I do wonder whether ‘us Mancs’ are more blinkered geographically than other folk (or maybe just the small selection who decide to vote in a BM poll) when it comes to music preference, or whether any such poll would have similar local prejudices. I’m not doubting the Smiths are a good band, but leave Manchester and take a poll and I doubt they’d make top 25 in the bands/artists category. Same with the Stone Roses. I loved them as a spotty teen, but in the cold light of day, also not top 50 off the back of 1 great album. There’s a significant body of talent/work that gets overlooked in these polls.