21 Bands We Love Who Love The Smiths (And Morrissey)

30 years ago today, a young group from Manchester, England, the Smiths, released their self-titled debut album. Unbeknownst to the band at the time, that record, and the three full-lengths that would follow throughout the Smiths’ short five-year existence, would go on to influence an entire generation of bands, amass a cult following, and would even contribute in no small way to the founding of this very magazine.

Since their split in 1987, the Smiths’ reputation has only grown, helped, of course, by the successful solo career of former frontman—and former AP cover star—Morrissey (whose upcoming U.S. tour goes on sale tomorrow), and bolstered by an ever-growing crop of young bands paying tribute.

Though The Smiths’ influence is immeasurable, and can be found in sound, dress, lyrical references, musical themes, pop culture and even in band names, one easy way for many artists to honor the group’s legacy is by covering their music.

Whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering the Smiths, we hope you can appreciate these covers and re-imaginings of Smiths and Morrissey tunes from some of our favorite AP bands.

Arcade Fire – “Still Ill” [from the Smiths’ The Smiths; 1984]

Arcade Fire went on quite a Smiths kick in 2007, incorporating a live cover of “Still Ill” into many of their shows, especially those in the Smiths’ native U.K. They’ve unfortunately phased it out of their performances in recent years.

Braid – “This Charming Man” [from The Smiths’ The Smiths; 1984] & “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” [from the Smiths’ The Queen Is Dead; 1986]
 
Braid took on not one but two Smiths covers on 2000’s rarities compilation Movie Music, Vol. 2. Performed in Braid’s signature emo-rock style, this pair of tracks stands as a testament to the thematic strength of the Smiths’ songwriting, and is able to resonate just as effectively no matter the arrangement.

Death Cab For Cutie – “This Charming Man” [from the Smiths’ The Smiths; 1984]

Included as a bonus track on the 2002 reissue of early Death Cab demo You Can Play These Songs With Chords, this cover is a surprisingly heavy snapshot of the early days of the band, held together by Ben Gibbard’s impassioned vocal delivery.

Who played it better? Death Cab For Cutie or Braid? 
 

At The Drive-In – “This Night Has Opened My Eyes” [from The Smiths’ Hatful Of Hollow; 1984]

Included on the posthumous At The Drive-In compilation This Station Is Non-Operational, the post-hardcore group’s cover is surprisingly restrained. Cedric Bixler-Zavala has a different vocal style than Morrissey, however, and it’s interesting to hear his unique delivery.

Deftones – “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” [from The Smiths’ Hatful Of Hollow; 1984] 
Though the Smiths’ “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” might seem like an odd cover choice for Deftones, their moody, dark take on the track is a brilliant reimagining, careful not to stray too far from what makes the original so great.

Muse – “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” [from The Smiths’ Hatful Of Hollow; 1984] 
Released as a B-side in 2001, Muse’s cover of “Please, Please, Please…” falls a bit short in arrangement, coming across a lot more Muse than Smiths, but singer Matthew Bellamy’s spot-on Morrissey impression (at his best, and then some) more than compensates.

Who played it better? Muse or Deftones?

H2O – “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” [from The Smiths’ Hatful Of Hollow; 1984]

Part of a 1996 punk and hardcore tribute compilation, The World Still Won’t Listen: A Tribute To The Smiths, H2O’s reworking of “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” takes the most liberties of any cover on the list. Heavier, faster and even lyrically altered, it’s the strength of H2O as a band that helps makes it work.

Radiohead – “The Headmaster Ritual” [from the Smiths’ Meat Is Murder; 1985]

It’s practically sacrilege to deem a cover song better than the original, but Radiohead’s live rendition of “The Headmaster Ritual” is essentially flawless. Renowned for their performance chops, Thom Yorke & co. not only recreate, but breathe new life into the track, making them about the closest thing to the actual Smiths this generation will likely ever get a chance to see.