Four decades into a career as deep and arpeggiated as it has been long, self-taught guitarist Johnny Marr is currently in the midst of a flurry of EP releases – Fever Dreams Pts 1-4, set to be compiled as a double album in February.
Since revolutionising the guitar band with his trademark ringing melodies in the Smiths in the 1980s, the prolific guitarist – born Johnny Maher – has rarely paused to retune. Alongside his solo output, Marr has also been one of the most fervent collaborators of his generation, doing time in bands including Modest Mouse and the Cribs, as well as his own outfit, the Healers, and Electronic with fellow Mancunian Bernard Sumner.
Pals with Pet Shop Boys and au fait with Oasis, he worked on the score for Inception. Earlier this year Marr collaborated with Hans Zimmer – and Billie Eilish – on the Bond soundtrack, and next year he is set to tour with Blondie. Marr’s status as one of the most original electric guitarists of our time is, of course, laid atop a solid grounding in British folk, best seen in his work with the late Bert Jansch.
This is your chance to quiz Marr. Perhaps: does being a straight-edge vegan help with his extraordinary work rate? What was he trying to achieve with that low-flying-aircraft intro to How Soon Is Now?
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