Renowned guitarist Johnny Marr talks about scoring movies with Pharrell and Hans Zimmer, performing in stadiums with The Pretenders, and buying a Fender Stratocaster with Noel Gallagher that led to writing one of his best solo songs.
Johnny Marr highlights the importance of being a versatile musician and reflects on his collaborations with renowned artists like Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams.
Marr discusses the musical heritage of Manchester, emphasizing its vibrant music scene shaped by its history as an industrial hub and working-class immigrant culture.
Marr emphasizes the value of continuous learning and growth as a musician, sharing his love for playing the guitar and exploring different musical influences and styles.
Deep dives
Johnny Marr's Musical Journey
Johnny Marr discusses his career in the music industry, from his early days with The Smiths to his collaborations with various artists. He reflects on the passion and intensity he brings to his work, emphasizing his love for playing guitar and his commitment to his craft. Marr also highlights the importance of being a good rhythm player and the value of being a versatile musician. He shares his experiences working with renowned musicians like Hans Zimmer and reflects on the chemistry and camaraderie that has shaped his musical collaborations. Marr also discusses his solo career and the upcoming release of his best-of album.
The Influence of Manchester on Music
Marr discusses the musical heritage of Manchester, emphasizing how the city has been a breeding ground for music and creativity. He reflects on the bands and musicians who have emerged from Manchester over the years, including Buzzcocks, Joy Division, and Oasis, and the impact they have had on the local music scene. Marr also discusses how the city's history as an industrial hub and its working-class immigrant culture have contributed to its vibrant music scene and strong sense of community among musicians.
The Importance of Being a Lifelong Learner
Marr emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and growth as a musician. He discusses the importance of practicing and honing his skills, acknowledging that even after decades of playing, there is always room for improvement. Marr shares his love for playing the guitar and the joy he finds in exploring different musical influences and styles. He also talks about the influence of his musical heroes, such as Neil Young and James Williamson, and how their music has shaped his own playing style.
The Fulfillment of Being a Musician
Marr expresses his deep satisfaction and fulfillment in pursuing a career as a musician. He reflects on the joy of being able to play music for a living and the privilege of having an audience who appreciates his work. Marr discusses the camaraderie and chemistry he experiences with fellow musicians and the excitement of collaborating on new projects. He also emphasizes the importance of being true to oneself as an artist and staying passionate about one's craft throughout the years.
The creative process behind 'Spirit, Power, and Soul'
In the podcast, Johnny Marr explains how he conceptualized the riff for the song 'Spirit, Power, and Soul.' Months before working on the album, Marr had the idea of creating an electrobanger as the first track. He borrowed a drum machine from Steve Morris of New Order and began experimenting with different beats and sounds. After several days of trial and error, he scrapped an initial version of the song and started fresh. Marr spent five days in the studio, relentlessly writing melodies and fine-tuning the song until he found the perfect balance of energy and melody.
Collaboration and the chemistry of musicians
The podcast also delves into the topic of collaboration and the chemistry between musicians. Marr shares his experiences of working with artists like Chrissie Hynde, Hans Zimmer, and Pharrell Williams. He highlights the importance of collaboration and learning from others, emphasizing the value of putting in the hours and persevering to create something great. Marr also mentions the incredible chemistry within bands like U2 and Radiohead, pointing out how musicians can come together from different backgrounds and create music that transcends genres and expectations.
Johnny Marr is an acclaimed British guitarist who’s played with a ton of bands including, most famously, The Smiths. Marr started playing guitar as a young teenager growing up in Manchester. When he turned 15 he dropped out of school and moved to London to join the band Sister Ray.
A couple years later he would help form The Smiths with Morrissey, Mike Joyce, and Marr’s friend and bassist, Andy Rourke. After The Smiths broke up in 1987, Marr went on to collaborate with an array of different musicians and play in bands like The Pretenders, The The, and Modest Mouse. In the early aughts, Marr started releasing solo material, and he’s on the brink of releasing a new album of his greatest hits.
On today’s episode Justin Richmond talks to Johnny Marr about his exciting work scoring movies with Pharrell and Hans Zimmer. Marr also recalls the terror he felt performing live in front of stadiums full of fans with The Pretenders on U2’s Joshua Tree tour. And he talks about the time he bought a Fender Stratocaster while hanging out with Oasis’ Noel Gallager. That Strat has nine pickups and it eventually led to him writing one the best songs of his solo career.
You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Johnny Marr songs HERE.
