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The Smiths lasted only five years, but few bands have shaped British indie music as deeply. Formed in Manchester in 1982, singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, with bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce, made four studio albums for Rough Trade before splitting in 1987. They are an indie rock and indie pop band, with jangle pop and post-punk roots.
| Formed | 1982, Manchester, England |
| Members | Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass), Mike Joyce (drums) |
| Active | 1982–1987 |
| Genres | Indie rock, indie pop, jangle pop, post-punk, alternative rock |
| Label | Rough Trade (Sire in the U.S.) |
Johnny Marr and Morrissey began writing together in Manchester in 1982, soon joined by Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce. Their first single, “Hand in Glove”, came out on the independent label Rough Trade in 1983, and the band released all of their albums there.
The Smiths paired Johnny Marr’s bright, intricate guitar parts with Morrissey’s witty, melancholy and often provocative lyrics. At a time when synthesizers dominated the U.K. charts, their guitar-led songs helped define what “indie” would sound like for years.
The partnership between Morrissey and Marr is one of the most celebrated songwriting teams in British music. After the band ended in 1987, Morrissey launched a long solo career and Marr worked with many artists and released solo albums. Bassist Andy Rourke died in 2023.
Despite a short career, The Smiths are regularly named among the most influential British bands of the 1980s. Their mix of jangling guitars and literate, emotional lyrics runs through Britpop and indie rock to the present day. See how that thread continues in our story of Britpop.
The debut, released alongside early singles that built a devoted following.
Singles, B-sides and radio sessions, including “How Soon Is Now?” and “Heaven Knows I”.
The band’s second studio album.
Widely seen as their finest record, with “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” and “Bigmouth Strikes Again”.
The final studio album, released after the band had split. The compilations The World Won’t Listen and Louder Than Bombs also arrived in 1987.
These The Smiths songs are on our charts and lists:
The Cure, R.E.M., New Order, The Stone Roses, Joy Division and Echo & the Bunnymen.
The Smiths are an indie rock and indie pop band, with jangle pop and post-punk influences.
Manchester, England. The band formed there in 1982.
Morrissey, Johnny Marr, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce.
In 1987, the same year their final studio album, Strangeways, Here We Come, was released.
The Queen Is Dead (1986) is the most celebrated.
The Smiths are a cornerstone of our 1980s alternative programming. Catch it on The Modern Rock Radio Show, check the radio show schedule, or press play on the live stream. Want a specific song? Send a request or dedication.
About this article: Written and fact-checked by The Alternative One editorial team. Last reviewed November 4, 2026. Read our editorial standards or tell us about a correction.
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