Johnny Marr Talks Guitars & A Life In Music

We travel to the guitar icon’s studio for a fascinating interview and some classic guitar tones!

Welcome to the show! It is indeed a huge day for That Pedal Show. Johnny Marr has had a profound, steering influence on music since his band The Smiths burst onto the scene in the early 1980s. What followed were stints with The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse and The Cribs among others, alongside countless sessions and a continuing successful solo career.
We are absolutely delighted to be able to bring you this show from Johnny’s studio where he walks us through a handful of his most iconic guitars in around plenty of chat about his musical journey to date.
Needless to say, we are immensely grateful for the time and warm welcome, plus a special thanks to Rich Henry for all his help.

We’re super proud to bring you this show - enjoy!

Two important things to check out…

Pedals & stuff in this episode
• Carl Martin AC Tone

• Carl Martin Plexi Tone

• Boss GT-1000 Core

• Boss RC-5 Loop Station

Interesting bits and go-to sections
0:00 Intro and hello!
1:22 Story of the Marr’s Guitars book
4:30 The catharsis of revisiting guitars
5:48 1977 Gretsch 7680 Super Axe - the first Smiths guitar
10:24 1982 Rickenbacker 330
13:15 This Charming Man, aged 19
15:20 Early obsession with guitar culture
27:30 Taking it seriously… aged 15
31:40 The 1960 Gibson ES-355
37:00 Sensibilities of the songwriter
48:28 Fully formed or always evolving?
51:55 Overdrive?
54:16 1963/4 Epiphone Casino - How Soon Is Now?
1:01:25 1984 Fender Telecaster Giffin Custom Korina
1:03:30 1984 Gibson Les Paul Standard - arpeggio!
1:06:47 The Nine Pickup 1978 Fender Stratocaster
1:09:35 The The, Electronic and personal evolution
1:14:20 1965 Fender Jaguar
1:20:54 Beginning of the signature Fender Jaguar
1:29:52 Singing?
1:33:40 Copping a bit of Johnny’s sound?
1:38:25 Pedals and effects?

Guitars in the episode
Buy Johnny’s book to get the full info - link above

Amp in the episode
• Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb (modern reissue with standard speaker)
Close mic’d with Austrian Audio OC18, plus stereo room mics

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[luisfernandoenrique]

The importance of this interview is massive. Johnny Marr is one of the most influential and creative guitar players ever.

[dmac-]

Seriously boys, you've gone to another level with the Noel & Johnny interviews. Just awesome. Congratulations and cheers!!!

[wowomah]

Little story here: I emailed Johnny years ago, probably back in 2010 when I had just picked up a guitar "for good this time" because I'd tried it when I was a little younger. At the time I was oh I dunno, 16 or 17. After hearing the Edge from U2 through ALL of their albums (deep cuts and all haha), and hearing Nick McCabe from the Verve, it was Johnny's playing that sealed the deal.

So, I found his professional website and emailed him and GOT A RESPONSE! In an age of Twitter/X whatever and whatnot, it may not be really surprising now, but back then, at age 16 or so to be receiving a response email from one of your biggest musical heroes was mind boggling. I'd asked such simple questions that frankly, were a bit beneath him having to respond haha, but the fact that he DID showed me that not only is Johnny an immense creator but also has a kind and intentional heart. He responded to a kid when he didn't have to, he could have let that email go.

I printed out the email and put it in a plastic page protector, I'm sure I still have it somewhere haha. But I probably won't need it because I remember the most important part, he said at the end "Whatever you do, keep with it. It's worth it." Well I kept with it and have been playing and writing music for 14 years! :)

[igantiusfaraday]

I am a fellow survivor of St Augustine’s Grammar in Sharston Manchester UK, The school JM and Andy Rourke attended. I was in the same year, same class as Andy but different to JM. I never thought it weird that hey played guitar. Often would go in the music room and listen to them during lunch. Even at 14, this guy was seriously, seriously good.

[joelance]

Hearing the Smiths riffs without Andy Rourke really highlights how well they complemented each other. Marr is just a wonder, a force of nature and of good things.

[anthonychilds]

Also, R.I.P. Andy; he's as criminally underrated a bass player as Johnny is beloved a guitarist.

[benjaminc]

00:03 Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
7:03 Hand In Glove
7:31 Jeane
7:54 This Night Has Opened My Eyes
10:56 What Difference Does It Make
12:08 Accept Yourself
14:12 This Charming Man
18:01 That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore (ish)
23:49 The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
32:51 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
35:25 Girl Afraid
40:28 Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
55:15 How Soon Is Now
58:07 Nowhere Fast
1:02:45 The Headmaster Ritual
1:05:17 That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
1:35:25 New Town Velocity
1:37:10 Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others

[aornic]

One of the most effortlesly cool guitar heroes there has ever been.

[descantinginsalubrious]

Hearing Johnny Marr say "that's what the guitar made me play", " I have no business playing that" -- clearly knows music theory and scales and plays his feelings. A really great illustration of the creative process.

[aedenserano]

I like how Johnny will start to explain something and then midway through just cuts himself off and starts playing, he really does let his music speak for itself

[nicennice]

You've made a lot of people very happy in a world that's gone to shit. Mega kudos to you guys.

[jamesdalziel]

Wow. Coxon, Gallagher and now Marr... All my guitar idols on TPS. Sterling work fellas, what an utter joy.

[tylersweet]

Simply THE greatest ever episode of 'That Pedal Show'.

[-dman]

He's still got his enthusiasm for where a guitar can take him from all those years ago. His candle still burns bright.

[tonymills]

The look on your faces when Johnny plays anything is priceless, he is a guitar god but just a normal down to earth guy.

[bleeknoir]

As an enormous Smiths fan (I’ve seen Morrissey live 40+ times) this is just a total gift. A very emotional watch. Thanks Mick and Dan.

[TheRatedRSuperstar]

Absolutely brilliant, really enjoyed seeing this along with Coxon and Gallagher.

Can i be cheeky to request Robert Smith of The Cure to have an episode 😅

Come on Cure fans, maybe if there are enough likes it could be considered!

[Overdrivepony]

After a Modest Mouse show I was fortunate enough to hang in the green room and back stage chatting guitars with Johnny. He is a Prince of a man…one of my favorite guitarists.

[jamesallen]

Writing some of the best songs of all time at 19. An absolute genius, the best British guitarist of all time

[perrysmid]

My favorite episode thus far. As a 15 year old kid in 1985 on a farm in Iowa, USA, I somehow got on to the Smiths, (its a very long way from Manchester in so many ways). They were a big part of my life, like so many other bands, and a pig part of why and what i like about guitar. A week or so ago I had dusted them off and was listening to them for fun and for how he played the Ric and here comes TPS with this fantastic interview. Learned a ton and that it always wasn't the Ric. Can identify with the obsession as well. Thank you Mick and Dan and of course, Johnny.