I like a lot of '80s goth music, such as Bauhaus, Fields of the Nephilim, Einsturzende Neubauten, Killing Joke and co. I have absolutely no love for Morrissey whatsoever, and only limited patience for anything The Smiths ever recorded. Morrissey seems like a delusional stageschool kid who thinks that a few campy Dickensian mannerisms offer a usable substitute to actual intellect. There is a reason he is enduringly popular in Latin countries where English is the 2nd or 3rd language; he sounds intelligent as long as you don't actually focus in on the words, and his weird pompy vocal delivery make it sound like he has something important to say. You cock your head to one side and deliver your pointless hyperbole in a sneering and aloof manner, so therefore you must be smart, right?
The problem, for me, is that homosexuality is now so commonly accepted in the UK that you aren't in any sort of direct opposition to anything if you happen to mince around a bit and wear a tight shirt. Nobody is really judging you for that, and actually a lot of heterosexual guys dress the same way Morrissey did in the '80s. What is the big deal? Old Smiths videos look like bad pantomime, with Morrissey flaunting this disturbingly crass poofter image, all whilst resolutely denying any form of homosexuality and maintaining celibacy. To me that reeks of a weird form of gay-sploitation; adopting all the effete mannerisms your chuntering homophobic Dad was angry at purely to present yourself as a credible 'musician in opposition' to flog a few records? That shit has aged badly. At the end of the day I don't really care about 'crashing bores' or rough working men's clubs, so Morrissey's solo works do nothing for me either.
Johnny Marr was the real brains of that outfit, but I don't think he could come up with a good guitar tone if you put a gun to his head.