Steven Patrick Morrissey was born in Manchester on May 22nd 1959 Singer-songwriter & co-founder of the Smiths (1982-1987) Morrissey has been a solo artist for twenty-six years during which time he has had three number 1 albums in England in three different decades Achieving twelve Top 10 albums (plus nine with the Smiths) his songs have been recorded by David Bowie Nancy Sinatra Marianne Faithfull Chrissie Hynde Thelma Houston My Chemical Romance & Christy Moore amongst others An animal protectionist in 2006 Morrissey was voted the second greatest living British icon by viewers of the BBC losing out to Sir David Attenborough In 2007 Morrissey was voted the greatest northern male past or present in a nationwide newspaper poll In 2012 Morrissey was awarded the Keys to the City of Tel-Aviv It has been said ' Most pop stars have to be dead before they reach the iconic status that Morrissey has reached in his lifetime' Autobiography covers Morrissey's life from his birth until the present day