Mike Joyce

Joyce was born in Manchester to Irish Catholic parents, and attended St Gregory’s Grammar School in the city. While the Smiths provided Joyce with his first taste of success, he had previously drummed for Manchester band The Hoax and Northern Irish punk rock group Victim. Joyce was a member of The Smiths throughout the band’s existence (1982–87). Immediately after the break-up of the band, Joyce and Smiths bassist Andy Rourke played with Sinéad O’Connor.[2]

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,[3] Public Image Limited,[4] Julian Cope, P. P. Arnold[4] 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 and Simply Red), ex-Oasis guitarist Bonehead (as Moondog One), and Vinny Peculiar