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Acclaimed by many
as the most important UK band of the 80s, the Smiths were formed in
Manchester during the spring of 1982. Morrissey (b. Steven Patrick
Morrissey, 22 May 1959, Davyhulme, Manchester, England) and Johnny Marr
(b. John Maher, 31 October 1963, Ardwick, Manchester, England) originally
combined as a songwriting partnership, and only their names appeared on
any contract bearing the title "Smiths". Morrissey had previously played
for a couple of months in the Nosebleeds and also rehearsed and auditioned
with a late version of Slaughter And The Dogs. After that he wrote reviews
for Record Mirror and penned a couple of booklets on the New York Dolls
and James Dean. Marr, meanwhile, had played in several Wythenshawe groups
including the Paris Valentinos, White Dice, Sister Ray and Freaky Party.
By the summer of 1982, the duo decided to form a group and recorded demos
with drummer Simon Wolstencroft and a recording engineer named Dale.
Wolstencroft subsequently declined an offer to join the Smiths and in
later years became a member of the Fall. Eventually, Mike Joyce (b. 1 June
1963, Fallowfield, Manchester, England) was recruited as drummer, having
previously played with the punk-inspired Hoax and Victim. During their
debut gig at the Ritz in Manchester, the band was augmented by go-go
dancer James Maker, who went on to join Raymonde and later RPLA. By the
end of 1982, the band appointed a permanent bass player. Andy Rourke (b.
1963, Manchester, England) was an alumnus of various previous groups with
Marr. After being taken under the wing of local entrepreneur Joe Moss, the
band strenuously rehearsed and after a series of gigs, signed to Rough
Trade Records in the spring of 1983. By that time, they had issued their
first single on the label, "Hand In Glove", which failed to reach the Top
50. During the summer of 1983, they became entwined in the first of
several tabloid press controversies when it was alleged that their lyrics
contained references to child molesting. The eloquent Morrissey, who was
already emerging as a media spokesperson of considerable power, sternly
refuted the rumours. During the same period the band commenced work on
their debut album with producer Troy Tate, but the sessions were
curtailed, and a new set of recordings undertaken with John Porter. In
November 1983 they issued their second single, "This Charming Man", a
striking pop record that infiltrated the UK Top 30. Following an ill-fated
trip to the USA at the end of the year, the quartet began 1984 with a new
single, the notably rockier "What Difference Does It Make?", which took
them to number 12. The Smiths ably displayed the potential of the band,
with Morrissey's oblique, genderless lyrics coalescing with Marr's
spirited guitar work. The closing track of the album was the haunting
"Suffer Little Children", a requiem to the child victims of the 60s Moors
Murderers. The song later provoked a short-lived controversy in the
tabloid press, which was resolved when the mother of one of the victims
came out on Morrissey's side. A series of college gigs throughout Britain
established the band as a cult favourite, with Morrissey displaying a
distinctive image, complete with National Health spectacles, a hearing aid
and bunches of gladioli. A collaboration with Sandie Shaw saw "Hand In
Glove" transformed into a belated hit, while Morrissey dominated music
press interviews. His celibate stance provoked reams of speculation about
his sexuality, and his ability to provide good copy on subjects as diverse
as animal rights, royalty, Oscar Wilde and 60s films, made him a
journalist's dream interviewee. The singer's celebrated miserabilism was
reinforced by the release of the autobiographical "Heaven Knows I'm
Miserable Now", which reached number 19 in the UK. Another Top 20 hit
followed with "William, It Was Really Nothing". While the Smiths commenced
work on their next album, Rough Trade issued the interim Hatful Of Hollow,
a bargain-priced set that included various flip-sides and radio sessions.
It was a surprisingly effective work, that captured their inchoate charm.
By 1984 the Smiths found themselves fted as Britain's best band by
various factions in the music press. The release of the sublime "How Soon
Is Now?" justified much of the hyperbole and this was reinforced by the
power of their next album, Meat Is Murder. This displayed Morrissey's
increasing tendency towards social commentary, which had been indicated in
his controversial comments on Band Aid and the IRA bombings. The album
chronicled violence at schools ("The Headmaster Ritual"), adolescent
thuggery ("Rusholme Ruffians"), child abuse ("Barbarism Begins At Home")
and animal slaughter ("Meat Is Murder"). The proselytizing tone was
brilliantly complemented by the musicianship of Marr, Rourke and Joyce.
Marr's work on such songs as "The Headmaster Ritual" and "That Joke Isn't
Funny Anymore' effectively propelled him to a position as one of Britain"s
most respected rock guitarists. Despite releasing a milestone album, the
band's fortunes in the singles charts were relatively disappointing.
"Shakespeare's Sister" received a lukewarm response and stalled at number
26, amid ever-growing rumours that the group were dissatisfied with their
record label. Another major UK tour in 1985 coincided with various
management upheavals, which dissipated the band's energies. A successful
trek across the USA was followed by the release of the plaintive summer
single "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side", which, despite its
commerciality, only reached number 23. A dispute with Rough Trade delayed
the release of the next Smiths album, which was preceded by the superb
"Big Mouth Strikes Again", another example of Marr at his best. During the
same period, Rourke was briefly ousted from the band due to his flirtation
with heroin. He was soon reinstated, however, along with a second
guitarist, Craig Gannon, who had previously played with Aztec Camera, the
Bluebells and Colourfield. In June 1986, The Queen Is Dead was issued and
won immediate critical acclaim for its diversity and unadulterated power.
The range of mood and emotion offered on the album was startling to
behold, ranging from the epic grandeur of the title track to the overt
romanticism of "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" and the irreverent
comedy of "Frankly, Mr Shankly" and "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". A
superb display of Morrissey/Marr at their apotheosis, the album was
rightly placed alongside Meat Is Murder as one of the finest achievements
of the decade. A debilitating stadium tour of the USA followed and during
the group's absence they enjoyed a formidable Top 20 hit with the
disco-denouncing "Panic". The sentiments of the song, coupled with
Morrissey's negative comments on certain aspects of black music, provoked
further adverse comments in the press. That controversy was soon replaced
by the news that the Smiths were to record only one more album for Rough
Trade and intended to transfer their operation to the major label EMI
Records. Meanwhile, the light pop of "Ask' contrasted with riotous scenes
during the band"s 1986 UK tour. At the height of the drama, the band
almost suffered a fatality when Johnny Marr was involved in a car crash.
While he recuperated, guitarist Craig Gannon was fired, a decision that
prompted legal action. The band ended the year with a concert at the
Brixton Academy supported by fellow Mancunians the Fall. It was to prove
their final UK appearance. After another hit with "Shoplifters Of The
World Unite" they completed what would prove to be their final album. The
glam rock-inspired "Sheila Take A Bow" returned them to the Top 10 and
their profile was maintained with the release of another sampler album,
The World Won't Listen. Marr was growing increasingly disenchanted with
the group's musical direction, however, and privately announced that he
required a break. With the band's future still in doubt, press speculation
proved so intense that an official announcement of a split occurred in
August 1987. Strangeways, Here We Come, an intriguing transitional album,
was issued posthumously. The work indicated the different directions
towards which the major protagonists were progressing during their final
phase. A prestigious television documentary examining the group's career
followed on The South Bank Show, and a belated live album, Rank, was
issued the following year. The junior members Rourke and Joyce initially
appeared with Brix Smith's Adult Net, then backed Sinead O'Connor, before
Joyce joined the Buzzcocks. Morrissey pursued a solo career, while Marr
moved from the Pretenders to The The and Electronic, as well as appearing
on a variety of sessions for artists as diverse as Bryan Ferry, Talking
Heads, Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl, the Pet Shop Boys, Stex and Banderas.
In 1992, there was renewed interest in the Smiths following the furore
surrounding Johnny Rogan's controversial biography of the band, and Warner
Brothers Records' acquisition of their back catalogue from Rough Trade. In
1996, the long-standing legal action taken by Mike Joyce was resolved with
Morrissey and Marr losing their case. Joyce was awarded damages of £1
million, and Morrissey subsequently lost his appeal.
Discography
The Smiths (Rough Trade 1984)***, Meat Is Murder (Rough Trade
1985)****, The Queen Is Dead (Rough Trade 1986)****, Strangeways, Here We
Come (Rough Trade 1987)***, Rank (Rough Trade 1988)**.
Compilations
Hatful Of Hollow (Rough Trade 1984)***, The World Won't Listen (Rough
Trade 1987)***, Louder Than Bombs (Rough Trade 1987)***, The Peel Sessions
(Strange Fruit 1988)**, Best ... I (WEA 1992)***, Best ... II (WEA
1992)**, Singles (WEA 1995)****, The Very Best Of (WEA
2001)****.
Videography
The Complete Picture (1993).
Bibliography
The Smiths, Mick Middles. Morrissey & Marr: The Severed Alliance,
Johnny Rogan. The Smiths: The Visual Documentary, Johnny Rogan. The
Smiths: All Men Have Secrets, Tom Gallagher, M. Chapman and M.
Gillies.
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