Mike Joyce

Mike Joyce (born Michael Joyce, 1 June 1963, Fallowfield, Manchester) is an English drummer. He is best known as the drummer for The Smiths.

While The Smiths provided Joyce with his first taste of success, he had previously drummed for Manchester band The Hoax and Irish punks Victim. Joyce was a member of the Smiths throughout the band's existence (1982–1987).

Immediately after the break-up of t he band, Joyce and Smiths bassist Andy Rourke played with Sinéad O'Connor. They, along with Craig Gannon, also provided the rhythm section for two singles by Smiths' singer Morrissey – "Interesting Drug" and "The Last of the Famous International Playboys" and their b-sides. Work with Suede, Buzzcocks, Public Image Limited, Julian Cope, P. P. Arnold and Pete Wylie followed throughout the 1990s.

Joyce, Rourke, and Gannon reunited to work on a project with fellow Manchester musician Aziz Ibrahim (formerly of The Stone Roses), ex-Oasis guitarist Bonehead (as Moondog One), and Vinny Peculiar.

In July 2007, Joyce along with former bandmate Andy Rourke released Inside The Smiths, a DVD which chronicled their experiences of being in the band. Both speak highly of both Morrissey and Marr in the film and convey how special they believed The Smiths were and still are to them.

October 2007 saw Joyce touring the UK playing drums for Vinny Peculiar featuring Bonehead from Oasis on bass guitar and also played briefly with Manchester band, Autokat.

In February 2009, Joyce took his radio show Alternative Therapy to Manchester Radio online and in April 2010, the show moved to New York's premier independent radio station East Village Radio, as Mike Joyce's Coalition Chart Show.

April of 2012 saw Mike recruited by Jungle Media to set up and run an independent internet station called Beatwolf Radio. The station has a unique feature in that every presenter is given a 2 hour slot and they choose the content. There's no playlist or remit or demograph involved.

Presenters include, 808 State, The Whip, Dave Haslam, Jo Good, The Now Wave dj's, Rich Reason and Mike himself, presenting The Record Store Chart and Alternative Therapy.

Mike also regularly deputises on BBC's 6 Music for: Guy Garvey, Radcliffe & Macconie, Huey Morgan and Marc Riley.