When The Smiths arrived in 1984, it changed everything. Johnny Marr’s bright guitar work met Morrissey’s poetic lyrics to create a new kind of British indie rock. Behind the jangle, though, are stories that even the most devoted fans might not know. Here are five little-known facts about The Smiths that shine a fresh light on a landmark debut.
1. The First Version Was Lost to the Heat
Before the world heard The Smiths, there was another version—recorded in a sweltering London basement with producer Troy Tate. A heatwave made it nearly impossible to keep guitars in tune, and the sessions took on an almost dreamlike intensity. Some of those early takes still circulate among collectors, offering a glimpse of what might have been.
2. Johnny Marr’s Guitar Almost Melted
During those first Elephant Studios sessions, Marr’s Rickenbacker reportedly slipped out of tune every few minutes from the heat. He described having to stop mid-take to cool the instrument down, giving every recording moment an unpredictable energy. That raw, urgent sound became part of the band’s DNA.
3. The Album’s Cover Star Was a Warhol Icon
The striking image on the cover isn’t a band photo—it’s American actor Joe Dallesandro, captured in a still from Andy Warhol associate Paul Morrissey’s 1968 film Flesh. Morrissey (the singer, not the director) chose it himself, loving how it captured the beauty of the ordinary and the boldness of the unknown.
4. “Hand in Glove” Was Funded by the Band’s Manager’s Wallet
When no label would back them, The Smiths’ manager Joe Moss personally paid for their first recording session. That gamble produced “Hand in Glove,” the track that convinced Rough Trade to sign them. It wasn’t just a single—it was the spark that ignited a movement.
5. A £6,000 Gamble Made Music History
When The Smiths finally wrapped recording with John Porter, Rough Trade spent £6,000 to finish it—a major risk for an indie label at the time. The investment paid off immediately, sending the album to #2 on the UK Albums Chart and announcing a new era for British guitar music.