The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester, UK during 1982, comprising vocalist Steven Patrick Morrissey, guitarist Johnny Marr, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce. Critics have called them one of the most important groups to emerge from the British independent music scene of the '80s. NME named the Smiths in 2002 as "the artists to have had the most influence on the NME". The following year 4 of the band's L.Ps appeared on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".