As the drummer for
The Smiths,
Mike Joyce was basically lost in the shadows of the group's flamboyant, eccentric vocalist
Morrissey and stylish, inventive guitarist
Johnny Marr.
Joyce joined
The Smiths in 1982.
The Smiths became one of Britain's most acclaimed and controversial bands. After
The Smiths split in 1987,
Joyce and Smiths bassist
Andy Rourke played with
Sinéad O'Connor;
Joyce toured with her as well. In 1991, former Teardrop Explodes singer
Julian Cope then hired
Joyce for his critically praised Peggy Suicide album.
Joyce also filed a lawsuit that year against
Morrissey and
Marr over profits from
The Smiths; he won in 1996.
Joyce then became a member of the Buzzcocks, the legendary
british punk group. The Buzzcocks, one of
The Smiths' influences, had initially disbanded in 1981; however, they reunited in 1989 and recruited
Joyce after original drummer
John Maher left. However,
Joyce's stint with the Buzzcocks was short-lived; he eventually joined
Public Image Ltd. and remained with them until 1992.
Joyce formed
Aziz in 1999 with guitarist
Aziz Ibrahim, ex-
Jam vocalist
Paul Weller, bassist
Noel Redding, and drummer
Steve White.
Aziz debuted at a benefit concert in Manchester, England, in March 1999. In 2000,
Aziz released the CD Middle Road. ~ Michael Sutton, All Music Guide
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