Mike Joyce (born
Michael Joyce, 1 June 1963) 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).
In 1989, Joyce and Andy Rourke sued former Smiths' colleagues
Johnny Marr and
Steven Morrissey for an equal share of performance and
recording royalties. Joyce won the case and was awarded damages of around one million pounds from Morrissey and Marr.
He was not invited to the
Manchester v Cancer benefit concert organised by
Andy Rourke in January 2006 because of Johnny Marr's involvement in the event.
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.
In October 2007 Joyce toured the UK playing drums for Vinny Peculiar with Bonehead on bass guitar.
His show "Alternative Therapy" began broadcasting in 2006 on 96.2 The Revolution (alongside Mani, Clint Boon and
Martin Coogan. The station was taken over by Steve Penk in 2008 which resulted in moving the show to Manchester Radio Online. After discussions in 2007 with EVR, a radio company located in New York, Joyce decided to take the chart show to
East Village Radio.