mimics America in the 1990s, where everything is intellectually reduced. It's very prevalent in television especially, whereby only very standard views can be expressed, and anybody who has another view is censored."

Morrissey insists there will be no reformation of The Smiths. The band broke up in 1987 and have turned down several offers to reunite since. Morrissey says the public's interest in the band's reunion is superficial.

"There's something about the public always wanting a reformation here and there from such a body and such a band, just because they feel, We're the public and we can demand it.' And once it happens, nobody's really interested," he explained in an interview with British newspaper The Telegraph.

The 52-year-old has remained coy about his sexuality throughout his career. Morrissey, who has previously claimed he was asexual and celibate, says although he's never had a proper relationship, he knows enough not to crave one.

"You don't need to have been down a pit to know that it's dirty," he said. (C) Cover Media