Smith played with Buzzcocks during their first concert in April 1976, and re-joined in March 1977 after the departure of original lead vocalist Howard Devoto.
He was named after the village of Garth in mid Wales, near to the town of Builth Wells where his mother was born and raised.
He also took part in the first Peel sessions, did the White Riot Tour and recorded both songs on the "Orgasm Addict" single.
By the late 2010s, Garth was playing bass in a Tyldesley-based band, Young Once, with Tony Wragg and Pete "Hoddy" Hodkinson.
[4] He is also a member of the Lancashire supergroup Moondogs, comprising lead vocalist Steve Roden, drummer Chris Webster of Crayven, Tony Wragg, Chris Ratcliffe of the Covertones, and "musician without portfolio" on sax, keyboards, guitar and vocals.