A Light That Never Goes Out
The Enduring Saga of the Smiths
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
The definitive biography of the Smiths, one of the most beloved, respected, and storied indie rock bands in music history.
“[Tony] Fletcher . . . combines original interviews with quotes and anecdotes from the vast paper trail of the British music press to piece together this enigmatic band’s rise and fall in obsessive detail.”—Boston Globe
They were, their fans believe, the best band in the world. Hailing from Manchester, England, The Smiths were critical and popular favorites throughout their mid-1980s heyday and beyond, and to this day are considered one of the greatest British rock groups of all time.
A Light That Never Goes Out is the definitive story of the Smiths’ rise and fall—from the legendary circumstances of their first meeting to their tragic breakup at the very height of their success. Acclaimed music writer Tony Fletcher, a British-born contemporary of the Smiths, paints a vivid portrait of the fascinating personalities within the group—iconic lead singer Morrissey; his songwriting partner, guitarist Johnny Marr; and the talented but internally unappreciated rhythm section of Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce—and takes readers and fans behind the scenes of the Smiths’ early days, their life on tour and in the studio, and the details of their disbandment in 1987.
For all the drama of the group’s internal politics and the heartbreak of their premature breakup, A Light That Never Goes Out is a celebration: the saga of four working-class kids from a northern English city who come together despite contrasting personalities, find a musical bond, inspire a fanatical following, and leave a lasting legacy on the world of popular music.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The Smiths, one of the most influential rock groups in the U.K. since the Beatles perhaps the most influential U.K. band of the 1980s finally get the complete and vivid biography they deserve. Fletcher, a music journalist who has written well-received bios of rock icons R.E.M., Keith Moon of the Who, and most recently the Clash (The Complete Guide to Their Music) perfectly captures the wit and complexity of the band and its music. Fletcher details the formation of the band in Manchester in 1982 by guitarist Johnny Marr, whose goal was to combine music "led by an upbeat, chiming guitar riff" influenced by punk groups the Clash and the Jam with lyrics that were "'searingly poetic and jubilant" in the spirit of Leonard Cohen. He found his lyricist and lead singer in the now-legendary front-man Morrissey, who provided bleak and funny words to such songs as "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now." Fletcher is excellent is describing how the Smiths' music not only served as a reaction to the synth-based pop music of the early 1980s but also ushered in a new era of "indie rock" outside the corporate music world. He provides complete details of the band members' intense personal, musical, and business conflicts. Best of all for the group's ongoing admirers and fans, Fletcher displays an unflagging enthusiasm in describing every aspect of how the Smiths produced "a torrent of brilliant work in a blazing stream of exhaustive glory."
