There are few iconic artists who have managed to alienate their loyal fanbase quite as much over recent decades as Morrissey.

The former frontman of seminal Manchester band The Smiths has developed something of an itchy trigger finger when it comes to getting his lawyers to defend allegations of racism and fascism (both of which he insists he "despises").

Yet at the same time, he's urged fans to vote for For Britain, an anti-Islamic far-right party, and said the media treatment of Tommy Robinson, co-founder of the English Defence League has been "shocking".

The quiff-haired maestro is, if nothing else, a mass of controversial contradictions. Which is probably exactly how he likes it.

All of which makes him perhaps a challenging choice for a Margate artist who has, over recent years, cashed in on his doppelganger status to front a tribute band dedicated to The Smiths, a group who unleashed classics such as This Charming Man. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out and What Difference Does It Make?

But this is just what former punk rock fan Aidan Sheridan is doing. Fronting The Joneses (see what they did there?), they have toured the UK playing shows in homage to one of the most influential bands of a generation.

"If you listen to any of his lyrics, he has always been on the outside of society looking in," the singer says of Morrissey. "A lot of his songs are about people who are bullies or abusive, told from the point of view of the victim. So he's a hugely sensitive guy, but not necessarily fully integrated into normal society.

"I feel with Morrissey he shouldn't really speak outside his music because people take it too literally. He will not change from what he is. He's an observer of society.

"He just makes these observations - but he shouldn't be doing it. I think he says these things to get people to think. But all he is really doing is destroying himself."

The music of The Smiths transcends the dubious views of its lead singer, however.

It has been the soundtrack of many a angst-ridden teenager and Steven Patrick Morrissey's lyrics have long struck a nerve, coupled with Johnny Marr's distinctive guitar and melodies.

Now, The Joneses are taking the music to a new generation; joining the ranks of other tribute acts replicating the moves and music of much-loved bands of years gone by.

On Saturday, November 13, The Joneses will be dishing up The Smiths' greatest hits at Manchester By The Sea, lining up alongside Slide Oasis - a band, who as the name suggests, replicate the sounds of the Gallagher brothers - at Olby's Soul Cafe in Margate.

It will be a return to familiar territory for The Joneses, who performed their very first show there four years ago.

So given all the baggage which comes with its erstwhile frontman, why The Smiths?

Explains Aidan, 55, originally from Birmingham but who has owned a property in Margate for the last seven years: "Everyone has always said I looked like him.

"I used to get foreign tourists coming up to me to have my picture taken with them, thinking I was him.

"When I got married at 24 all my friends came to the wedding with daffodils in their pockets. I was Morrissey back in those days and when I used to collect glasses at a nightclub in Birmingham, the people used to call me 'Morrissey the glass collector' so I've been imitating him, without intention, all my life."

Deciding to finally become the man he'd been compared with for so many years, he started taking singing lessons at 51 - receiving expert tuition from a professional opera singer who was tasked with getting his voice to imitate that of Moz.

"Because people had already said it, I thought to myself 'well could I?'. But I didn't have the guts. Then I thought let's just try.

"If you'd said I looked like Bruce Springsteen maybe I'd have tried to sing like him. But I don't like his music."

Within a few months he'd recruited his very own 'Johnny Marr' - in lead guitarist Matthieu Clervoy - as well as a drummer and bassist. In October 2016, they were in Olby's and decided to take the plunge - booking the venue's 500-capacity performance space and giving themselves six months to get up to scratch.

"We had 168 people at our very first gig," the singer explains. "We did bring about 40 of my friends and family. Apparently we did very well. Lots of my friends said they were worried that I was going to be really rubbish and they didn't want to have to see that.

"But there were people who didn't like The Smiths but loved them after they'd seen us play - and we've had that every time we've performed."

And yes, he does wave flowers around the stage and have some sticking out of his back pocket. Sadly, however, in this era of health and safety, gladioli - Morrissey's traditional bloom of choice, is off limits.

"We do throw out flowers," says Aiden, "but you won't believe this, but gladioli are lethal.

"We were playing at the Troubadour in London and it was a small stage and I bought gladioli for the first time ever - previously I always bought soft-stemmed flowers, as I throw them like javelins into the crowd and the fluffy end doesn't poke your eye out. If I threw gladioli out I'd kill people - I'd skewer the audience.

"Our guitarist kept complaining because he kept being hit by them while I was dancing about."

They're not the first to replicate the band's sound. The Smyths have been ploughing a similar furrow for 17 years - and indeed they will be performing in Tunbridge Wells and Gillingham next year. They are, says Aidan, the reason the band prefers to keep to smaller venues.

But for Aidan Sheridan, it is the latest career path down which he has gone down.

For 17 years he worked at London's public research university Goldsmiths where he commercialised the research of the academics. Not very rock n roll.

Now, though, he is enjoying life in Thanet. He admits The Joneses don't earn enough to keep a roof over his head, but fortunately for him, he has plenty as he's a landlord as well as spending a week every month looking after his elderly mother in Birmingham - a care role he splits with his sisters.

So has Morrissey or Johnny Marr ever encountered the latest homage to their 80s hey-day?

Marr has seen a video of the band perform. "He laughed, but kindly," says Aidan after receiving a report back from a friend of a friend.

And what of Moz?

"One of Morrissey's publicists saw us when we were playing in London," he says, "and apparently she said 'Oh, I don't think he'd like this much'. She videoed it and said she'd show it to him - but we don't know if he did."

If ever there was a better quote to lure in the curious punter on an advertising poster for their shows I've yet to hear one.

Manchester By The Sea takes place at Olby's Soul Cafe in Margate on Saturday, November 13. Tickets cost £10 and can be booked here.

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