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The Formation of The Smiths: A Musical Revolution

The story of The Smiths begins in May 1982, in Stretford, Trafford, Manchester, where two unlikely collaborators, Johnny Marr and Steven Patrick Morrissey, decided to form a band. At the time, Marr had already developed considerable skill as a guitarist, while Morrissey was more recognized for his writing but had a decent singing ability. Despite mainstream trends in music leaning towards synth-pop and new wave, the duo opted for a more traditional rock approach with a focus on guitar, bass, and drums—drawing inspiration from influential bands like The New York Dolls, T. Rex, and The Jam.