Morrissey

Morrissey — Steven Patrick Morrissey — was born in Manchester in 1959 and rose to fame as the lyricist and vocalist of The Smiths, one of the most important British bands of the 1980s. Following The Smiths' dissolution in 1987, he embarked on a solo career that has produced some of the most distinctive and divisive British music of the past four decades.

'Viva Hate' (1988) was one of the most acclaimed British solo debuts of the decade — a record of extraordinary melodic beauty and lyrical wit that produced 'Suedehead' and 'Everyday Is Like Sunday'. 'Your Arsenal' (1992), produced by Mick Ronson, was widely regarded as his finest solo album — a glam rock-influenced record of remarkable energy and melodic directness.

Morrissey has continued to release albums of variable quality over the following decades, with 'Vauxhall and I' (1994) and 'Ringleader of the Tormentors' (2006) among his strongest later work. His public statements have generated considerable controversy in recent years. He remains one of the most distinctive and important figures in British music, whatever one's view of his recent pronouncements. ⚠ Flag: post-2017 activity and public statements — handle with care; verify most recent release.