A stunning photographic presentation of the guitars that defined the distinctive sounds and style of Johnny Marr with personal reflections and insights from the legendary guitarist himself.
'Guitars have been the obsession of my life...they've been a mission and sometimes a lifeline'
The guitarist's guitarist,Johnny Marr redefined music for a generation. His ringing arpeggios and chordal innovations helped elevate The Smiths to be one of the most influential and important British bands of all time.
Tracing Marr's career from his teenage years to his recent work on the Bond soundtrack,Marr's Guitars showcases the most significant of Marr's superb collection of electric and acoustic guitars,revealing through them the evolution of his iconic sound and style of playing. Each guitar is identified with a crucial moment,a specific song or a particular sound,and each embodies a key aspect of Marr's lifelong passion.
Renowned photographer Pat Graham presents each instrument as a full portrait,supported by micro shots highlighting the specific details that make each one unique,while Johnny Marr himself reveals in his accompanying commentary on what tracks and at which shows the guitars were played. Many of the guitars are closely associated with Marr,such as the Rickenbacker 330,the Gibson ES-355 and the Johnny Marr Signature Fender Jaguar. Some were passed down to him,including Nile Rodgers'Stratocaster,Bryan Ferry's Roxy Music Hagstrom and Bert Jansch's Yamaha.
Others are guitars once owned by Marr that have since been passed on to the next generation of guitar heroes,including the Stratocaster used by Noel Gallagher on'Wonderwall'and the Gibson Les Paul Goldtop used on In Rainbows by Radiohead's Ed O'Brien.Punctuating the photography of the guitars and the accompanying commentary are contextual studio,backstage and onstage shots. Together,they make Marr's Guitars a unique cultural history of modern music and guitar playing told through the prism of Johnny Marr's experiences and achievements.
Publisher: Thames & Hudson LtdISBN: 9780500026328Number of pages: 288Weight: 2100 gDimensions: 317 x 241 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Creating a visually arresting,high-quality art book became Marr's main aim,and he approached it with the tenacity and enthusiasm he would normally bring to a new album'- Guardian'A great book,I really enjoyed looking at it...fascinating'- JOOLS HOLLAND,Later With Jools Holland BBC2
In conversation: Johnny Marr at John Rylands Library
John Rylands Research Institute & Library,150 Deansgate,Manchester,M3 3EHMonday 6th November 19:00
Hear Johnny Marr in conversation with John Harris,discussing the instrument at the heart of his creative life.
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