# Morrissey
**Morrissey** (Steven Patrick Morrissey, born 1959) is an English singer and lyricist who rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the Smiths and has since pursued a solo career spanning four decades[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n91116097). As a solo artist he has had three number-one albums in England in three different decades, with 11 Top 10 solo albums plus nine with the Smiths[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959; sources give Manchester generally, or Davyhulme, Trafford, Greater Manchester specifically[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/) • [3](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/013fa897-86db-41d3-8e9f-386c8a34f4e6) |
| The Smiths | Cofounder with guitarist Johnny Marr, 1982–1987; named the band with the most influence on the NME across its 50 years as a title[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/) • [4](https://www.bbc.com/arts/livingicons/bio08.shtml) |
| Solo debut | *Viva Hate*, including the single "Suedehead", entered the UK charts at No. 1 in March 1988[5](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp09993/morrissey-steven-patrick-morrissey) |
| Chart record | Three UK No. 1 albums in three different decades; 11 Top 10 solo albums plus nine with the Smiths[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/) |
| Recent albums | *I Am Not a Dog on a Chain* (2020) and *Make-Up Is a Lie* (2026)[3](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/013fa897-86db-41d3-8e9f-386c8a34f4e6) |
| Other work | *Autobiography* (2013); creator of the phonographic imprint Étienne (2017)[6](https://snl.no/Morrissey) • [7](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb139357377) |
## Early life and influences
Morrissey was born Steven Patrick Morrissey in 1959[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/). MusicBrainz and the Norwegian encyclopedia Store norske leksikon place the birth in Davyhulme, Trafford, Greater Manchester, while his publisher's biography gives Manchester, England; the more specific localities agree that he grew up in the Manchester suburb of Hulme[3](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/013fa897-86db-41d3-8e9f-386c8a34f4e6) • [6](https://snl.no/Morrissey) • [2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/).
As a young man he worked as a music writer and sang in the punk bands the Nosebleeds and Slaughter and the Dogs[6](https://snl.no/Morrissey). The Library of Congress authority record lists the Nosebleeds among his affiliations, and the French national library dates his Nosebleeds membership to 1976–1978[1](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n91116097) • [7](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb139357377).
## The Smiths (1982–1987)
In 1982, by Larousse's account at a point when he had abandoned his ambition of being in a band, Morrissey formed with guitarist [Johnny Marr](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-marr) the group that became the Smiths[8](https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/personnage/Steven_Patrick_Morrissey_dit_Morrissey/155522). Sources differ on the band's start year: his publisher says he was a cofounder of the Smiths from 1982, while the BnF records his membership as 1983–1987[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/) • [7](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb139357377).
The band's standing is measured in a BBC cultural feature: together with Marr, Morrissey formed the Smiths, later named the band with the most influence on the NME in the course of that paper's 50 years as a title[4](https://www.bbc.com/arts/livingicons/bio08.shtml). Larousse characterizes the Smiths as embodying the renewal of British rock[8](https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/personnage/Steven_Patrick_Morrissey_dit_Morrissey/155522).
The band ended in 1987, when Morrissey embarked on a solo career[5](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp09993/morrissey-steven-patrick-morrissey). The BBC describes the split as acrimonious[4](https://www.bbc.com/arts/livingicons/bio08.shtml).
## Solo career
**1988 and the first era.** His first solo album was *Viva Hate*, which entered the UK charts at No. 1 in March 1988 and included the single "Suedehead"[5](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp09993/morrissey-steven-patrick-morrissey). Store norske leksikon dates the solo start to 1988 with "Suedehead", which, like his next three singles, reached the UK Top 10; the National Portrait Gallery dates the start of the solo career itself to 1987, a difference of whether the year counts from the Smiths' end or the first solo release[6](https://snl.no/Morrissey) • [5](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp09993/morrissey-steven-patrick-morrissey).
**Songwriting partners.** Morrissey's early solo songwriting partners included Stephen Street, the duo of Alan Winstanley and Clive Langer, and Fairground Attraction alumnus Mark Nevin, before Boz Boorer became a regular collaborator; Classic Pop identifies 1994's *Vauxhall and I* as arguably the apotheosis of the Morrissey–Boorer partnership[9](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/low-down-morrissey/).
**The 2004 return.** "Irish Blood, English Heart", the first release from *You Are The Quarry* (2004), marked what the National Portrait Gallery calls a successful return for the darkly romantic and politically anarchistic singer-songwriter[5](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp09993/morrissey-steven-patrick-morrissey). In Norway, *You Are The Quarry* (2004), *Ringleader of the Tormentors* (2005), and *Years of Refusal* (2009) all reached the Top 10[6](https://snl.no/Morrissey).
**The 2020s.** [MusicBrainz](https://www.edgepedia.org/musicbrainz) lists *I Am Not a Dog on a Chain* (2020) and a 2026 release, *Make-Up Is a Lie*, of eight tracks[3](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/013fa897-86db-41d3-8e9f-386c8a34f4e6). The Guardian's review of *Make-Up Is a Lie* called it "nostalgic, sentimental and dull" and described him as "a shadow of what he once was"[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/morrissey).
## Artistry and influence
The National Portrait Gallery characterizes Morrissey as a darkly romantic and politically anarchistic singer-songwriter[5](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp09993/morrissey-steven-patrick-morrissey). His songs have been recorded by [David Bowie](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-bowie), Nancy Sinatra, Marianne Faithfull, Chrissie Hynde, Thelma Houston, My Chemical Romance, the Killers, and [Christy Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/christy-moore), among others[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/). In 2006 BBC viewers voted him the second greatest living British icon, behind Sir David Attenborough, and in 2007 a nationwide newspaper poll voted him the greatest northern male, past or present[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/).
## Other work
His autobiography, *Autobiography*, was published in 2013[6](https://snl.no/Morrissey). In 2017 he created the phonographic imprint Étienne, according to the BnF authority record[7](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb139357377).
## By the numbers
The headline figures are the three UK No. 1 albums in three different decades and the combined total of 11 Top 10 solo albums plus nine with the Smiths[2](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/). *Viva Hate* reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 20 in Norway; "Irish Blood, English Heart" (No. 18 in 2004) is his only Norwegian hit single[6](https://snl.no/Morrissey). Sources disagree on the count of solo albums: the BBC profile, written earlier, says ten, while MusicBrainz's discography lists studio albums through *I Am Not a Dog on a Chain* (2020) and *Make-Up Is a Lie* (2026), a larger total[4](https://www.bbc.com/arts/livingicons/bio08.shtml) • [3](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/013fa897-86db-41d3-8e9f-386c8a34f4e6).
## What has changed since 2023
**The Smiths business stake.** In September 2025 Morrissey put his business interests in the Smiths up for sale "to any interested party", amid disagreements with Johnny Marr over trademarks and reissues; he later said he had shut down the email address used to sell the stake[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/morrissey).
**Cancellations.** Also in September 2025 he canceled two US shows over what was described as a "credible threat on his life"[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/morrissey). In March 2026 he canceled a Valencia concert, saying he had been left in a "catatonic state" by city noise[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/morrissey).
**Releases and credits.** His official site announced a 7-inch double A-side single pairing "Cosmic Dancer" with his 2020 cover of the Jam's "That's Entertainment", with sleeve photographs of David Bowie with Morrissey taken in New York City by Linder Sterling[11](https://www.themorrisseyofficial.com/). AllMusic lists composer credits extending to 2025, including a 2025 [Kirsty MacColl](https://www.edgepedia.org/kirsty-maccoll) compilation covering 1979–2000[12](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steven-patrick-morrissey-mn0002958655).
## References
1. [Morrissey, LC Linked Data Service, Library of Congress](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n91116097)
2. [Morrissey, Penguin Random House author page](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2048560/morrissey/)
3. [Morrissey, MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/013fa897-86db-41d3-8e9f-386c8a34f4e6)
4. [BBC Living Icons: Morrissey](https://www.bbc.com/arts/livingicons/bio08.shtml)
5. [Morrissey (Steven Patrick Morrissey), National Portrait Gallery](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp09993/morrissey-steven-patrick-morrissey)
6. [Morrissey, Store norske leksikon](https://snl.no/Morrissey)
7. [Notice de personne "Morrissey (1959-....)", Bibliothèque nationale de France](https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb139357377)
8. [Steven Patrick Morrissey dit Morrissey, Larousse](https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/personnage/Steven_Patrick_Morrissey_dit_Morrissey/155522)
9. [The complete guide to Morrissey, Classic Pop](https://www.classicpopmag.com/features/low-down-morrissey/)
10. [Morrissey news index, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/music/morrissey)
11. [Morrissey official site](https://www.themorrisseyofficial.com/)
12. [Steven Patrick Morrissey, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/steven-patrick-morrissey-mn0002958655)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Post-punk and new wave › Singers and frontpeople*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license