[1] Though a writer by profession, Goddard originally went to art school in Carlisle, then Hull, and briefly considered a career in visual media.
In 1995 Goddard directed his one and only pop promo for Edwyn Collins,[2] the subject of one of his future books, Simply Thrilled, He started freelance writing the following year and eventually found regular work as a music journalist in London.
Goddard's first two books, Songs That Saved Your Life and Mozipedia, established his initial reputation in the '00s as an authority on the Smiths and their lead singer Morrissey.
As a freelance journalist, Goddard's work has appeared in Uncut, Mojo, Record Collector and newspapers including The Guardian and The Mail on Sunday.
Goddard has also supplied the accompanying essays to rock photographer Tom Sheehan's collection The Cure: Pictures of You (a 2022 Rough Trade Book of the Year)[6] and written sleevenotes for reissues and boxsets by Orange Juice, Siouxsie and the Banshees,[7] Nico, Soft Cell, and James.