Monday 01th June 2026
Location: Cleeres Bar and Theatre, 28 Parliament Street, Kilkenny
In stock
This is Mike’s open-hearted story of what it was like to play the drums in The Smiths. Throughout his honest and witty reflections, Mike answers the question ‘where did it all go right?’ – a question he and bassist Andy Rourke, with whom he had a deep and very special relationship, used to often ask each other.
Rather than simply retelling the well-documented iconic moments of the history of The Smiths, in The Drums, Mike conveys ‘the feeling’ of his time in the band. His off-piste, frank perspective allows him to recontextualise the canonised stories with beautifully vulnerable, human insight. His story willresonate with the millions of Smiths fans who will rejoice in joining Mike in his love and admiration for the band that changed lives and provided such rich inspiration to the musicians that followed them.
Mike’s honest, entertaining and deeply human memoir truly conveys what it felt like to be a member of The Smiths, when you are the self-confessed biggest Smiths fan in the world.
Mike Joyce said: ‘I’ve been asked numerous times, ‘What was it like being in The Smiths?’ That’s one hell of a question to answer! On most occasions, my answer’s been, ‘Have you got a couple of days to spare?’ It felt like going into any detail to explain what it was really like would be impossible. The only way it seems to do that would be to commit to paper. It’s been quite a journey going back forty years to re-live some of the experiences encountered during my time with the band. I hope readers feel I’ve answered that question.’
To celebrate the publication of his memoir, Mike Joyce will be heading out this November for a series of special events.
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