"The Queen Is Dead" is the third studio album by the English rock band The Smiths, released on June 16, 1986, through Rough Trade Records. The album was produced by Morrissey, the band's singer, and Johnny Marr, their guitarist, with Stephen Street serving as the engineer. Marr wrote several songs during the band's 1985 tour of Britain, collaborating with bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce on arrangements during soundchecks.
The album title is inspired by Hubert Selby Jr.'s novel "Last Exit to Brooklyn," and the cover art features French actor Alain Delon from the 1964 film "L'Insoumis."
"The Queen Is Dead" performed well commercially, spending 22 weeks on the UK Albums Chart and reaching number two. In the US, it peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1990. The album received critical acclaim and has been highly regarded over the years. Rolling Stone ranked it 113th on its 2020 list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time," while NME named it the greatest album of all time in their 2013 list.
Overall, "The Queen Is Dead" is celebrated for its blend of indie rock, post-punk influences, Morrissey's poignant lyrics, and Johnny Marr's intricate guitar work, solidifying its place as a seminal album in alternative rock history.
