The Smiths formed in Manchester in 1982, pairing Johnny Marr's jangly, layered guitar with Morrissey's literate, melancholic wit — a partnership that reshaped indie rock in five short years. The Queen Is Dead (1986) is where nearly everyone starts, and rightly so. Find The Smiths vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
The Smiths formed in Manchester, England in 1982. The lineup was Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass; 1964-2023), and Mike Joyce (drums). Built on the songwriting partnership of Morrissey and Marr, the band became one of the most acclaimed and influential groups of the 1980s before breaking up acrimoniously in 1987. Their reputation as a cornerstone of British indie rock has only grown since.
The Smiths are widely cited as one of the most important bands in the history of indie and alternative rock. Marr's melodic, layered, jangly guitar playing combined with Morrissey's emotive croon and his literate, ironic, and often melancholic lyrics to create a singular sound that influenced countless subsequent bands across indie, alternative, and Britpop.
The Smiths' Rough Trade catalog has been reissued in remastered and box-set editions overseen by Johnny Marr, and original UK pressings and singles are highly collected. The Queen Is Dead in particular appears in anniversary and deluxe configurations.
Listeners new to The Smiths almost always start with The Queen Is Dead (1986) or a singles compilation. For related listening, see and .
