Library Rock's Backpages

The Smiths: Lyceum, London

Max Bell, The Times, 14 February 1984

DESPITE THEIR PROSAIC NAME, the Smiths are very much the band of the moment. Six months ago this Mancunian four-piece were breaking out of the club circuit. On Sunday they packed the Lyceum Ballroom with an air of reverential expectancy. Perhaps realising the pressures of their rise, or maybe because the singer Morrissey was suffering the after-effects of bronchitis, the band gave a performance that was workmanlike rather than inspired.

Total word count of piece: 300

Subscribe

Becoming a member is easy. Membership gives you access to all the thousands of articles in the library.

Click here to go to Subscribe page.

Click here for academic and other group subscriptions.