Johnny Marr started from humble beginnings but slowly made his way to stardom. He is renowned for being dedicated and unwavering in pursuing superb instruments and distinctive sounds to create a unique collection of outstanding guitar music.
Marr is famously known for being in The Smiths, an alternative rock band that emerged in England in the 1980s. However, people may need to learn that he also appeared in several other bands, such as The Electronic, Modest Mouse, and The Cribs. From appearing in all those bands, he now has four albums to his name. He also has countless guest appearances and cameos, making his reputation in the modern music scene legendary.
The Modest Mouse and The Cribs all had the most significant albums of their career when Marr was a part of it, another feat to show how unique Marr is as a guitar player and singer-songwriter.
One-of-a-kind style
The music-obsessed Marr acknowledges his knack for gaining inspiration from other guitar heroes. He mentions a wide variety of early guitar influences that shaped his chord-led style, including Bert Jansch, Rory Gallagher, James Williamson of the Stooges, Marc Bolan of T Rex, James Honeyman-Scott of The Pretenders, Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, the Stones, the Byrds, Joni Mitchell, the Kinks, African “highlife” guitar, and many more.
From his deft technique, he can blend all these great artists’ styles into one, making his guitar strumming Marr-esque and a marvel to be heard. He even accompanies his guitar style with his swagger that exudes confidence, a clear benefit of being very talented.
Guitar enthusiast
It may not be a huge surprise, but Johnny Marr loves his instruments. He often tells stories about how he would buy guitars he didn’t plan on owning. This does not mean that he does not know his stuff. When it comes to guitars, it is second nature to him, so he knows the ins and outs of every type of guitar he used to play.
Even his workhorses are frequently incredibly sought-after antique models. He became obsessed with finding excellent guitars after signing a record deal with The Smiths.
Some of his most notable guitars are Gretsch Super Axe, Fender Telecaster, Les Pauls and two main Stratocasters.
Hero of the strings
It is a testament to Marr’s creativity and ability to think outside the box without sacrificing much of what makes the guitar such an essential component of any great pop song that he found a distinctive approach to the idea of the guitar hero in the context of the revilement of the concept from so many quarters in the U.K. at the time.
Marr effectively revolutionized the guitar solo by switching out classic, blues-inflected licks for layered arpeggios, sliding partial chords, and rippling melodic motifs for vintage, pentatonic-based riffs.
But what stood out with Marr was the lead singer of The Smiths, Morrissey. Marr’s lightness of touch and the simplicity of his words might lend a sense of femininity to Morrissey’s new interpretation of masculinity. Church bells rang and brightly sparkled as Marr’s guitar glistened, and Morrissey’s words could delve into the most sinister subjects. They both complimented each other perfectly.
Conclusion
Do you feel inspired to start learning to make your unique sound like Marr? If so, sign up at Studio72. We offer the best beginner guitar lessons in Singapore and a variety of instrumental music courses, from the best drum lessons to guitar courses. Our classes occur in a modern yet comfortable music studio located conveniently along the scenic Boat Quay. As such, you can look forward to learning your musical instruments in a productive environment alongside our veteran musicians and certified mentors.
