Johnny Marr · (Active: 1980's —2000's)

Styles:
College Rock
Alternative Pop/Rock
Britpop
Born:
October 31, 1963
Manchester, England
Active:
1980's—2000's
Biography by Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
The supple, ringing guitars of Johnny Marr helped establish the Smiths among the most acclaimed and enduring bands of the 1980s. Born John Maher in Manchester, England, on October 31, 1963, he played in such little-known groups as Sister Ray and Freaky Party before forming the Smiths with singer Morrissey in 1982. In the years to follow they emerged among Britain's most successful acts, but in 1987, following sessions for the LP Strangeways, Here We Come, Marr dissolved the group, claiming their musical approach had gone stale.

In the wake of the Smiths' demise, he made cameo appearances on records by the likes of Talking Heads and Kirsty MacColl before joining Matt Johnson's The The for 1989's Mind Bomb. Marr also teamed with New Order's Bernard Sumner and Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant in the alternative supergroup Electronic, scoring a hit with the single "Getting Away With It." Apart from a handful of guest appearances, he kept a relatively low profile during the 1990s, most notably lending his talents to The The's 1993 effort Dusk and Electronic's long-awaited sophomore record, 1996's Raise the Pressure.

Marr returned to music three years later on Electronic's third album, Twisted Tenderness, which wasn't released in the U.S. until fall 2000. He also spent time working with his new band, the Healers, playing dates across England. The next few years saw a time of redefinition and reflection for Marr. He finally assembled his Healers with ex-Kula Shaker bass man Alonza Bevan and Ringo Starr's drumming son, Zak Starkey, in 2002; a deal with ARTISTdirect's iMusic followed before the end of the year. Fans of this legendary guitarist were treated to Marr's proper singing debut in early 2003 with the release of Boomslang. In 2007 Marr appeared on the Washington band Modest Mouse's album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, and toured with them as a member.
Popular Products for Johnny Marr Back to the top
Top Questions about Johnny Marr Back to the top
Chris Ziter: Well, we toured with the Delgados for about four or five dates. The Eek-A-Mouse and Johnny Marr shows were one-night deals. Eek-A-Mouse: that was a random last minute bill and a very funny one, for sure! We didn t fit with the ...
Seriously, head over to You Tube and do a search for the Smiths. Marr's appeal is mainly due to the catchy, layered style he developed in the Smiths, which most guitarists will concede is nearly impossible to replicate. "How soon is ...
I would have to say the Mozza. Johnny Marr is probably one of the most creative guitarists in recent history and has an incredible amount of vision and talent. But, when push comes to shove, Moz has been considerably more successful in his ...
Images of Johnny Marr Back to the top
Back to the topExternal Links
Table of Contents