Mike Joyce
Encyclopedia
Mike Joyce is an English drummer. He is best known as the drummer for The Smiths
.
Victim. Joyce was a member of the Smiths throughout the band's existence (1982–1987).
Immediately after the break-up of the band, Joyce and Smiths bassist Andy Rourke
played with Sinéad O'Connor
. They, along with Craig Gannon
, also provided the rhythm section for two singles
by Smiths' singer Morrissey
– "Interesting Drug
" and "The Last of the Famous International Playboys
" and their b-sides. Work with Suede
, Buzzcocks
, Public Image Limited, Julian Cope
, P. P. Arnold
and Pete Wylie
followed throughout the 1990s.
Joyce, Rourke, and Gannon reunited to work on a project with fellow Manchester musician Aziz Ibrahim
(formerly of The Stone Roses
), ex-Oasis
guitarist Bonehead
(as Moondog One
), and Vinny Peculiar.
In 1996, due to extreme financial problems, Joyce sued former Smiths' colleagues Johnny Marr
and Morrissey
for an equal share of performance and recording
royalties
(see The Smiths for more detail). He won the case earning 1 million pounds from Morrissey. He was therefore not invited to the Manchester v Cancer
benefit concert which was organised by Andy Rourke
because Johnny Marr
was playing. In the film documentary The Importance of Being Morrissey Morrissey describes it as a "terrible miscarriage of justice", declaring that he wishes "the very, very worst for Joyce for the rest of his life".
In July 2007, Joyce along with former bandmate Andy Rourke released Inside The Smiths, a DVD which chronicled their experiences of being in the band. Both speak highly of both Morrissey and Marr in the film and convey how special they believed The Smiths were and still are to them.
In October 2007 Joyce toured the UK playing drums for Vinny Peculiar with Bonehead on bass guitar.
Joyce was a member of up and coming Manchester band Autokat. In February 2009, Joyce took his radio show 'Alternative Therapy' to Manchester Radio online. In April 2010, the show moved to East Village Radio
, as 'Mike Joyce's Coalition Chart Show'.
In 2011 he continues to guest on BBC6 Music and Absolute radio and still has his regular show on EVR.
He also DJs in clubs around the world.
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
.
Career
While The Smiths provided Joyce with his first taste of success, he had previously drummed for Manchester band The Hoax and Irish punksPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
Victim. Joyce was a member of the Smiths throughout the band's existence (1982–1987).
Immediately after the break-up of the band, Joyce and Smiths bassist Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
played with Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....
. They, along with Craig Gannon
Craig Gannon
Craig Gannon , is an English guitar player. Previously best known for being the second guitarist in The Smiths, he is now a composer for film and television.-Career:...
, also provided the rhythm section for two singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
by Smiths' singer Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
– "Interesting Drug
Interesting Drug
"Interesting Drug" was the fourth solo single released by Morrissey. The song was not featured on one of Morrissey's main studio albums, but can be found on the compilation album Bona Drag along with the B-side "Such a Little Thing Makes Such a Big Difference"...
" and "The Last of the Famous International Playboys
The Last of the Famous International Playboys
"The Last of the Famous International Playboys" was the third single released by Morrissey. It reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was not featured on one of Morrissey's main studio albums, but can be found on the compilation album Bona Drag along with the B-side "Lucky Lisp"...
" and their b-sides. Work with Suede
Suede (band)
Suede are an English alternative rock band from London, formed in 1989. The group's most prominent early line-up featured singer Brett Anderson, guitarist Bernard Butler, bass player Mat Osman and drummer Simon Gilbert. By 1992, Suede were hailed as "The Best New Band in Britain", and attracted...
, Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton in 1976, led by singer–songwriter–guitarist Pete Shelley.They are regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement, punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock. They achieved commercial...
, Public Image Limited, Julian Cope
Julian Cope
Julian Cope is a British rock musician, author, antiquary, musicologist, poet and cultural commentator...
, P. P. Arnold
P. P. Arnold
P. P. Arnold is an American-born soul singer who enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom in the 1960s and beyond.-Early life:...
and Pete Wylie
Pete Wylie
-Studio albums:- Extended Plays :-Singles:-External links:***...
followed throughout the 1990s.
Joyce, Rourke, and Gannon reunited to work on a project with fellow Manchester musician Aziz Ibrahim
Aziz Ibrahim
Aziz Ibrahim is a British musician. He was born in Longsight, Manchester to Pakistani parents. He is best known for his work as guitarist with Simply Red, The Stone Roses and their former vocalist Ian Brown in whose support band he regularly performs – both in the studio and live...
(formerly of The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
), ex-Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
guitarist Bonehead
Paul Arthurs
Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs is an English musician and one of the founding members of the English rock band Oasis, best known as their rhythm guitar player from 1991-1999.-Early life:...
(as Moondog One
Moondog One
Moondog One was a Manchester based rock band. Members included former Oasis rhythm guitarist Paul Arthurs, Johnny Evans of Buffalo 66 as well as Mike Joyce and Andy Rourke of The Smiths....
), and Vinny Peculiar.
In 1996, due to extreme financial problems, Joyce sued former Smiths' colleagues Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
and Morrissey
Morrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
for an equal share of performance and recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
(see The Smiths for more detail). He won the case earning 1 million pounds from Morrissey. He was therefore not invited to the Manchester v Cancer
Manchester v Cancer
Manchester v Cancer was a benefit concert that was held on January 28, 2006, at Manchester's MEN Arena, in aid of cancer research at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, Europe's largest cancer research and treatment centre....
benefit concert which was organised by Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke
Andy Rourke is a bass guitarist best known for being a former member of The Smiths.-Career:...
because Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
was playing. In the film documentary The Importance of Being Morrissey Morrissey describes it as a "terrible miscarriage of justice", declaring that he wishes "the very, very worst for Joyce for the rest of his life".
In July 2007, Joyce along with former bandmate Andy Rourke released Inside The Smiths, a DVD which chronicled their experiences of being in the band. Both speak highly of both Morrissey and Marr in the film and convey how special they believed The Smiths were and still are to them.
In October 2007 Joyce toured the UK playing drums for Vinny Peculiar with Bonehead on bass guitar.
Joyce was a member of up and coming Manchester band Autokat. In February 2009, Joyce took his radio show 'Alternative Therapy' to Manchester Radio online. In April 2010, the show moved to East Village Radio
East Village Radio
East Village Radio is an Internet radio station which broadcasts from a storefront studio in the East Village of Manhattan, in New York City. EVR serves both as a voice for the local downtown cultural scene and as a forum for the community at large...
, as 'Mike Joyce's Coalition Chart Show'.
In 2011 he continues to guest on BBC6 Music and Absolute radio and still has his regular show on EVR.
He also DJs in clubs around the world.