Smiths, quiffs and tiffs: Morrissey at 50

An early picture of Morrissey. The young singer was quick to establish himself as a contrarian. Just look at how he's wearing his watch the wrong way around! And the way he flaunts a cardigan that clashes with the flag in the background! Tch! Photograph: Sheila Rock/Rex Features

Here's Moz among his fellow Smiths members in 1983, a year after the band formed. Morrissey sits behind guitarist Johnny Marr, perfecting his tortured artist pose, or possibly wondering why Marr's hands are so very, very white Photograph: Kevin Cummins/Hulton Archive

Morrissey and Marr were the creative centrepiece of the Smiths, so clashes were perhaps inevitable. However, they often learned to put their differences aside for the good of the music by duking it out, Kung Fu-style, as shown in this 1984 live shot Photograph: Stills Press Agency/Rex Features

1984 was also the year the band released their eponymous debut album, establishing a tradition of controversy of which Morrissey would seemingly never tire. The album's final track, Suffer Little Children, was about the moors murders that took place in Lancashire in the 60s, while the single Reel Around the Fountain was acccused of condoning paedophilia by the Sun. Widespread condemnation from tabloid reactionaries did little to quell the album or the band's success Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

With a quiff, a leather jacket and an air of decadence, Morrissey's iconic look was sealed in the minds of a thousand fans. Sadly, Marr's diamond necklace failed to catch on Photograph: Sipa Press/Rex Features

In 1985, the band released Meat is Murder, a title inspired by vegetarian Morrissey. The album was the first time the band worked with producer Stephen Street and featured the songs That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore and How Soon is Now? Meat is Murder also remains at the centre of frequent tense and boring discussions by overzealous Smiths fans about which of the band's albums is the best Photograph: Kevin Cummins/Hulton Archive

It's 1987, the year the Smiths' final album Strangeways, Here We Come, was released. Drummer Mike Joyce would go on to sue Morrissey and Marr for the measely 10% royalties he and bassist Andy Rourke were afforded. The judge found in the drummer's favour and famously called Morrissey 'devious, truculent and unreliable'. Proving that you can add begrudging to that list, Morrissey said he wished 'the very, very worst for Joyce for the rest of his life'. Photograph: Andre Csillag/Rex Features

Morrissey, in 1989, displays his love for Oscar Wilde, with whom the singer shares numerous similarities. Like Wilde, Morrissey is known for his withering one-liners, love of flowers and general down-your-nose intellect. Wilde, however, died at 46, so that's four years Morrissey has on the playright. In your eye, Wilde Photograph: Stills Press Agency/Rex Features

It's 1992 and Morrissey is enjoying the fruits of a solo career five years after the Smiths called it a day. His third solo album, Your Arsenal, was regarded by some fans as his best work outside the Smiths, while NME took umbrage with some of the lyrics and themes, including hooliganism and immigration. Thank God he was able to put that all behind him, eh? Photograph: Justin Thomas/EMPICS Entertainment/PA

Morrissey on stage in Nevada in 2004, the year his comeback album You Are the Quarry was released. We can't help but notice he appears to have moved his trademark flowers from his back pocket to his trouser zip Photograph: Ethan Miller/Reuters

Two years later, Morrissey releases the aptly titled Ringleader of the Tormentors and takes to swishing his mic lead around onstage to bring home the message Photograph: Michael Gottschalk/AFP/Getty

Ah, the Salford Lads Club, scene of the legendary 1985 portrait taken of the band by Stephen Wright. Hard to believe its been 27 years since the singer first formed the Smiths, offering us laughs, gasps and music along the way. Happy birthday Morrissey! Photograph: Don McPhee