The Criterion

Steven Patrick Morrissey, born on 22 May 1959, is an English singer and songwriter. He gained prominence as the frontman and lyricist of the band the Smiths, which was active from 1982 to 1987. Morrissey has pursued a solo career following the band's disbandment. His music is characterized by his baritone voice and lyrics that often feature anti-establishment themes, emotional isolation, sexual longing, self-deprecation, and dark humour. He was born to working-class Irish immigrants in Old Trafford, Lancashire, and grew up in Stretford after his family moved due to the demolition of Victorian-era houses in Hulme. As a child, Morrissey developed an interest in literature, kitchen sink realism, and 1960s pop music. In the late 1970s, he was involved with the punk rock band the Nosebleeds, though he later stated in 2024 that he "did not ever join" the band. During the early 1980s, he worked as a music journalist and authored several books on music and film.