In the ever-evolving landscape of rock music, few musicians have crafted as intricate and influential a career as Johnny Marr. His distinct guitar style and sonic imagination continue to resonate across decades, and now, fans have two new ways to explore his journey: Spirit Power, a “best of” compilation celebrating ten years of his solo work, and Marr’s Guitars, a new book that catalogues his extensive and storied guitar collection. In conversation with Kyle Meredith, Marr seems to straddle past and present effortlessly, excited to share these projects while revealing a lot more about his creative process and what keeps him moving forward.
The convergence of both projects, Marr admits, was “either really great accidental planning or really bad planning.” While Marr’s Guitars was initially set for release by the publisher on its own timeline, the idea for Spirit Power came from his management and record company, who suggested celebrating his solo decade with a compilation instead of immediately jumping back into the studio. As Marr puts it, “I guess everybody pretended that it was on purpose. In fact, it’s not, but it’s kind of cool the way it worked out.”
For fans, the serendipity is indeed “kind of cool,” as Spirit Power offers a curated lens into Marr’s solo catalog, featuring tracks that have solidified his reputation as a modern rock pioneer. Reflecting on the last decade, he recognizes that this era in his career has a distinct identity, one tied to songs like “Easy Money” and “Spiral Cities.” For Marr, Spirit Power isn’t merely a “best of” collection; it’s an album that encapsulates his growth as an artist, his foray into lead vocals, and his nuanced approach to sound and mood.
On the flip side, Marr’s Guitars offers a visual and narrative exploration of his life through his instruments, some of which have been with him for decades. Each guitar in his collection has its own story, often connected to specific songs, collaborations, or bands. “It wasn’t this idea of a retrospective thing, like ‘Hey everybody, look at how great my guitar collection is,’” Marr explains. “It was about capturing beautiful, abstract photographs of the nicks, the rusty bits, the cracks where it’s been beaten up against a microphone stand.” But in the process, Marr’s Guitars evolved into a chronicle of his history, intertwined with anecdotes about lending instruments to artists like Radiohead, Bernard Sumner of New Order, and Chrissie Hynde.
Marr is at ease revisiting the layers of sound that define his work. When asked if he’s tempted to return to signature guitars or tones for new songs, he admits, “If someone asks me to play on a record tomorrow, I’ll bring that guitar because it makes me do a thing people want me to do. There’s nothing wrong with that, frankly.” He embraces the opportunity to revisit familiar sounds while still pushing forward creatively. This nuanced perspective shows in recent tracks like “Somewhere” and “The Answer,” which add to the sonic spectrum of Spirit Power with fresh energy.
As Marr dives into these twin projects, he’s also revisiting the fundamental essence of why he creates. While Marr is known for his intricate riffs and unique tones, Marr’s Guitars reveals the sentimental significance behind each instrument, connecting them to specific eras, collaborations, and moments of his career. For Marr, each guitar carries its own “oral history,” a phrase he uses to capture the lives these instruments have led—not just on stage or in the studio, but through years of travel, tours, and influence. “I’ve lent them out, they’ve been part of other people’s music; they’re a part of the entire story of modern rock,” he reflects. This book captures not just his sound but a lineage of music-making that spans beyond any one artist.
While Spirit Power provides a bridge to his past, Marr is anything but anchored to it. He’s looking ahead with a fresh perspective, considering collaborations and revisiting his collection of guitars with curiosity and an eagerness to innovate. As he heads out on tour, Marr notes that he’s ready for anything—whether it’s new music, playing with longtime collaborators like Noel Gallagher, or perhaps, as he humorously suggests, adding another “Louisville Slugger” to his collection. With a legacy that’s constantly expanding, Johnny Marr remains a guitarist in motion, ever-ready to explore what’s next.
Watch the interview above and then check out the video below.
