Published 30 years ago this month, it’s believed that this was The Smiths’ first ever magazine interview - in fact, so early was it conducted that Andy Rourke hadn’t even joined the band yet (Dale Hibbert - “D” in the interview - was on bass at this point in time), and Morrissey was still known as Steven (“S”).
Short, early article about The Smiths, from Time Out, 8-14 December, 1983.
Review of The Smiths’ 17th November 1983 at Westfield College, by Don Perretta for Smash Hits.
Frank Worrall interviews Morrissey for one of The Smiths’ earliest interviews in Melody Maker, 3 September 1983.
Read from scans only. (No transcript currently available.)
Very early Smiths interview from Sounds magazine, June 4th 1983. This was one of Morrissey and Johnny’s first proper appearances in the music press…
Read from scans only. (No transcript currently available.)
Or view in original double-page spread format HERE.
Early Morrissey interview with David Dorrell from the NME, 24 September 1983.
Read from scans only. (No transcript currently available.)
Very short, introductory Smiths article/interview from Smash Hits magazine, 10 November 1983.
From back when The Smiths gave interviews to fanzines… :)
Read from scans only. (No transcript currently available.)
Read from scans here, or from transcript at Forever Ill.
“Crisp songs and salted lyrics”: this was The Smiths’ first ever NME interview, way back in May 1983.
(And apologies to any Virgin Prunes fans for editing out their “Portrait of the Artist as a Consumer” feature!)