Steven Patrick Morrissey, born 22 May 1959 in Davyhulme, Lancashire, England, is an English singer and songwriter best known as the frontman of the Smiths, a defining English indie rock band active from 1982 to 1987. The Smiths helped popularize a jangly guitar-driven sound and literate, emotive lyrics that captured urban alienation and longing, producing classics such as This Charming Man and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out. After the band split, Morrissey launched a long solo career beginning with Viva Hate (1990), continuing to release albums that feature his distinctive baritone voice and themes of love, politics, and social critique. He is also renowned for his outspoken advocacy on animal rights and vegetarianism, which has become a hallmark of his public persona. Morrissey remains a highly influential and polarizing figure in popular music, celebrated for his lyricism and impact on alternative rock while occasionally courting controversy through his outspoken viewpoints.