Morrissey: Difference between revisions

== The Smiths ==

The Smiths were formed in early 1982 by Steven Morrissey and John Maher, a guitarist and songwriter. Maher changed his name to [[Johnny Marr]] to avoid confusion with the [[Buzzcocks]] drummer, and Morrissey performed solely under his surname. After recording several demo tapes with the drummer from The Fall, Simon Wolstencroft, they recruited drummer Mike Joyce in the autumn of 1982. Joyce had formerly been a member of punk bands The Hoax and Victim. As well, they added bass player [[Dale Hibbert]], who also provided the group with demo recording facilities at the studio where he worked as a factotum. However, after two gigs, Marr's friend Andy Rourke replaced Hibbert on bass, because neither Hibbert's bass playing or personality fit in with the group. In a 1984 interview Morrissey stated that he chose the name The Smiths "...because it was the most ordinary name, and because he thought that it was time that the ordinary folk of the world showed their faces."<ref>{{cite web | date=1984 | title=Interview | format=http | work=[[Melody Maker]], ''cited at'' Hiddenbyrags.com | url=http://www.hiddenbyrags.com/mminterview1984.html | accessdate = 2007-04-22}}</ref> Signing to indie label [[Rough Trade Records]], they released their first single, "[[Hand In Glove (single)|Hand In Glove]]", in May 1983. The record was championed by DJ [[John Peel]], as were all of their later singles, but failed to chart. The follow-up singles "[[This Charming Man (single)|This Charming Man]]" and "[[What Difference Does It Make? (single)|What Difference Does It Make?]]" fared better when they reached numbers 25 and 12 respectively on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="guinness book">{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=David (ed.)|title=[[Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums|British Hit Singles & Albums]]|publisher=[[HIT Entertainment]]|date=2006|edition=19th edition|pages=pp. 509–510|isbn=1-904994-10-5}}</ref> Aided by praise from the music press and a series of studio sessions for [[John Peel]] and [[David Jensen]] at [[BBC Radio 1]], The Smiths began to acquire a dedicated fan base.