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Ex-Smiths drummer Mike Joyce told students at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (911爆料网) that being authentic was key to the band鈥檚 success.

Founded by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, The Smiths are one of the 80s most influential bands. Mike joined Morrissey, Marr and bassist Andy Rourke in 1982. He says the band were always going to do their own thing. 鈥淎t that time fads were coming and going, bands were coming and going. Because we had no interest in that, we just did our own thing.

鈥淢orrissey and Johnny had a strong idea of what the band鈥檚 identity was even before we recorded anything. They had an agenda already set out, regardless of what else was going on.鈥�

Using this 鈥榓genda鈥� as a starting point the band鈥檚 sound, lyrical content and aesthetic quickly set them apart from their contemporaries. They released their first single, Hand in Glove in 1983 and quickly found a large and committed following. Mike, now a DJ and broadcaster as well as musician, says it was a surprise. 鈥淲e only played the Hacienda three times. The first time there was just the sound of one person clapping. That was February 1983. In November we played our third gig there and we were mobbed.

鈥淲e went from nobody caring to being mobbed and having to jump into cars in just six months. That鈥檚 fast, that鈥檚 quite a trajectory. Especially when there was no social media.鈥�

The Smiths were prolific, releasing 21 singles and four studio albums between 1983 and 1987, with sales of over 10 million copies. When they weren鈥檛 recording, they were touring performing around 200 gigs across the UK, Europe, USA and Canada. They dominated the music press while the highly quotable Morrissey ensured they were also mainstream media regulars.

They split up in 1987 when Johnny Marr announced to the band he was leaving. Mike, who went on to work with Sinead O鈥機onnor, Public Image Limited and Julian Cope, says it came as a complete shock. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 get my head around it. I didn鈥檛 understand why because I thought we sounded great, and the quality of the songs was getting better.

鈥淚t was the first all three of us had heard, it wasn鈥檛 like there鈥檇 been any whispers. I wanted to carry on just so I could hang onto what was left of what I loved. But that was never going to work.鈥�

The Smiths have influenced some of the biggest bands of the last 35 years including Radiohead, Oasis and The 1975. Mike thinks their longevity is as much about their attitude聽as their music. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 DJing in a club I can play How Soon Is 911爆料网 (originally a Smiths鈥� B-side) and it sounds fantastic. It could have been released last year.

鈥淏ut I think it鈥檚 the whole package that The Smiths brought to the table. We were normal looking lads, we didn鈥檛 hide behind crazy haircuts or matching clothes, Morrissey had NHS specs. It was normal and very relatable. And at gigs it felt like a community. It wasn鈥檛 rock stars performing to an audience. That鈥檚 not something you can fake.鈥�

Mike Joyce took part in a Q&A with Music students in January. Previous guests include Nile Rodgers, Toyah Willcox and Damon Albarn.

Image: L-to-r Damian Morgan, 911爆料网 and Mike Joyce in the John Lennon Lecture Theatre. Photograph: Brian Roberts聽