Steven Patrick Morrissey was born in 1959 in Manchester, England to Irish immigrant parents. He formed the iconic band The Smiths in 1982 with Johnny Marr, Mike Joyce, and Andy Rourke. The Smiths gained popularity in the 1980s for Morrissey's poetic lyrics and themes of isolation before breaking up in 1987. As a solo artist, Morrissey has released 9 albums to date exploring topics like vegetarianism, politics, and sexuality. He remains a influential figure among fans for his outsider image and portrayal of depression in his music.

1. By Terri-Ann Macro

3. • Steven Patrick Morrissey was born 22nd may
1959 in Manchester, his parents are Irish
immigrants with a Catholic upbringing
and has lived in a council house for most • The Smiths formed in May 1982, when
of his life at 384 Kings Road, Stretford, Johnny Marr knocked on Morrissey’s
Manchester. door. The other members of The Smiths
• Has only one sibling, his older sister, Jackie. are Mike Joyce (drummer) and Andy
• His parents divorced when he was 17, Rourke (bass)
creating a bleak outlook on marriage • They played their first concert on the 4th of
and relationships for Morrissey. October 1982 at Manchester’s Ritz.
• Attended St Mary’s Secondary Modern. • The Smiths broke up in august 1987 when
• He left St Mary’s, and had been suffering Johnny Marr left and Morrissey was left
from clinical depression throughout his hurt and reluctantly pursued a solo
teenage years and then later went on career.
the dole, took sporadic employment • Morrissey is known for his unclear sexuality,
but mostly read and listened to music. he is often mistaken for being
• His influences were Oscar Wilde (his main homosexual and has sometimes said
one) James Dean (he wrote a book that he is asexual, though he is most
about him), New York Dolls (he wrote a probably bi, and also known for his
book about them), Bowie, T. Rex, Nico, celibacy in the 80’s, vegetarianism
60’s female singers such as Marianne (meat is murder album), republicanism
Faithfull and Sandie Shaw (who the (the Queen is Dead), and the
smiths recorded with), Alan Bennett controversial statements (racism
(playwright), Elizabeth smart (author) allegations due to songs like Panic,
and Shelagh Delaney (playwright). Bengali in Platforms, National Front
Disco, and Asian Rut; “Margaret on the
• Guillotine” – outspoken about Tory
PM).
•

4. • Morrissey released 4 studio albums
with The Smiths and 9 solo
albums to date. Currently
without a record contract.
• He is known for poetic and often
literary lyrics. He has an image
for himself as an “intellectual”
pop star, despite only having
three O-levels.
• Often seen as being a “miserablist”
due to songs such as ‘Heaven
Knows’ and ‘Girlfriend in a
Coma’.
• But although some are depressing,
many are very humorous.
• Morrissey really hates Mike Joyce
since The Smiths royalties court
case in 1996.
•
In the words of Taylor Swift:
‘The Smiths are never, ever, ever getting
back together…. EVER!’

5. 1983 -
‘This charming man’
“ As I blundered
through my late
teens, I was quite
isolated and Oscar
Wilde meant much
more to me.”
1984 -
‘Heaven Knows he’s Miserable Now’
“The sorrow of the
Brighton bombing is that
she [Thatcher] escaped
unscathed.”

6. 1986 -1987-
‘The Queen is Dead,
boys’
“We don’t believe
in leprechauns so
why should we
believe in the
Queen?”
1988 -
‘Smiths is Dead’
“I have seen one or
two psychiatrists.
They just sit and nod
and doodle.”

7. 1990 -1991-
‘Mozmania’
“Just me and
my views of life
as I live it.”
1992 -
‘Your Arsenal’
“Weird and Gilly and
the Spiders from
Moz.”

8. 1994 -
‘The more you ignore Me, The closer I
Get’
“I thought it was time to
put lots of things away in
their boxes and their
cupboards, and allow
age to take its natural
toll, for better or worse.”
1997 -
‘Trouble Loves Me’
“Sorrow will come
to you in the end,
and as sure as my
words are pure,
I praise the day that
brings you pain.”

9. 2004 -
‘I am the Resurrection’
“I’ve been accused of
everything except
murder – which is
bound to come at
some stage, I don’t
doubt.”
2009 -
‘All you need is Me’
“To whom would I
say my last goodbye?
To my very best
friend…myself.”

10. • Lots of Morrissey’s original fans are middle aged
now, but Morrissey continues to appeal to a
wider range; still attracts teenage audiences
but also some very young ones.
• The Smiths were “archetypal student band” many
fans would usually be interested in indie or
alternative music (for example, the John Peel
show) and left wing politics (CND, Neil
Kinnock).
• There is a sizeable Latino fan base, he has written
songs such as ‘Ganglord’ and ‘First of The Gang
to Die’ to appeal to the Mexican fans as they
are about the Mexican gang culture.
• Morrissey is a gay icon, therefore appealing to lots
of gay fans.
• There is a significant minority of Morrissey’s
audience who suffer depression or mental
health problems, Morrissey has often
portrayed himself as an ‘outsider’ and suffered
from depression most of his life. Therefore he
often appeals to frequently isolated or
marginalised people or groups.