LiveOne
Known for his contribution to The Smiths from 1982 to 1987, guitarist Johnny Marr went on to play in a number of bands before devoting himself to his own career. Born in Manchester on October 31, 1963 as John Martin Maher, he gave up soccer to learn guitar, which he practiced with his first bands, The Paris Valentinos, White Dice and Freak Party, also featuring Andy Rourke. The two hired a new singer, Steven Morrissey, for their new project, The Smiths, which enjoyed dazzling success from 1982 onwards. Having become the UK's most influential rock band with three albums, The Smiths broke up in 1987. Its guitarist, who had distanced himself from Morrissey, collaborated with The Pretenders and his friend Matt Johnson's band, The The. In 1988, he broke away from the guitar rock tradition to form the Electronic duo with Bernard Sumner (New Order), with whom he made three albums in the 1990s. Although regularly in demand as a session guitarist, Johnny Marr launched a solo career in 2003 with a band, The Healers, and a debut album entitled Boomslang (chart #110). The relative unsuccess of the venture led him to join the bands Modest Mouse (2006-2009) and The Cribs (2008-2011), before offering a second album, The Messenger, this time charting at No. 10 and followed by Playland (2014, No. 9), the live album Adrenalin Baby (2015) and Call the Comet (2018, No. 7). He helps his son Nile Marr to follow a musical path and produces two danceable, electronic rock EPs, Fever Dreams Pt. 1 & 2 (2021), extended by the album Fever Dreams Pt. 1-4 (2022). After two singles with The Healers in 2024, "All Out Attack" and "You Are the Magic", a new live album was released between two tours in 2025, Look Out Live! featuring Neil Tennant (Pet Shop Boys) on three tracks.
Please enable Javascript to view this page competely.
