The Smiths: A Biography

THE BIOGRAPHY OF ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL ALTERNATIVE ROCK BANDS. Their fans believed they were the biggest band in the world. Having begun their career in Manchester, England, The Smiths have been a critical and commercial success since the mid-1980s. Because of their unforgettable songs and melodies, they are still considered one of the greatest British rock groups—alongside the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Tony Fletcher paints a vivid portrait of the group's fascinating personalities: Morrissey, the ironic and intelligent lead singer, whose solitary demeanor and complex lyrics made him an icon for thousands of teenagers who feel abandoned and forgotten; his bandmate Marr, the popular guitarist who became a rock god for an entire generation; and the talented and beautiful duo of bassist Rourke and drummer Joyce. Despite the band's tragic end at the height of their success, The Smiths: The Biography is a celebration: the saga of four working-class boys from a small town in northern England who overcome their contrasting personalities to find a musical bond, inspire thousands, and leave a legacy that changed music—and the lives of their fans—forever. • First biography about the band published in Brazil.