Marr's Guitars

"A great book . fascinating," declares Jools Holland of BBC2's Later With Jools Holland, and he's not wrong. Shaun Keaveny goes further, stating, "If you are even remotely interested in guitars or the geniuses that play them you have to get a copy of Marr's Guitars. A lush, mouthwatering masterpiece of a book." Gary Kemp aptly describes it as "What a love story this book is. The electric guitar - the greatest weapon ever given to the working class," and Johnny Marr himself confesses, "Guitars have been the obsession of my life ... they've been a mission and sometimes a lifeline."

For a generation, Johnny Marr, the guitarist's guitarist, redefined music with his signature ringing arpeggios and chordal innovations that helped propel The Smiths to their status as one of Britain's most influential and important bands of all time. Marr's Guitars offers a unique and deeply personal journey through Marr's career, from his formative teenage years to his recent work on the Bond soundtrack, all told through the prism of his superb collection of electric and acoustic guitars.

This isn't just a catalogue of instruments; each guitar showcased represents a crucial moment, a specific song, or a particular sound in Marr's illustrious career, embodying a key aspect of his lifelong passion. Renowned photographer Pat Graham presents each instrument as a stunning full portrait, complemented by intricate micro shots that highlight the unique details of each one. Alongside these beautiful visuals, Johnny Marr himself provides insightful commentary, revealing the specific tracks and shows on which each guitar was played.

Many of the guitars are intimately associated with Marr, such as his iconic Rickenbacker 330, the sleek Gibson ES-355, and his own Johnny Marr Signature Fender Jaguar. Adding a layer of history and connection, some were passed down to him, including Nile Rodgers' funky Stratocaster, Bryan Ferry's Roxy Music Hagstrom, and the legendary Bert Jansch's Yamaha. Intriguingly, others are guitars once owned by Marr that have since been passed on to the next generation of guitar heroes, including the Stratocaster Noel Gallagher wielded on "Wonderwall" and the Gibson Les Paul Goldtop used by Radiohead's Ed O'Brien on In Rainbows.

Punctuating the exquisite photography and Marr's engaging commentary are contextual studio, backstage, and onstage shots, offering a broader glimpse into the world where these iconic sounds were created. Together, they make Marr's Guitars a truly unique cultural history of modern music and guitar playing, told through the deeply personal experiences and remarkable achievements of one of its most innovative and influential figures. This book is a must-have for guitar aficionados and music lovers alike.