The Smiths were the definitive British indie rock band of the '80s, marking the end of synth-driven new wave and the beginning of the guitar-based rock that dominated English rock into the '90s. The group's core members, vocalist Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, were obsessive rock fans inspired by the D.I.Y. ethics of punk, but they also had a fondness for girl groups, pop, and rockabilly. They also represented one of the strangest collaborative teams in rock history: Marr was the rock traditionalist, meticulously layering his guitar tracks in the studio. Morrissey, on the other hand, embraced the forlorn, romantic poetry of Oscar Wilde. While it led to the Smiths' early demise, their friction resulted in a flurry of music that provided the blueprint for British rock in the following decade.