smiths cover band tour

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THE ULTIMATE SMITHS & MORRISSEY TRIBUTE BAND

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Band Photography by Forrest Locke

UPCOMING EVENTS

Past events, music & videos.

Press Archive

11.09.2017 – NPR –  KPCC Jose Maldonado Feature 10.30.2014 – PRI –  The love affair between Mexican Americans and Morrissey isn’t that surprising 08.14.2014 – NME –  ‘Mexican Morrissey’ Jose Maldonado On Latino Culture’s Love Affair With The Smiths 08.13.2014 – Fusion –  Jose Maldonado is the Mexican Morrissey 07.31.2007 – Web interview –  Guillermo, it was really nothing. 05.31.2007 – Phoenix Times –  Make like Morrissey 10.03.2004 – The Boston Globe –  This charming man 08.01.2003 – OC Weekly –  The Boys With the Morrissey in Their Side The Believer Magazine –  The Passion of The Morrissey

USA bookings: Stormy Vehnekamp Leave Home Booking PH: 801-582-4111 [email protected]

Mexico/Latin America bookings: MM Group Entertainment: Michael Scafuto [email protected] https://www.mm-group.org/talent/sweet-and-tender-hooligans/

TRIBUTE NYC

August 24th, 2024, mauch chunk opera house.

Jim Thorpe, PA

Doors: 7 PM / Show: 8 PM,

Reserved Seating!

🎟️ GET TICKETS FOR MAUCH CHUNK

August 10th, 2024

World cafe live, philadelphia.

7pm Doors / 8pm Show / ALL AGES

$18 – $28 advance | $20 – $30 day of show

🎟️ GET TICKETS NOW FOR PHILLY

July 27th, 2024

Bowery ballroom, nyc.

Ages 21+, Doors Open 8pm, $25 Advance, $30 Day of Show

🎟️ GET TICKETS NOW FOR NYC

June 14th, 2024

The sinclair.

Cambridge, MA

8pm show, 18+

🎟️ GET TICKETS FOR THE SINCLAIR

May 17th, 2024

Park city music hall.

Bridgeport, CT

7pm doors, 8pm show, 21+

🎟️ GET TICKETS FOR PARK CITY

May 4th, 2024

Daryl’s house club.

Pawling, NY

Doors 5pm / Show 8pm / ALL AGES

🎟️ GET TICKETS NOW FOR DARYL’S

March 22nd, 2024

Space ballroom, hamden ct.

General Admission / Standing Only

🎟️ GET TICKETS FOR SPACE BALLROOM

March 8th, 2024

Silk factory, hudson valley.

Doors: 6:00 pm Showtime: 8:30 pm Headliner: The Smiths Tribute NYC Set Time: 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm

GET TICKETS NOW FOR NEWBURGH

February 10th, 2024

(pre)valentine’s day @ le poisson rouge.

Le Poisson Rouge in Manhattan hosts an early ‘Valentines with The Smiths’ featuring The Smiths Tribute NYC this Saturday night at 7pm.

GET TICKETS FOR LPR

December 31, 2023

Sixth annual new years @ littelfield bk.

How Soon Is 2024? Spend New Year’s Eve with the songs that saved your life, at our annual celebration at Littlefield in Brooklyn. Special guests NYC rockabilly stalwarts Screamin’ Rebel Angels

GET TICKETS NOW FOR BROOKLYN

January 4, 2024

Daryl’s house debut.

The Smiths Tribute NYC make their first ever appearance at the legendary Daryl’s House. 

GET TICKETS NOW FOR DARYL’S HOUSE

October 29, 2023

Bk: brooklyn bowl.

Halloween blowout at Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg on Sunday, Oct. 29 with special guests (the incredible) Cure tribute, The Gathering Gloom. Early show for a Sunday, start time 7:30pm and a special low price for the occasion of just $15.

Sept 8, 2023

Ct: space ballroom.

The Smiths Tribute NYC returns to New Haven Friday September 8 for a special performance at the intimate Space Ballroom. All ages. No opener. 8pm. This smallish room will sell out soon!

GET TICKETS NOW FOR NEW HAVEN

August 4, 2023

The gramercy theatre.

J oin us for a special live tribute to The Smiths at Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan on Friday August 4.

GET TICKETS NOW

We’ll play a wide range of Smiths & Morrissey classics, plus a handful of deep cuts that we rarely perform.

Don’t miss an opening set from stellar Joy Division tribute ‘Disorder.’

Doors 7pm | Show 8pm

May 20, 2023

Morrissey’s birthday.

Littlefield, Brooklyn

With special guest Matt Koff, Emmy-winning writer at The Daily Show, acclaimed standup and massive Morrissey fan.

Doors 7pm | Show 8pm 635 Sackett Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217

New Order dance party to follow immediately after the concert.

GET TICKETS

April 18, 2023

The bowery ballroom.

Shoplifters of the Bowery, unite!

Join us April 18th at the legendary Bowery Ballroom in Lower Manhattan for a special night of live Smiths classics and deep cuts. This is one of our favorite venues to play, and we always have a few surprises in store.

February 14, 2023

Valentines day with the smiths.

The Bell House

Valentine’s Day with The Smiths at The Bell House 2/14 on sale now. Thrilled to play the 10th installment of this New York tradition, the only Valentine’s Day event created for couples AND singles. We’ll play a live set of Smiths classics and deep cuts + a few surprises. Note: This always sells out early.

Tickets at EVENTBRITE

December 31, 2022

New years with the smiths, december 3rd, 2022, the hold steady’s massive nights.

Brooklyn Bowl

May 22, 2022

Bowery ballroom.

With There, There, A Tribute to Radiohead

August 20, 2022

Gramercy theatre.

Tickets at Live Nation ONSALE

The Smiths Tribute NYC with Special Guests

Straight to Hell (Tribute to The Clash)

127 E 23rd St

NEVER MISS A SHOW

“Almost as good as the real thing! They do it seriously, but without taking themselves too seriously. Lots of fun!” – Ticketmaster review (Bowery Ballroom 2023)

“The way this singer captured everything about Morrissey was messing with my mind” – WIRED Magazine

The Smiths Tribute NYC features members of The Sons & Heirs, who built an extensive following through sold-out shows from Tel Aviv to LA, with press acclaim from the New York Times, New Yorker and Rolling Stone’s Rob Sheffield.  

The band has shared the stage with many special guests including Morrissey’s long-time drummer Spencer Cobrin, Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices) and the late Andy Rourke. 

The Smiths Tribute [NYC] is Seanissey Ravi Marr Fredo Rourke Flax Joyce

The Smiths Ltd - The Smiths Tribute Band Verified

Concerts and tour dates, live photos of the smiths ltd - the smiths tribute band, fan reviews.

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Live reviews

This is the fifth time that I have seen The Smyths and they were just as good as ever - in my view the best UK Smiths cover band (and I have seen most of them).

This gig was celebrating the 30th anniversary of Meat Is Murder, which was played in its entirety in the first half (albeit not in the same order as on the album). The second half of the gig comprised a great selection of Smiths' greatest hits that certainly got the crowd going - in fact, a little too much when one idiotic audience member threw a can on the stage prompting "Morrissey" to walk off and return a couple of minutes later to give the can-thrower some verbal abuse.

Anyway, hopefully that didn't spoil an otherwise excellent gig and I hope that The Smyths will be back in Leicester again soon to celebrate The Queen Is Dead anniversary.

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These guys are brilliant,they absolutely love what they do and why they do it and it shows in the performances and loved by the crowd, debut album in full just amazing and many more songs to get the crowd going, as tribute bands go these are way up there. Brilliant show brilliant night.

These guys are amazing, this was the 5th time of seeing them and they just get better, absolutely loved every minute of it from start to finish, just like being at my first ever gig 1986 National Ballroom Kilburn, The Smith's. Can't wait until the next time.

After some pints I would think I was back to the 80s !! They were brilliant, they played songs that I really doubt true smiths would play it.

Definitely worth the tickets!

Great night - brilliant sing a long - all in all we all really enjoyed it and the band were all excellent musicians and Graham as Moz did him proud

Posters (9)

Past concerts

O2 Academy2 Birmingham

Hertford Corn Exchange

Half Moon, Putney

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The Smyths is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 23 concerts across 1 country in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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The Smiths tribute band re-opening Brixton Academy: “We’re grateful and humble”

Following a crowd crush that left two dead in December 2022, the iconic London venue opens its doors again tonight with a tribute band show. The Smyths' Graham Sampson tells NME about what it means, what to expect, and the legacy of The Smiths outside of Morrissey's politics

The Smiths tribute band set to play at the re-opening gig of the O2 Academy in Brixton tonight (Friday April 19) have spoken to NME about what to expect from the show and what it means it be gracing the stage at the iconic London venue after tragedy closed its doors.

• READ MORE:  Artists and industry speak out to save Brixton Academy: “It’d be a tragedy to lose such an iconic venue”

The legendary South London venue has been shut since December 2022 after a fatal crowd crush that left two people dead. The tragic incident occurred at an Asake concert, which resulted in the deaths of Gabrielle Hutchinson, aged 23 , and 33-year-old Rebecca Ikumelo . A third was left in a critical condition.

The future of the iconic London venue had been uncertain since then, before it was announced in December 2023 that the venue was allowed to retain its licence and re-open if it can meet “robust” safety rules . See the full list of 77 measures put in place here . The Academy Group declined to be interviewed about what changes had been made to the venue ahead of this weekend’s re-opening.

Back in March, a run of gigs to mark the return of the venue were announced – kicking off tonight with Nirvana UK (a tribute to Nirvana ) and Smiths tribute band The Smyths. Next week will see a follow-up with Definitely Mightbe (a tribute to Oasis ) and Foos tribute UK taking to the stage, before normal gigs kick off with the likes of Editors , The Black Keys , Kamasi Washington , Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend all set to perform at the Academy in the coming months.

Smyths frontman Graham Sampson said that they were “grateful and humble” to be offered the opportunity, noting that the opening gigs with tribute bands were “about easing as you go”.

“You’d have to speak to the Academy Group about why, but I’d say that going carefully is what they’ve done,” said Sampson. “Given the backdrop of what’s happened, to return with a full-on show would be a lot more pressure.”

Already moved by the tragic events of December 2022, Sampson said that the gig would be all the more “poignant” as he was at Brixton Academy back in December 1986 for what would turn out to be the last ever gig performed by The Smiths.

“Back then, it was just another gig you were going to,” he remembered. “We now know what that turned into.

“In a funny way, I’m not thinking about it too much because I can’t allow myself to. Remarkable things keep happening for us and I overthink it too much then I either won’t live in the moment or I would start second-guessing myself. I’ll just approach it like any other show. I know that to get on a stage that I’ve been looking at from the audience for years will be overwhelming, but after that it’s just about doing what we do and not reflecting on it too much.”

He continued: “It’s another one of those ‘pinch me’ moments. Stephen Street, the legendary producer of The Smiths, is now a friend of mine. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and sometimes pinch him when I think about how I grew up watching The Old Grey Whistle Test with The Smiths and Stephen Street in the studio making ‘Meat Is Murder’ as a 15-year-old. Now all these years later, it’s very unexpected but very welcome.”

Asked if their setlist would pay homage to that final Smiths show at Brixton Academy, Sampson replied: “We were wrestling with that one. We know that the audience is going to be made up of die-hards and the casual fan.

“Because this particular show brings together two audiences who will have appreciate of each band’s material is something that we’ll have to be aware of. There will also be some people there just in a capacity of celebrating the venue itself. What we have to do is sprinkle the set with some unexpected curios and the expected tunes.”

While Sampson said that The Smyths had never played with Nirvana UK before, he was excited as both tribute acts were honouring “groundbreaking and iconic” bands.

• READ MORE: The Smiths: every song ranked in order of greatness

“When both bands arrived on the scene, they were fully armed and loaded,” said Sampson. “Both had a gravitas and majesty, they seemed immediately iconic. It took their peers years to accumulate that, which is why they’re both the definitive bands of their era.

“I confess to not know a great amount of Nirvana’s back catalogue because at that point in time I was far more of a Suede boy. I like the dark, romantic side of things, but I still remember the exhilaration of hearing them for the first time. I couldn’t believe the guy’s voice.”

Now in their 21st year as a band, The Smyths have gained a reputation as one of the world’s premiere tribute acts after playing over 900 shows in the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and appearing at Glastonbury, The Isle of Wight and Bestival.

They also recently gained the approval of former Smiths frontman Morrissey , who shared one of the band’s gig posters on his official website .

“It was the first time we’d had genuine cast-iron acknowledgement,” said Sampson. “We’d heard some third person reports from someone known to his band and his security guards that he thought we were brilliant, but we never knew for sure – now we do!

“ Johnny [Marr , guitarist] has acknowledged us before in print and on radio, and Mike [Joyce, drummer] and Andy [Rourke, bassist] we’d met several times at our own shows. Morrissey’s acknowledgement was the last to come, but it was thrilling nonetheless.”

While many Smiths fans may struggle to come to terms with Morrissey’s often divisive political views , Sampson said that his tribute band were there for them to “celebrate the music, and to celebrate the artist as a young man”.

“The music is preserved in an aspic or an amber,” he said. “You can pick it up and cherish it for what it was, and for what it still means now – particularly for a teenage audience. The Smiths lyrics are universal to the human condition, which is why people still find The Smiths and Morrissey’s writing so relevant. Everything rushing through the teenage mind is there in those words.”

As a result, Sampson said that they were finding that their audiences continue to attract younger and younger Smiths fans.

“The older generation is there and they are bringing their children and grandchildren,” he admitted. “We’re now seeing a massive influx of youth, and the front dozen or so rows of our shows are populated by a much younger generation. It confirms everything that [writer and former NME journalist] Nick Kent said all those years ago in The Smiths’ Southbank Show documentary that one day the band would be viewed in the same way as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones . He was absolutely correct. I felt it then in 1986 and I feel it now.

“They’ve stood the test of time. Back then, one week I was seeing Cocteau Twins and next it was The Smiths. I was also listening to The Velvet Underground and The Doors even though they were long gone. It’s the same thing for this generation – they’re finding the classics.

He added: “The Smiths occupy a very interesting space because I find that they are both in that alternative sphere as The Doors and the Velvets, but then you’ve got Bowie as that bit in-between the ‘establishment’ of The Stones and The Beatles.

“The Smiths belong among all of those, which is quite remarkable.”

Friday 19 April 2024 👉 Co-headline London show, featuring two world-famous tribute band, Nirvana UK and @thesmythsuk . Get 48-hour early access Priority Tickets 10am Wed 06 Mar and 10am Fri 06 Mar at @TicketmasterUK 👇 #O2Priority #NirvanaUK #TheSmyths https://t.co/moewM1qNzr pic.twitter.com/RMjvI2KKM9 — O2 Academy Brixton (@O2AcademyBrix) March 4, 2024

The Smyths and Nirvana UK perform a co-headline show at London’s O2 Academy Brixton tonight (Friday April 19), before UK Foo Fighters and Definitely Mightbe take to the stage next week on Friday April 26. Visit here for tickets and more info on these and other upcoming Brixton Academy shows.

The hearing into the future of the venue began took place in September , to determine whether or not the Academy Music Group (AMG) could continue to operate their licence at the music venue. After the fatal crowd crush, the Metropolitan Police then reportedly made a push for the location to close its doors for good .

The hearing was told of the venue’s refusal of racial profiling and AMG’S ambitious plans to improve ticketing and safety, before things concluded with Lambeth Council saying that they supported the re-opening of Brixton Academy “in principle ” if a series of conditions are met. The Met Police meanwhile, denied that they were actually looking to close the venue – but said that they believe current operator AMG “shouldn’t be the licensee” if the Academy is to open its doors again.

Since the venue’s closure in December, an  online petition was launched  to counteract the closure  while various artists and industry professionals also spoke out against the potential shutting down of the venue . It has attracted over 116,000 signatures.

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Upcoming Gigs

15th june 2024: the leadmill in sheffield.

Contact: 0114 2727 040 .  Support: N/A .

28th June 2024: The Plaza in Northwich

Support: With The Clone Roses, Oasish and True Order .

12th July 2024: St Marys Chambers in Rawtenstall

Contact: 01706 223 222 .  Support: N/A .

The Smiths Ltd Biography

The Smiths Ltd was formed in Manchester, UK the hometown of The Smiths .

After an extensive search to find the perfect Morrissey , the band played their first gig in Manchester to an audience of avid Smiths fans. The response was spectacular and The Smiths Ltd now play at venues and festivals all over the UK.

If you never saw The Smiths then this is your chance to experience the thrill of those great songs played live. If you were lucky enough to see them first time around then prepare to relive that excitement again.

Committed to getting the same energy that Morrissey , Johnny Marr , Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce had onstage together, the band are obsessed about getting that live sound right.

With an authenticity and provenance that’s hard to beat The Smiths Ltd are the ultimate tribute.

The Smiths meant everything to a generation... To us they still do.

"Brilliant Smiths tribute band, they are amazing." - Clint Boon (Inspiral Carpets)

Copyright © The Smiths Ltd 2024. All Rights Reserved

The Smiths Ltd

• Sat 15 Jun Sheffield, Leadmill The Smiths Ltd View tickets
• Fri 12 Jul Rossendale, St Mary's Chambers The Smiths Ltd View tickets
• Sat 13 Jul London, O2 Forum Kentish Town The Clone Roses, Definitely Mightbe, The Smiths Ltd View tickets
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• Fri 23 Aug Hope Valley, The Peak Cavern (Devil's Arse Cave) The Smiths Ltd View tickets
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• Sat 14 Sep Hartlepool, The Studio The Smiths Ltd View tickets
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• Sat 5 Oct Warrington, Pyramid & Parr Hall The Clone Roses Oas-Is, The Smiths Ltd, Clint Boon View tickets
• Fri 11 Oct Buckley, The Tivoli Indie Tribute Festival Oasish, Absolute Stone Roses, The Smiths Ltd View tickets
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• Sat 26 Oct Carlisle, The Old Fire Station The Smiths Ltd View tickets
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• Fri 15 Nov Barnsley, Birdwell Venue The Smiths Ltd, Transmission (The Sound of Joy Division) View tickets
• Sat 23 Nov London, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire The Clone Roses, Oasish, The Smiths Ltd View tickets
• Fri 13 Dec Manchester Academy A Tribute To Manchester 2024 The Clone Roses, Oasish, The Smiths Ltd, Happy Mondaze, Clint Boon View tickets

January 2025

• Sat 11 Jan Derby, The Hairy Dog The Smiths Ltd View tickets
• Sat 18 Jan Gloucester Guildhall The Smiths Ltd View tickets

February 2025

• Sat 15 Feb Birmingham, The Castle & Falcon The Smiths Ltd View tickets
• Fri 11 Apr Holmfirth Picturedrome The Smiths Ltd, Transmission (The Sound of Joy Division) View tickets
• Sat 12 Apr Chester, The Live Rooms The Smiths Ltd Transmission (The Sound of Joy Division) View tickets
• Fri 16 May Shrewsbury, Theatre Severn The Smiths Ltd Transmission (The Sound of Joy Division) View tickets

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The Smyths (The Smiths Tribute)

THE SMYTHS (UK) play THE SMITHS The Queen Is Dead album in Full plus and encore of Greatest Hits – This Charming Man, Panic, Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now, Ask, How Soon is Now, Hand in Glove, What Difference Does It Make, Still Ill, Girlfriend in a Coma plus more.

There’s cover bands, there’s tribute bands, then there’s The Smyths. The Smyths have been retelling classic moments from The Smiths songbook. The Smyths do more than copy and paste; they absorb and omit. Close your eyes, and you won’t know the difference…  

The Smyths bring with them the sound, the feel and ultimately, the spirit of The Smiths as only devotees of The Smiths could do.

“If I had closed my eyes, no-one would have convinced me that it wasn’t Stephen Patrick Morrissey singing onstage.”

“The joy of hearing someone even attempt to play these songs, let alone to do so with such skill and attention to detail, is a thrill for anyone with even a passing interest in The Smiths”

“a nostalgia trip… unified in their love of live music and the work of The Smiths”

“The Smiths are no longer, long live The Smyths”

The Smyths Bio

THE SMYTHS  (UK) play  THE SMITHS The Queen Is Dead  album in Full plus and encore of Greatest Hits – This Charming Man, Panic, Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now, Ask, How Soon is Now, Hand in Glove, What Difference Does It Make, Still Ill, Girlfriend in a Coma plus more.

The Smyths are an electrifying tribute band that has been enchanting audiences worldwide with their remarkable homage to the legendary British alternative rock band, The Smiths . Formed in the early 2000s, The Smyths have become synonymous with authenticity and an unwavering dedication to replicating the magic and mystique of the original band. With their uncanny resemblance to The Smiths both musically and visually, the band has performed over 900 concerts across the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand – including performances at The Isle of Wight. The Smyths have cultivated a devoted following making them one of the most cherished tribute acts in the world.

The Smyths take fans on a nostalgic journey back to the 1980s when The Smiths ruled the indie music scene. Their attention to detail is impeccable, from the jangly guitar riffs to the melancholic lyrics, capturing the essence of The Smiths ‘ music. Their commitment to keeping The Smiths ‘ legacy alive has earned them the respect and admiration of fellow musicians, critics, and fans alike including acclaim from The Smiths guitarist, Johnny Marr and Smiths ’ producer, Stephen Street. Andy Hazel of themusic.com.au reviewed the band’s last Australian tour concluding that “ tribute band or not, [they] provoked so much inarguable joy from the crowd The Smyths could only regard the night as a triumph.”

For those who crave the nostalgia and emotional depth of The Smiths ‘ music, The Smyths are the ultimate tribute act. They remind us that, while The Smiths may no longer be touring, their timeless music lives on through the passionate and heartfelt performances of The Smyths .

There’s cover bands, there’s tribute bands, then there’s The Smyths . The Smyths bring with them the sound, the feel and ultimately, the spirit of The Smiths as only devotees of The Smiths could do.

Close your eyes, and you won’t know the difference…

The Smiths Bio

The Smiths were one of the most popular and acclaimed bands of all time. The Smiths are described by allmusic.com as “the definitive British indie rock band of the ’80’s” and although they only existed for five years and broke up 33 years ago, their relevance and influence has only grown. The Smiths defined disillusioned youth in the shadows of Margret Thatcher’s Britain and explored universal emotions and still relevant political attitudes and ideas that have allowed their music an appeal that spans generations. Ian Youngs of BBC News described them as “the band that inspired deeper devotion than any British group since the Beatles”.

Despite being signed to the independent label Rough Trade Records for the majority of their career, The Smiths had significant mainstream success. The Smiths had several singles in the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and all of their studio albums reached the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including Meat is Murder which reached number one in 1985. In addition to their success in the UK, their subsequent albums, The Queen is Dead and Strangeways, Here We Come and live album Rank all charted in the top 10 on the European albums chart and the top 100 on the Billboard charts in the USA. In 2012, all four of the Smiths ’ studio albums appeared on Rolling Stone’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” and “William, It Was Really Nothing” and “How Soon Is Now?” Were included in the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. The Queen is Dead was once proclaimed as the greatest album ever by NME.

The crux of the Smiths was the musical collaboration between Steven Morrissey and Johnny Marr. Marr and Morrissey were first introduced to each other by mutual acquaintances Billy Duffy and Howard Bates at a Patti Smith gig at the Apollo Theatre in Manchester in 1978. Morrissey was inspired by glam rock acts like David Bowie, Roxy Music, T. rex, Sparks and the New York Dolls. He even started a British fan club for the New York Dolls and would go on to write a 24 page booklet about the Dolls, which would later play a pivotal role in the formation of the Smiths . After seeing the Sex Pistols at Lesser Free Trade Hall in 1976, Morrissey began mixing with the Manchester punk scene, fronting Billy Duffy’s group, The Nosebleeds and then the band, Slaughter and the Dogs. Marr had been performing in bands since he was 13. His first band, Paris Valentinos, also featured future Smiths bassist, Andy Rourke and played Thin Lizzy and Rolling Stones covers.

In 1979 Marr reunited with Rourke and formed the band White Dice. White Dice entered a demo-tape competition organised by NME, which they won and their prize was an audition with F-Beat Records. F-Beat Records did not opt to sign White Dice, the band continued for a couple of years but ultimately didn’t go anywhere. When White Dice dissolved, Marr formed a funk band called Freak Party which quickly fizzled out. In 1982, Marr wanted to establish a new band with a more serious intent. Impressed by Morrissey’s book on the New York Dolls, Marr figured Morrissey would be the ideal frontman for this new band. As the story goes, Marr simply showed up on the doorstep of Morrissey’s house to ask him about starting a band – the act was inspired by the legendary Elvis Presley songwriting team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller which formed after the former showed up on the latter’s doorstep. According to Morrissey: “We got on absolutely famously. We were very similar in drive.”

On the original shortlist of names for the new group were Smiths Family and Smithdom before finally settling on the Smiths . Morrissey would later comment on the name, “it was the most ordinary name and I thought it was time that the ordinary folk of the world showed their faces”. Morrissey and Marr recorded a demo of three songs, “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle”, “Suffer Little Children” and a cover of “I Want a Boy for My Birthday” by the American girl group, The Cookies. Marr was not familiar with the original but loved the idea of subverting traditional British values having a man sing the song. The band were initially joined by bassist Dale Hibbert and drummer Simon Wolstencroft, but Woldstencroft was not interested in joining the band full time and so the band auditioned Mike Joyce, who the group quickly welcomed.

In October 1982, the Smiths made their debut at the Ritz in Machester opening for Blue Rondo à la Turk. The band came onstage to Klaus Nomi’s version of Henry Purcell’s “The Cold Song” playing through the venue’s sound system before Morrissey’s friend and dancer, James Maker stepped onstage to introduce the band, in French. Maker remained onstage dancing through The Smiths ’ performance, later reflecting, “I was given a pair of maracas – an optional extra – and carte blanche. There were no instructions… I was there to drink red wine, make extraneous hand gestures and keep well within the tight, chalked circle that Morrissey had drawn around me.” The show did not go particularly well. Marr & Morrissey were unhappy with Hibbert’s performance and his lack of commitment to their ideas for the image of the band. Dale Hibbert was growing uncomfortable with what he perceived to be the group’s “gay aesthetic”. Hibbert would later comment in the documentary, These Things Take Time, “there was an image being nurtured and I was a bit of an odd one out… it didn’t fit in with the fact I was married with kids…” Hibbert was fired after their first show and Marr recruited his childhood friend and White Dice bandmate, Andy Rourke.

With a now permanent line up in place, The Smiths recorded their second demo tape which contained the songs “What Difference Does It Make?”, “Handsome Devil”, and “Miserable Lie”, the band performed their second show in January 1983, this would mark James Maker’s final appearance as a dancer with the band. The band’s demo tape was rejected by major record company, EMI but piqued the interest of Geoff Travis from the independent record label, Rough Trade Records. Travis was not initially committed to sign the band to a full record contract, but did agree to record and release their song “Hand In Glove” as a single. Morrissey picked the cover image of the single. A homoerotic photograph by Jim French which he found in Margaret Walters’ The Nude Male. The single was released in 1983 and while not a Top 40 hit, it would sell consistently over the next 18 months. The single also coincided with the band’s second performance in London at the University of London Union. This performance led to the band being invited to perform on John Peel’s legendary and incredibly influential BBC Radio 1 show. John Peel would later say of the Smiths , ”I was impressed because unlike most bands… you couldn’t immediately tell what records they’d been listening to. That’s fairly unusual, very rare indeed…” Andy Rourke reflected about the importance of the Peel sessions for the Smiths , “John Peel… picked up on it early on… and promoted us really well.” – with Peel’s ringing endorsement of the band, the group began to get coverage in NME and Sounds magazines which convinced Rough Trade to sign the band to a more long term contract.

Rough Trade brought in Troy Tate of the Teardrop Explodes to produce the Smiths ’ debut album, originally titled, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. The group recorded at the Elephant Studios in Wapping, East London but Rough Trade were unhappy with the album and Troy’s production, ordering the band to redo it with a new producer, John Porter. In the lead up to the eventual release of the band’s debut, Rough Trade issued two singles. First “This Charming Man”, a moderate success on release, peaked at number 25 in the charts. The single was reissued in 1992 where it reached number 8, making it the Smiths ’ highest charting single. The second single Rough Trade released was “What Difference Does It Make?” which reached number 12 on the charts. These singles along with repeated appearances on the Peel show, the David Jensen radio show and televised appearances on The Tube and Top of the Pops helped The Smiths cultivate a die hard fanbase.

The Smiths ’ self titled debut album was released in February of 1984. It reached number two on the UK albums chart and continued to chart for 33 consecutive weeks. The cover of the album was designed by Morrissey, a cropped still from Andy Warhol’s 1968 film Flesh, featuring American actor Joe Dallesandro. In addition to singles “Hand in Glove”, “This Charming Man” and “What Difference Does It Make?” The album also contained the debut of “Suffer Little Children” and fan favourite “Still Ill”, which continues to be a staple of both Morrissey and Johnny Marr’s solo setlist. A 2007 documentary about the Smiths was titled The Smiths : Still Ill. Songs on the album such as “Reel Around the Fountain” and “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” caused controversy at the time. For many the release of The Smiths ’ debut album marked the end of new wave and new romantic pop music in the UK.

The Smiths followed up their debut album with a series of non-album track singles. The first of which was “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”, which reached number 10 on the carts. Driven largely by controversy around the b-side “Suffer Little children” which was about the notorious Moors Murders. This was followed with “William, It Was Really Nothing” which peaked at number 17. One of the b-sides to the single was “How Soon Is Now?”, which would be released as a single on it’s own in 1985 where it would reach number 24 on the singles charts. Johnny Marr would say of the song in 2007 , “How Soon Is Now?” is “possibly [ the Smiths ‘] most enduring record. It’s most people’s favourite, I think.” The Smiths closed out 1984 with the release of Hatful of Hollow, a compilation of the band’s previously released singles, b-sides and a selection of the band’s performances from the John Peel Sessions and David Jensen show. Hatful of Hollow would reach number 7 on the UK albums chart where it remained for 46 weeks. In 2000, Q Magazine listed Hatful of Hollow at 44 on a list of the “100 Greatest British Albums Ever”.

Not ones to rest on their success, the Smiths issued their second full length album in February of 1985. The substantially more politically charged Meat is Murder. Meat is Murder debuted at number 1 on the UK albums chart. Although reviews for the album were not as strong as for the debut, Morrissey found himself frequently in the middle of controversy for his strident and often contrary views. He publicly condemned the Thatcher administration and was extremely vocal about promoting vegetarianism, even forbidding the other Smiths band members to eat meat in public, although they remained largely carnivorous omnivores. The Meat is Murder songs “The Headmaster Ritual” and “Barbarism Begins at Home” lashed out at the use of corporal punishment to raise children both at home and in schools. Morrissey caused more controversy when he mocked the famine relief project Band Aid with the dour quip “One can have great concern for the people of Ethiopia, but it’s another thing to inflict daily torture on the people of England.” The band immediately followed Meat is Murder up with the non album single, “Shakespeare’s Sister”, which reached 26 in the Single chart. The only song pulled from Meat is Murder for a single release was “That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore”, which failed to reach the top 40 in the Singles charts and was released at the insistence of Morrissey and against Rough Trade’s wishes. Marr has cited the song as one of his favourite Smiths songs.

The band’s third and penultimate studio album, The Queen Is Dead was released in June of 1986. A dispute with Rough Trade records had delayed the album’s release by nearly seven months. The album had been preceded by the single release “The Boy with the Thorn in His Side” which had come out in September of 85. In 2003, Morrissey called it his favourite Smiths song. The track details the band’s issues with the music industry, the thorn in their side. “Bigmouth Strikes Again” was released as a single in May, which hit number 26 in the Singles charts. With the two singles having served as an appetiser and the relatively long gap between studio recordings, The Queen Is Dead peaked at number 2 in the UK charts and was released in the USA by Sire Records, where the album reached number 70, the band’s first chart success in the USA. The album included fan favourites like “Frankly, Mr Shankly”, “Cemetary Gates”, “Vicar in a Tutu” and “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out”, the latter of which would be released as a single in 1992 after the band had broken up. The Queen Is Dead was praised for remarkable diversity in musical styles and emotional moods. Widely considered one of the best albums of the 1980s, The Queen Is Dead has had a remarkable longevity that consistently sees the album appearing on “greatest albums lists” to this day. In 2013, The Queen Is Dead was ranked the greatest record of all time on the NME’s “Greatest Albums of All Time” list. Despite the band’s commercial, critical and creative triumphs, all was not well within the band.

The pressures of constant touring and music industry disputes were taking a toll on the band. Johnny Marr had turned to alcohol to help him cope, later telling NME that “‘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.” Andy Rourke had turned to heroin, which saw him temporarily kicked out of the band. Rourke was replaced by Craig Gannon of the band Aztec Camera. Rourke was quickly reinstated into the band and Gannon moved to rhythm guitar. This five piece line up recorded the non-album singles “Panic” and “Ask” which reached number 11 and 14 on the UK singles chart. “Panic” received some controversy due to it’s repeated lyrical refrain of “Burn down the disco… hang the DJ”.

The Smiths ’ North American tour of 1986 was a low point for the band, despite strong ticket sales, the group were being ravaged internally as the band and crew indulged in heavy drinking and drug use (with the notable exception of Morrissey). Fed up with their management and long standing issues with Rough Trade, Marr and Morrissey decided to cancel the last four shows of the American tour, which was to included a final date at New York City’s famous Radio City Music Hall. The group returned to England where they almost suffered a fatality when Johnny Marr was involved in a car crash. While he recovered, guitarist Craig Gannon was fired, having only played on 6 studio tracks. The band ended the year with a concert at the Brixton Academy supported by fellow Mancunians, the Fall. It would prove their final UK appearance.

While the internal struggles of the Smiths are known now, at the time, the press and public still adored the band. In early 1987, the single “Shoplifters of the World Unite” was released. This was followed with a second compilation of singles and b-sides, The World Won’t Listen. The World Won’t Listen stayed in the top 100 albums chart for 15 weeks, peaking at number 2. Ironically a sizeable enough population were listening, though maybe not the entire world! The band continued their success with the release of the glam rock inspired, “Sheila Take A Bow”, which reached number 10 on the UK Singles chart. The joint highest charting single the band would experience while still an active band. Despite this continued success frictions in the band led to Johnny Marr taking a hiatus from the band in June, he would officially quit the Smiths in July following a NME article called “Smiths to Split” which he erroneously believed was planted by Morrissey. Allegedly Marr believed Morrissey was jealous of Marr working with other artists such as Bryan Ferry and Billy Bragg. Additionally Marr was tired of Morrissey’s obsession with 60’s pop and refusal to try new ideas, Marr would later comment in 1992, “I didn’t form a group to perform Cilla Black songs.” While the band had already broken down, they released their fourth and final studio album, “Strangeways, Here We Come” posthumously in 1987. It also peaked at number two in the UK and at number 55 in the US. Both Morrissey and Marr cite it as their favourite Smiths album. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of allmusic.com in his review summarises the album as “… a graceful way to bow out. While it doesn’t match The Queen Is Dead or  The Smiths , it is far from embarrassing and offers a summation of the group’s considerable strengths.

Any chance of a Smiths reunion officially came to an end when Joyce and Rourke sued Morrissey and Marr in 1991, claiming they received only ten percent each of the group’s earnings while the songwriters received 40 percent each. Rourke eventually settled out of court, but Joyce won his case in late 1996. Morrissey would later comment on the law suit saying “The court case was a potted history of the life of the Smiths . Mike, talking constantly and saying nothing. Andy, unable to remember his own name. Johnny, trying to please everyone and consequently pleasing no one. And Morrissey under the scorching spotlight in the dock being drilled. “How dare you be successful?” “How dare you move on?” To me, the Smiths were a beautiful thing and Johnny left it, and Mike has destroyed it.” Despite reportedly huge money offers for the band to reform, the group has remained disbanded for over 33 years.

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