Mike Joyce Wife: Who Is Mike Joyce Married To? (2026)

Mike Joyce, best known as the drummer of the legendary Manchester band The Smiths, has been married to Christina Riley, known as Tina, since 1994. The couple's long-running marriage has lasted more than three decades, making them one of the most enduring partnerships in the Britpop and indie-rock world.

Joyce, born in Manchester to Irish Catholic parents, was The Smiths' drummer from the band's formation-era lineup through their 1987 split. He has three children with his wife Tina.

Who Is Christina Riley?

Christina Riley — known to friends and family as Tina — married Mike Joyce in 1994, seven years after The Smiths disbanded. She maintains a low public profile, but she has occasionally appeared alongside her husband at music-related events. In an NME interview about a proposed mural for late Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, Joyce said: "Me and my wife, Tina, thought it'd be a great idea to honour Andy publicly." Joyce's 2025 memoir The Drums also touches on their enduring relationship, noting that he invited Tina to The Smiths' Hacienda gig in 1983 — early in the band's career and more than a decade before they married.

Marriage Timeline

Joyce and Tina reportedly met in the early 1980s, when The Smiths were still an up-and-coming Manchester band. They were in a long-term relationship for years before tying the knot in 1994. Their wedding came in the same year that Joyce's career was at a crossroads, with session work with Buzzcocks, Public Image Ltd, Julian Cope, and Morrissey's early solo singles. The couple has been married for over 30 years and, unlike many of his Smiths bandmates, Joyce has kept his family life largely out of the tabloids.

Children

Mike Joyce and Christina have three children. Some unofficial biographies name them as Olivia, Faye, and Francis, though their identities have not been widely confirmed in mainstream reporting. Joyce has generally shielded his children from publicity, and little public information is available about them.

Career Highlights

Born on 1 June 1963 in Manchester, Joyce attended St Gregory's Grammar School and lived in the Hulme Crescents estate as a young man. He joined The Smiths in 1982 and played drums on all four of the band's studio albums: The Smiths (1984), Meat Is Murder (1985), The Queen Is Dead (1986), and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987). His drumming drives the powerful intro of "The Queen Is Dead" and the delicate ballad "I Know It's Over."

In 1996, Joyce won a landmark court case against former bandmates Morrissey and Johnny Marr, successfully arguing under the 1890 Partnership Act that he was entitled to an equal share of performance and recording royalties. He was awarded damages of around £1 million. After The Smiths, he played with Buzzcocks, Public Image Ltd, Suede, Julian Cope, P. P. Arnold, and Pete Wylie, and appeared on Morrissey's early solo singles "Interesting Drug" and "The Last of the Famous International Playboys."

Parallel to music, Joyce built a broadcasting career: he has hosted shows on BBC 6 Music and East Village Radio, and since October 2017 has hosted a weekly show on XS Manchester, which was nominated for Best Specialist Music Show at the ARIAS 2018 radio awards. In November 2025, he published his memoir, The Drums. Joyce is a vegetarian and a Manchester City fan, and is a patron of the Manchester charity Back on Track.

FAQ

Who is Mike Joyce married to?

Mike Joyce has been married to Christina Riley, known as Tina, since 1994.

How many children does Mike Joyce have?

Joyce and his wife have three children. Their names are not publicly confirmed.

When did Mike Joyce get married?

He married Christina Riley in 1994.

Was Mike Joyce in The Smiths?

Yes. He was The Smiths' drummer from 1982 until the band split in 1987, playing on all four studio albums.

What is Mike Joyce's memoir called?

His memoir, The Drums, was published in November 2025.