Smiths record first demo at Decibel Studios

After remaining with the band for several rehearsals, Pomfret departed acrimoniously. He was replaced by the bass player Dale Hibbert, who worked at Manchester’s Decibel Studios, where Marr had met him while recording Freak Party ‘s demo. Through Hibbert, the Smiths recorded their first demo at Decibel one night in August 1982. Aided by drummer Simon Wolstencroft , whom Marr had worked with in Freak Party, the band recorded both “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” and “Suffer Little Children”. Wolstencroft was not interested in joining the band, so following auditions Mike Joyce joined; he later revealed that he was under the influence of magic mushrooms during his audition. Meanwhile, Morrissey took the demo recording to Factory Records , but Factory’s Tony Wilson was not interested.