The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982 and composed of singer Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke, and drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerge from 1980s British independent music. The Smiths music focuses on a guitar, bass, and drum sound, fusing 1960s rock and post-punk. They rejected the synth-pop sound that was predominant at the time.

While some sources do not specify a genre for The Smiths, others describe them as indie pop, jangle pop, and British indie rock. The Smiths became the first indie outsiders to achieve mainstream success on their own terms. Their music was inspired by the D.I.Y. ethics of punk. The bands iconography and music was so strong that despite Morrisseys aesthetic and political shifts after he went solo, many fans can easily separate The Smiths off in their minds.