The Smiths were a band from Manchester, England, formed in 1982. They didn’t last long — just a few years — but they completely changed what people thought a rock band could sound like. Morrissey, the singer, had this way of writing lyrics that were brutally honest, sad, funny, and relatable all at once. Johnny Marr, the guitarist, created these beautiful, jangly melodies that felt like they were always meant to exist.

Their music wasn’t about showing off or fitting into what was popular at the time — it was raw, emotional, and different. Albums like The Queen Is Dead and Meat Is Murder still feel fresh today. Even though they broke up in 1987 after a lot of tension between Morrissey and Marr, their influence never really faded. A lot of bands you hear today — especially in indie and alternative music — owe something to The Smiths.

They were one of those rare bands that didn’t just make songs — they made people feel something real.