Flashback to 1982. Fast Time's At Ridgemont High has cemented itself as an 80's classic and genres like hair metal, new-wave and hardcore punk were starting to dominate the airwaves. Take into account that MTV was launched the previous year. It's safe to say that music was one of the top entertainment forces of the year let alone the entire decade. Out of all the bands that have come out during the new-wave rock era, The Smiths are the greatest out of them all. The roots of The Smiths can be traced back to 1978 when Steven Morrissey (Morrissey) and Johnny Marr met at a Patti Smith concert at The Apollo Theater in Manchester. In May of 1982, Marr visited the home of Morrissey and asked him to form a band. Morrissey is credited with coming up with the now-iconic name as he has stated that he was shooting for an "ordinary" name. The Smiths finally came together as Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass), and Mike Joyce (drums). Throughout 1982 and 1983 the band would record demos of songs that would eventually end up on future albums like "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" and 'This Charming Man". In 1984, the band released their self titled debut to critical acclaim and produced classics like 'What Difference Does It Make?", "This Charming Man" and "Reel Around The Fountain." What made The Smiths stand out from the rest of the bands of the time were the loner/introverted lyrical style of Morrissey and the guitar style of Johnny Marr who drew influences from Roger Mcguinn of The Byrds, George Harrison, and James Honeymoon Scott of The Pretenders. The following year the band released their politically-charged sophomore album Meat Is Murder and spawned anthems like 'The Headmaster ritual" the rockabilly influenced "Rusholme Ruffiants'. The re-release of the single "How Soon Is Now?" however proved to be their crowning achievement that year. In 1986, the release of The Queen Is Dead became the band Sgt. Peppers and became their most well-known and critically acclaimed album. However, in 1987 the band came to an end due to tensions in the band. Decades later, The Smiths are still celebrated for their brilliance and have been nominated to be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame twice. It's safe to say that the waiting has been long enough. Let them in!
There hasn't been a band quite like The Smiths since and there will never be again. Despite their short career, their impact on rock n roll cannot be underestimated.
