The Smiths
The smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982,
composed of Stephen Patrick Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass), and Mike Joyce (drums).
The Smiths firs debut live in late 1982 with sporadic appearances.
They had declined several record deals, most
famously a deal from Factory records which had boasted deals with the
late Joy Division and New Order.
At their seventh gig ever, held at the University of London Union,
they were offered to sign a one-off single, "Hand in Glove" with Rough Trade Records.
The song became an underground sensation in the UK,
topped the charts, and was referred to as, 'the finest love song in recent years.'
Their second single release was "This Charming Man" in October 1983.
In February of 1984 the Smiths released their debut album
'The Smiths', which became a best seller and reached number 2.
'Meat is Murder' is the bands second studio album which
entered the Brtitish charts at #1 in February of 1985.
The band simultaneously had singles, Lp's, and albums
coming out which always reached high in the charts.
'The Queen Is Dead' was released in June of 1986 as the bands 3rd album.
This album was considered a masterpiece of the decade
and peaked at #2 on the UK charts, it also expanded their US following
and hit the top 100.
After the release of "The Queen Is Dead", the band went through
a line up change. Rourke, the bass player, was fired for a heroin addiction.
It is said he received his dismissal via a Post-it note to his windshield. It read "Andy – you have left The Smiths. Goodbye and good luck, Morrissey."
Though this is denied by Morrissey.
This was also the album that began trouble for the band.
It had been delayed almost seven months by Rough Trade and
touring, exhaustion, and stress had taken its toll on Marr.
Marr had told NME (The New Musical Express),
an extremely popular weekly music magazine,
"Worse for wear' wasn't the half of it: I was extremely ill. By the time the tour actually finished it was all getting a little bit... dangerous. I was just drinking more than I could handle."
In late 1986 "Panic" and "Ask" were released off of "The Queen Is Dead"
Early 1987 was the height of popularity for The Smiths.
Their single still topping the charts, releasing singles as well as B-sides
in the UK and US.
Though 1987 seemed to be a promising year for the smiths
Moz and Marr had grown increasingly irritated with each other.
The album "Strangeways Here We Come" is the bands last.
By the time the album had been released in September,
the band had broken up.
Morrissey and Marr could no longer get along.
According to Morrissey Marr had been working with too
many other artist.
Amongst all the differences the album peaked at #2 in the UK and
was their most successful album in the US, reaching #55 on the Billboard
200.
Though not a favourite amongst critics Morriseey and Marr both list
"Strangeways Here We Come" as their favourite Smiths album.
Post Smiths
Moz
Morrissey began a solo career right away.
He collaborated with Strangeways producer and
recruited friends from Manchester to play in his band.
His first album "Viva Hate" was released six months later.
(1988)
It reached #1 on the UK charts as did several of its singles.
One of the singles- Suedehead
Kill Uncle (1991)
Your Arsenal(1992)
Vauxhall and I (1994)
Moz had lost 3 close friends in 1994 and channeled his grief
into "Vauxhall and I". He also felt like this would be his last album,
he felt as if it was his best and that he could never top it.
This year he also released the single "Interlude" with Siouxsie Sioux.
Southpaw Grammar (1995)
The album was a hit reaching #4 in the UK
but both of its singles failed to reach the top 20.
Maladjusted (1997)
You Are the Quarry (2004)
In June 2003 Sanctuary Records gave Morrissey the lable
Attack Records, to record new material and sign new artist.
He released "You Ar the Quarry" which reached #2 on the UK charts
and number #11 on ths U.S Billboard Charts.
"Irish Blood English Heart" reached #3 in its first week of sales.
This was the highest placing chart position for Morrissey in his entire career.
Also, it has sold over a million copies, making the album his most successful one, solo or with The Smiths.
Ringleader of the Tormentors (2006)
Years of Refusal (2009)
He has reached the top 10 UK singles charts on ten occasions.
NME has dubbed him "one of the most influential artist ever"
and The Independent has said "most pop stars have to be dead before they can reach the iconic status that he has reached in his lifetime"
Though now an icon Morrissey started out a fan just like everyone else.
As a teen he was the president of the UK branch of the New York Dolls fan club as well as
a founder of The cramps fan club, Legion of The Cramped.
He fronted a band called The Nosebleeds and briefly sang with Slaughter & The Dogs.
Marr
Johnny Marr rejoined the music scene in 1989.
He has taken part in many bands and artist since the smiths such as:
the supergroup Electronic, The The, members of The Pretenders, The
Pet Shop Boys, and The Talking Heads.
In 2006 he began working with Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse,
and is now a full fledged member of the band.
He is also a full member of the group The Cribs.
Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce
Rourke and Joyce still work together
and have done session work with Morrissey.
They both are still in various bands and Rourke has formed a group
with fellow bassist Peter Hook of Joy Division and New Order.
Reunion?
The Smiths were offered $5 million to reunite for a performance at
Coachella in 2006, it was turned down.
Morrissey stated that it wasn't because of the money.
In August 2007, NME reported that
Morrissey was offered £40 million ( US $61,860,364.73) for just him
and Johnny Marr to reunite for for a 50-date world tour in 2008 & 2009.
According to an anonymous press release on true-to-you.net, an unofficial fan site, Morrissey was approached with a $75 million offer to tour during the next two years.
The offer required Morrissey to make a minimum of fifty worldwide performances with Johnny Marr, under the Smiths' name.
In late 2008 The Sun reported that the Smiths
would be reuniting to play Coachella 2009.
Marr called the rumors 'rubbish.'
Morrissey played solo at Coachella in 2009.
In February of 2009, persistent rumors spread of a Smiths reunion.
Morrissey denied these claims.
In an interview he stated,
"people always ask me about reunions, and I can't imagine why...
the past seems like a distant place, and I'm pleased about that."
To this day Morrissey refuses to reunite his old band, going as far as to say that he would "rather eat his own testicles than re-form The Smiths, and that's saying something for a vegetarian.
Long Live The Smiths
The Smiths
have been referred to as the most important alternative rock band to emerge
from the British independent music scene in the 80's.
They have influenced many other widely popular alternative rock bands
throughout their career such as: Blur, Oasis, and Suede.