Forty years after the release of The Queen Is Dead, former The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce and acclaimed producer Stephen Street will reunite for a UK tour celebrating one of the most influential British albums of all time.
The nationwide tour begins on 1 October 2026 and will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the landmark 1986 album through live conversation, rare archive material and audience Q&A sessions.
Inside the making of The Queen Is Dead
Hosted by a special guest presenter at each event, Joyce and Street will guide audiences through a track-by-track exploration of The Queen Is Dead, sharing stories from the original recording sessions, technical insights and personal memories from the making of the album.
Each show will also include:
- Archive video footage
- Rare memorabilia displays
- A live audience Q&A
- Signing opportunities with Mike Joyce and Stephen Street
Released in 1986, The Queen Is Dead is widely regarded as one of the defining albums of British indie music and was previously named NME’s Greatest Album of All Time.
Full UK tour dates
The anniversary tour will visit venues across England and Scotland before concluding in London.
The confirmed dates are:
- 1 October – Arc Theatre, Stockton
- 4 October – New Century Hall, Manchester
- 8 October – Cheese & Grain, Frome
- 18 October – Kidderminster Town Hall
- 22 October – Y Theatre, Leicester
- 8 November – Tung Auditorium, Liverpool
- 12 November – Foundry, Sheffield
- 26 November – Queens Hall, Edinburgh
- 5 December – Kings Place, London
Why a Smiths reunion remains unlikely
While the anniversary tour celebrates one of The Smiths’ most acclaimed albums, it does not involve a reunion of the band.
Former guitarist Johnny Marr has repeatedly dismissed the prospect of The Smiths reforming, pointing to differences between himself and former frontman Morrissey.
When fans suggested a reunion following the announcement of Oasis’ comeback, Marr responded with a social media post featuring politician Nigel Farage, referencing Morrissey’s well-publicised political views.
Speaking previously about the possibility of reforming the band, Marr said:
“I can only really speak for myself, I don’t feel like it’s necessary at all really.
“I really like moving forward. Myself and Andy (Rourke, bass player) play together when I’m over in New York … he plays a couple of songs with me and that’s always really nice, but that’s really as far as it needs to go I think.”
The Smiths’ original bassist, Andy Rourke, died in 2023.
