Newport Centre

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. The group consisted of Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass), and Mike Joyce (drums). Morrissey and Marr collaborated on songwriting. The band signed with Rough Trade Records in 1983 and released their self-titled debut album in 1984. Their sound combined guitar, bass, and drums with influences from art rock and post-punk, rejecting the prevalent synth-pop style of the time. Several singles by the band reached the top 20 of the UK singles chart, and all of their studio albums entered the top five of the UK Albums Chart, including the number-one album Meat Is Murder (1985). Their albums The Queen Is Dead (1986) and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987) also charted within the top 20 of the European Albums Chart. In 1986, the band briefly expanded to a five-piece with the addition of guitarist Craig Gannon, but internal tensions led to their disbandment in 1987.