Born on 1 June: Mike Joyce, the man who made the heart of The Smiths beat

Born in 1963 in Manchester, his professional destiny remains inseparably tied to his time with The Smiths between 1982 and 1987.

The son of Irish parents, he shares the same surname as the famous poet born in Dublin. But that’s where the similarities end. Like many children of his generation, he took an early interest in music—not just in listening, but in playing, too! Before joining the Smiths, he learned the basics with some now-forgotten small bands such as The Hoax and Victim. 

After answering an advert placed by Johnny Marr (guitar), he joined Morrissey (vocals) and Andy Rourke (bass) to embark on the Smiths’ brief adventure. His drumming, often discreet but always precise, helped give rhythm to some of the group’s iconic tracks like "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out", "This Charming Man", and "How Soon Is Now?".

Of course, to this day, everyone wants to know what those exceptional years were like for him. As is often the case, the reality proved less dazzling than the myth. In 2004, he told the BBC: "I think the Smiths were a meeting of very different people, and maybe that’s what made the music so special. We didn’t come from the same backgrounds, but when we played, something magical happened." He told the magazine "Mojo" in 2011: "I don’t think people realise just how tense it was sometimes. It wasn’t always easy. Morrissey and Johnny were brilliant, but they were also very protective of their world. Andy and I just tried to keep up."

After the band split in 1987, Joyce worked with many artists, including Sinead O’Connor (with Andy), Public Image Ltd, and Julian Cope. He's also known for having taken Morrissey and Marr to court in 1996 to obtain a fairer share of royalties from the band's music. He won the case.

Today, Mike Joyce continues to work in music, both as a producer and as a radio presenter. Mixing rock classics, lesser-known tracks and interesting new finds, the playlists from his show on local station XS Manchester are well worth a listen. 

Shaken by the passing of Andy Rourke in May 2023—his real partner in The Smiths—he decided to become even more involved in promoting pancreatic cancer screening, the illness that claimed Andy. He also led a fundraising initiative to finance a mural in Andy’s memory. Painted by artist Akse-P19, it was unveiled in their hometown in November 2024.

European audiences were surprised to see him return to the stage in April 2025, alongside Peter Doherty (The Libertines), who embarked on a small, intimate tour before releasing his solo album "Felt Better Alive." Unless I’m mistaken, it was the first time Mike had been seen back on stage since 2007...

(MH with Stéphane Soupart – Photo: © Christophe Dehousse / Music Belgium Photos)

Photo: Peter Doherty hugs Mike Joyce at the end of their concert at OM Seraing in Liège (Belgium) on 28 April 2025