The Smiths were indeed a moment in time marking a point in the early
80s when "Indie" moved from being "small audience material on minor
record labels" to a crossover into the mainstream.
This is not intended to be a definitive history but a history across 300
pages told by those who were involved, were there, bear the scars, and
still hold the highest esteem for an outspoken (some would say odd-ball)
singer, musical partner in crime and tune, plus backing from a solid if
un-noticed (until the court case) rhythm section.
The stories range from their fist gig at The Hacienda when Morrissey got annoyed with the crowd and the poster stating “We are THE Smiths, not just Smiths”, to first appearances on The Tube and Top Of The Pops (not as many stories of people going home, buying a deaf aid and waving gladioli about as I though there may have been), to the last recording sessions in Streatham, before Johnny Marr quits and the NME publish the “Smiths To Split” headline.













