Morrissey kicks off his latest world tour during a sold-out show at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 17, 2004. (REUTERS/Ethan Miller)

Former The Smiths rocker Mike Joyce is preparing to fire a shot at singer Morrissey by penning an explosive tell-all book revealing the full story of the band.

Drummer Joyce had a huge falling out with Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr when he sued the songwriters in the 1990s for an increased share of the group's earnings.

He won the case and was awarded $1.6 million in back pay but the legal battle infuriated Morrissey, who has engaged in a public war-of-words with his former bandmate ever since.

The Suedehead singer is due to release his memoirs later this year - and Joyce has now sensationally revealed he is preparing to publish his own side of the story once he's read Morrissey's account.

He tells Record Collector magazine, "Someone's approached me to do a book, and I'm quite interested. I've heard Morrissey's bringing a book out, so I'll hang fire and see what we get out of that, and that might accelerate my side of things. Who knows?"