It's
hard to remember what a seismic shock it was when the Smiths exploded on to indie-pop
consciousness with their first single 'Hand in Glove'. Sounds' Bill Black got in on the ground floor of their '80s ascent--Barney Hoskyns, Editorial Director, Rock's
Backpages
Befitting a band verging on greatness, the Smiths have a keen sense of
their own history.
In its annals are recorded such celebrated moments as the fated (and
feted) meeting of TuneSmith Johnny Marr and WordSmith Morrissey, the release of
their daunting debut 'Hand In Glove' and "the Smiths as child
molesters" scandal that would have destroyed lesser groups - and rocked
this one not a little.
A messy affair that has still to be completely cleaned up, the sordid
details do not bear repeating here (see other music papers for a full, fatuous
account glorying in deed and misdeed).
After all, this piece isn't designed to cross-examine anyone about the
harmful outcome of wilful ambiguity and reckless interpretation, simply to
