The Smiths

Formed in Manchester in 1982, The Smiths defined a generation of British independent music by returning to a guitar, bass, and drums format. [1, 2, 6] The band's sound was engineered by the songwriting partnership of vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. [1] Marr’s intricate, arpeggiated Rickenbacker stylings created a jangling counterpoint to Morrissey’s literary, often melancholic lyrical themes of isolation and wit. [4, 5, 7, 9] Anchored by the melodic, fluid basslines of Andy Rourke and the steady, understated drumming of Mike Joyce, the group rejected the era's synthesizer-driven pop. [1, 15, 19] Their brief but concentrated five-year career produced a catalog that fundamentally shaped the trajectory of alternative rock. [2, 5]