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The Smiths

Formed 1982

  • Principal Members
  • Mike Joyce
  • Johnny Marr
  • Morrissey
  • Andy Rourke

Biography

The Smiths were an English rock group active from 1982 to 1987. The group was based on the song-writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr, and were signed to the independent record label Rough Trade Records.

Considered by some critics to be the most important alternative rock band to emerge from the British indie scene of the 1980s, the Smiths have had a major influence on subsequent alternative music, including the Britpop movement and bands such as The Stone Roses, Gene, Radiohead, Blur, Suede, Oasis, The Libertines, The Verve and Doves...

Read more at Wikipedia

Wikipedia

This entry is from Wikipedia, the user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (more info) and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. Any changes made to the Wikipedia article will not be immediately reflected here.

Artist Timeline

  • 1983 Sign to Rough Trade and release their first single
  • 1983Perform on TOTP
  • 1984 Debut album reaches #2 in the UK chart
  • 1986 Legal problems delay release of 'The Queen is Dead'
  • 1986 Rourke is sacked but reinstated two weeks later
  • 1986 Craig Gannon is added on bass, then rhythm guitar
  • 1986 After a UK tour, Gannon is sacked
  • 1987Marr leaves and the group split, unable to replace him
  • 1996 Joyce wins #1m in unpaid royalties in a court case
  • 2005 VH1 attempt to reunite The Smiths, and fail
  • 2006 The Smiths are offered $5m to reform, they refuse

Key Releases

  • The Smiths

    1984

    Witty, bitter and stuffed full of hooks courtesy of Marr's impeccable tunesmithing.

    Review on BBC Music

  • Hatful Of Hollow

    1984

    A compilation of BBC sessions, arguably superior to the album versions.

    Review on BBC Music

  • The Queen Is Dead

    1986

    Morrissey and Marr's crowning glory...

    Review on BBC Music

Related Pages

Fans' Photos

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Top 10 Tracks

These are the tracks that are most listened to by users of Last.FM.

Chart from Last.fm

This chart is not created by the BBC and is only reflective of the listening habits of users of Last.FM.

Inspired

Influences

  • Morrissey
  • Electronic
  • The Nosebleeds


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