The Smiths were an English
rock band formed in
Manchester in 1982. The band consisted of vocalist
Morrissey, guitarist
Johnny Marr, bassist
Andy Rourke and drummer
Mike Joyce. Critics have called them the most important
alternative rock band to emerge from the British
independent music scene of the 1980s.
Q magazine's
Simon Goddard argued in 2007 that The Smiths were "the one truly vital voice of the '80s", "the most influential British guitar group of the decade" and the "first indie outsiders to achieve mainstream success on their own terms". The
NME named the Smiths the "most influential artist ever" in a 2002 poll.