Morrisey was born in Davyhulme, Manchester, in 1959.
The Smiths may not have had the massive chart success of the others on this list, as they weren’t a mainstream band, however they are often considered to be one of the most important and influential alternative rock bands of the 80s, “the one truly vital voice of the 80s”, according to Q magazine.
Their unique sound was a refreshing change to the synth-pop that was dominating the charts during the 80s, and with Morrissey’s lyrics and captivating baritone voice, and Johnny Marrs brilliant guitar, the Smiths created a unique sound and style that many tuned into and still do today.
They had a massive influence on bands over the decades, such as Radiohead, The Stone Roses, The Verve and Oasis plus many more, and their songs are still hugely popular today with a cult-like status both in the Uk and overseas.
David Bowie once claimed that Morrissey is the best lyricist of his time, which is an incredible testament to the talent of Morrissey, who went on to a successful solo career after the band split in 1987 after just 5 years together, however, their music continues to gather new fans each and every decade, and remains highly influential in the world of music today.
In 1985, their second studio album “Meat Is Murder” reached number 1 in the UK, followed by another album in 86 “The Queen Is Dead” which reached number 2. Their final album was “Strageways Here We Come” (1987) which was listed at number 69 in Slant Magazines’ “Best Albums of the 1980’s”, as it reached number 2 in the UK chart, staying in the charts for 17 weeks, and was certified gold in October 1987 and 1990.
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