Johnny Marr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Johnny Marr
Marr in 2024
Background information
Birth name	John Martin Maher
Born	(1963-10-31) 31 October 1963 (age 61) Manchester, England
Genres	Alternative rock indie pop indie rock jangle pop post-punk
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter singer
Years active	1982–present
Labels	Rough Trade Sire Warner Bros. New Voodoo

John Martin Marr (born John Martin Maher on 31 October 1963) is an English musician, songwriter, and singer. He became famous as the guitarist and co-songwriter for the Smiths, a band active from 1982 to 1987. Since then, he has played with many other bands and started his own solo music career.

Johnny Marr grew up in Manchester, England. He started his first band when he was 13. Before forming the Smiths with Morrissey in 1982, he was in several bands with his friend Andy Rourke. The Smiths became very popular and were praised by critics. Marr's unique "jangle pop" guitar style was a key part of their sound. The band broke up in 1987 because of personal disagreements between Marr and Morrissey.

After the Smiths, Marr joined bands like the Pretenders, the The, Electronic, Modest Mouse, and the Cribs. He also became a busy session musician, working with famous artists such as Kirsty MacColl, Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, and Hans Zimmer.

Marr released an album called Boomslang in 2003 with his band Johnny Marr and the Healers. His first solo album, The Messenger, came out in 2013. He followed this with Playland in 2014 and Call the Comet in 2018. In 2016, he published his autobiography, Set the Boy Free.

Many people consider Marr one of the best guitarists. Alexis Petridis from The Guardian called him "the 1980s' most inventive and distinctive guitarist." In 2010, a BBC poll voted him the fourth-best guitarist of the last 30 years. In 2013, NME magazine gave Marr its "Godlike Genius" award.

Early Life and First Bands

Johnny Marr was born John Martin Maher on 31 October 1963, in Manchester, England. His parents, John Joseph Maher and Frances Patricia Doyle, had moved to England from County Kildare, Ireland. The family lived in Ardwick Green before moving to Wythenshawe in 1972.

Marr went to St Aloysius Primary School and then Sacred Heart Primary School. From 1975, he attended St Augustine's Catholic Grammar School. He dreamed of becoming a professional football player and even had trials with Manchester City's youth team.

Moving to Wythenshawe changed his life, as he met many other guitar players there. He learned to play guitar by listening to records and using a guitar chords book, without a teacher. At 13, Marr formed his first band, the Paris Valentinos, with Andy Rourke and Kevin Williams. They played their first show in June 1977, covering songs by The Rolling Stones and Thin Lizzy.

Around age 14, he started spelling his name "Marr" instead of "Maher" to make it easier for people to say. In 1979, he played with a band called Sister Ray and later reunited with Rourke in White Dice. This band entered a competition and won an audition for a record label, but they didn't get signed. White Dice broke up in 1981. Marr and Rourke then formed a funk band called Freak Party.

The Smiths: A New Sound

By early 1982, Freak Party needed a singer. Marr asked Rob Allman, who suggested Steven Morrissey. Marr met Morrissey at his house in May.

Marr's unique "jangly" guitar playing became the signature sound of the Smiths. He often used Rickenbacker and Fender Telecaster guitars. His friend Andy Rourke joined as the bass player, and Mike Joyce became the drummer.

The band signed with the independent label Rough Trade Records. Their first single, "Hand in Glove", was released on 13 May 1983. By February 1984, their first album, The Smiths, reached number two in the UK charts. In 1985, they released their second album, Meat Is Murder, which was more political and became their only album to reach number one in the UK. They toured a lot and recorded their next album, The Queen Is Dead.

The Queen Is Dead is often called one of the greatest albums ever. Many magazines, including NME, have praised the Smiths as one of the most important rock bands. However, a legal issue with their record label delayed the album's release. Marr also felt stressed from the band's busy schedule. Personal differences, especially between Morrissey and Marr, led to the band's breakup.

In July 1987, Marr left the group. The band officially split up when their final album, Strangeways, Here We Come, was released in September. The main reasons for the split were Morrissey's dislike of Marr working with other artists and Marr's frustration with Morrissey's musical choices.

In 1996, the Smiths' drummer Mike Joyce sued Morrissey and Marr over how royalties were shared. The court decided that Joyce should receive a larger share of the band's earnings.

Marr and Morrissey have said many times that they will not reunite the band. In 2005, a TV show tried to get them back together but failed. In 2007, Marr hinted that a reunion might happen far in the future, but later in 2008, after meeting with Morrissey, they decided not to pursue the idea.

Marr's guitar playing greatly influenced other bands from Manchester, like The Stone Roses and Oasis. Guitarists like John Squire and Noel Gallagher have said Marr was a major influence on them.

In August 2024, Morrissey said he and Marr received a "lucrative offer" to tour as the Smiths in 2025. Morrissey claimed he accepted, but Marr did not reply. Marr later stated on his official Instagram that he did not ignore the offer; he simply said no. He also clarified that he registered the Smiths' trademark under his name to protect it from others, not to tour with a different singer. He has since agreed to share ownership of the name with Morrissey.

Life After The Smiths

New Bands and Collaborations (1987–2011)

After leaving the Smiths, Johnny Marr briefly joined the Pretenders in August 1987. He toured with them and appeared on a single. He then left to record and tour with The The from 1988 to 1994, making two albums with them. At the same time, he formed Electronic with New Order's Bernard Sumner. Electronic released albums throughout the 1990s, with their last one in 1999.

Marr also became a busy session musician, playing and writing with many artists. He worked with Pet Shop Boys, Bryan Ferry, Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl, Black Grape, Talking Heads, and Beck. He played guitar on four songs on Talking Heads' last album, Naked, including the single "(Nothing But) Flowers". He also played on the Oasis album Heathen Chemistry and joined them on stage for some songs in 2001.

In 2000, Marr started a new project called Johnny Marr and the Healers. He brought in drummer Zak Starkey (son of Ringo Starr), Lee Spencer, and Alonza Bevan. Their first album, Boomslang, came out in 2003, with Marr singing all the lead vocals.

In 2001, Marr joined a supergroup called 7 Worlds Collide, put together by Neil Finn. They played concerts and released an album of new music in 2009 to raise money for Oxfam.

From 2006 to 2009, Marr was a full member of the American band Modest Mouse. He worked on their 2007 album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, which reached number one on the American Billboard charts. This was Marr's first number one record in the US.

Marr performs as part of The Cribs in 2010.

In 2008, Marr joined the Cribs. They recorded the album Ignore the Ignorant, which reached number 8 in the UK charts in 2009. Marr said this album was "as good as anything I've done." In April 2011, Marr left the Cribs to focus on his solo music.

Solo Career and Film Scores (2011–Present)

In 2010, Johnny Marr played a big part in creating the music for the science-fiction/drama Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan. He used a 12-string guitar to create simple, sad sounds that became a theme for the main character. He worked with composer Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack.

Marr (front row, fourth from right) performing with Bryan Ferry in 2012.

On 25 February 2013, Marr released his first solo album, The Messenger. His second solo album, Playland, came out on 6 October 2014, followed by a worldwide tour. He also recorded music for the film The Amazing Spider-Man 2 with Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams.

Marr continued to collaborate with other artists. He played lead guitar on "Ballad of the Mighty I" for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds in 2015. He also contributed the song "My Monster" to the Blondie album Pollinator in 2017. On 12 March 2018, he announced his third solo album, Call the Comet.

In 2019, Marr performed at the Glastonbury Festival. He later joined the Killers on stage to play guitar on "This Charming Man" and "Mr. Brightside".

When Hans Zimmer composed the music for the James Bond film No Time to Die, Marr was asked to play guitar on the score. He also played on the theme song performed by Billie Eilish. In August 2021, Marr signed a new album deal and released a new single, "Spirit Power & Soul". His fourth solo album, Fever Dreams Pts 1-4, was released on 25 February 2022. Marr joined the Killers for their 2022 tour, playing as an opening act and joining them for some songs during their main set.

In November 2023, a "best of" album called Spirit Power: The Best Of Johnny Marr was released, featuring highlights from his solo albums and two new songs. He also announced a UK tour for April 2024.

Musical Style and Influences

Marr's "jangly" guitar style was inspired by guitarists like Neil Young (with Crazy Horse), George Harrison (from the Beatles), and James Honeyman-Scott of the Pretenders. When he was in the Smiths, he often tuned his guitar higher to match Morrissey's singing. He used special guitar techniques like open tunings and arpeggio melodies, which involve playing notes of a chord one after another.

Marr likes the idea of records sounding "symphonic," even with lots of space. He wanted all the instruments to blend into one atmosphere. Other guitarists he admires include James Williamson of the Stooges, Rory Gallagher, Pete Townshend of The Who, Nile Rodgers, Jimi Hendrix, and John McGeoch of Magazine. He also took inspiration from African highlife music for songs like "This Charming Man".

When forming the Smiths, the Velvet Underground and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones were big influences. He also admired Marc Bolan of T. Rex for his groovy sound. Marr explained that he tries to think about the guitar in a wide range, from the raw sound of James Williamson to the complex playing of John McLaughlin.

With the Smiths, Marr focused on creating interesting guitar hooks and giving the guitarist's role a "space-age twist." He wanted to be a "pop guitarist crossed with a mad professor." He avoided typical rock guitar sounds like power chords, heavy distortion, or long solos. Instead, he used clever arpeggios to create his signature chiming guitar work.

When Marr started singing as a solo artist in 2012, he said he was inspired by singers who sang "from the mind" and had "integrity," like Siouxsie Sioux and Ray Davies. He also admires guitarists like Bert Jansch, Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Nick Zinner, and Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy.

Guitars and Equipment

Marr playing a Fender Jaguar at the 2019 AIM Awards

Johnny Marr has used many different guitars throughout his career. Here are some of his most famous ones:

• Fender Jaguar: He has played a Jaguar since 2005. In 2012, Fender released the Johnny Marr Signature Fender Jaguar, which has special features designed by him.
• Rickenbacker 330: This guitar is often linked to Marr because of its "jangly" sound. He used it with the Smiths. He also owns a 12-string Rickenbacker that once belonged to Pete Townshend.
• Fender Telecaster: Marr has said that many of the "jangly" songs by the Smiths were actually recorded using a 1954 Telecaster, including "This Charming Man".
• Fender Stratocaster: He used a 1962 Fender Stratocaster for "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" and for many Smiths tours. He also owned a 1965 Stratocaster that later went to Noel Gallagher.
• Gibson Les Paul: Marr owns several Les Pauls, including a rare 1960 model. He gave one of his Les Pauls to Noel Gallagher when Oasis was starting out.
• Gibson ES-355: His red ES-355 was used a lot with the Smiths in 1984. He also has a black one and a 12-string model used on the Smiths' final album.
• Gibson SG: Marr used a red SG as his main guitar with the Healers.

Marr owns 132 guitars. In September 2023, a book called Marr's Guitars was published, showing 53 of his favorite guitars.

For amplifiers, Marr mostly uses Fender Amplifiers. With the Smiths, he used models like the Twin Reverb and Deluxe Reverb. He also uses Boss effects units, like the CE-2 chorus effect and the OD-2 overdrive pedal.

Awards and Recognition

In 2007, Marr became a visiting professor of music at the University of Salford. He gave lectures and workshops to music students. On 19 July 2012, the University of Salford gave him an honorary doctorate for his "outstanding achievements" and for "changing the face of British guitar music."

In 2013, NME magazine honored Marr with its "Godlike Genius" award. The magazine said he not only "rewrote the history of music" with the Smiths but also continued to grow and work with amazing artists throughout his career.

Johnny Marr returns to Athy to accept Made of Athy Award

On 3 November 2018, Marr unveiled a plaque in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland, his parents' hometown. This was part of the Made of Athy project. In January 2021, Marr received the Boss Lifetime Achievement Award at the NAMM Show music industry event.

Personal Life

Johnny Marr and his wife Angie have been together since 1979, even before the Smiths formed. They have two children, Sonny and Nile Marr. Nile is also a musician. After living in Portland, Oregon, for over five years, the family moved back to Manchester, England.

Marr stopped eating meat around 1985. He later became a vegan, inspired by the rap group Naughty by Nature's focus on health. Marr enjoys running and finished the 2010 New York Marathon. He has been a fan of Manchester City F.C. since 1972 and often attends their games.

Marr has said he considers himself "Mancunian Irish" rather than English or British. He explained that his family was the first to be born in England, and he sees his background as a unique culture and nationality.

Selected Discography

Studio Albums

Live Albums

Compilation Albums

Albums (as a Band Member)

The Smiths

• The Smiths (1984)
• Meat Is Murder (1985)
• The Queen Is Dead (1986)
• Strangeways, Here We Come (1987)

The The

• Mind Bomb (1989)
• Dusk (1993)

Electronic

• Electronic (1991)
• Raise the Pressure (1996)
• Twisted Tenderness (1999)

7 Worlds Collide

• 7 Worlds Collide (2001)
• The Sun Came Out (2009)

Johnny Marr and the Healers

• Boomslang (2003)

Modest Mouse

• We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007)

The Cribs

• Ignore the Ignorant (2009)

Extended Plays (EPs)

Singles

Images for kids

• 

  Marr onstage in 2007.

See also

In Spanish: Johnny Marr para niños