Question 1

True or false: Johnny Marr played guitar on a Talking Heads album after The Smiths split.

Accepted Answer

False. Marr never worked with Talking Heads. He did collaborate with The The, Electronic, and Modest Mouse, but not with David Byrne's band.

Question 2

True or false: Morrissey wrote 'This Charming Man' about a male lover he met in a London pub.

Accepted Answer

False. The lyrics were actually inspired by a story Morrissey heard about a young man whose bicycle got a flat tire and was offered a ride by an older, wealthy man. No personal pub encounter.

Question 3

True or false: The Smiths’ debut album was titled 'The Queen Is Dead'.

Accepted Answer

False. Their debut album was actually self-titled 'The Smiths' (1984). 'The Queen Is Dead' was their third studio album, released in 1986.

Question 4

True or false: The Smiths never had a UK number-one single during their active years.

Accepted Answer

True. The Smiths' highest-charting single in the UK was 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now', peaking at number 10. They disbanded in 1987 without a number-one hit.

Question 5

True or false: The Smiths' 'Meat Is Murder' album cover features a real photo of a Vietnam War veteran.

Accepted Answer

True. It’s a cropped photo of US Marine Michael Wynn, taken during the Vietnam War. The band used it without permission, but later settled amicably.

Question 6

True or false: Bassist Andy Rourke was originally a guitarist before joining The Smiths.

Accepted Answer

True. Rourke started on guitar but switched to bass specifically for The Smiths because Marr already handled guitar. His melodic basslines became a signature.

Question 7

True or false: Morrissey and Johnny Marr first met at a Patti Smith concert in 1982.

Accepted Answer

False. They first met at Morrissey's house in Stretford, Manchester in May 1982, introduced by mutual friend Steve Pomfret.

Question 8

True or false: The Smiths covered 'These Boots Are Made for Walkin'' on their final tour.

Accepted Answer

False. The Smiths never performed that song on their final tour. Setlists from the 1986 tour show no such cover, which is a fan myth.

The Smiths Trivia Questions