The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce to release autobiography, ‘The Drums’
Mike Joyce, the drummer for The Smiths, is set to release a new autobiography recounting his life with the band, titled The Drums.
Joyce’s book comes as the third memoir from the four members of The Smiths, following Morrissey’s and Johnny Marr’s efforts in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
A synopsis from the publisher promises that the autobiography will take a “no holes barred” approach, before adding: “The written history of the Smiths is not missing an encyclopaedic account of everything that happened over the years; but Mike’s honest, entertaining and deeply human memoir is what Smiths fans have been waiting for. This book truly conveys what it felt like to be a member of the Smiths.”
Joyce has undeniably endured a turbulent history with the band, with one of his most famous controversial points coming when he and the late bassist Andy Rourke sued their bandmates in a High Court case in 1996 over royalties and earnings, which they each were only gaining 10% of.
Joyce and Rourke ultimately won the case, with the former being awarded over £1 million in damages, and The Smiths’ royalties being readdressed to a 25% cut each.
Alongside various other feuds over the years, this makes up part of the reason that the band are highly unlikely ever to get back together, with Marr having claimed that he turned down the chance of a reunion as “It was a little bit about principles, but I’m not an idiot, I just think the vibe’s not right.”
Joyce also agreed with this but under different circumstances, as he said following Rourke’s death in May 2023 from pancreatic cancer that the band’s ability to reform without their bass player would be “impossible”.
Joyce’s autobiography, The Drums, will be released on November 6th, 2025.
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