Johnny Marr is a guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer from Ardwick, Manchester. Born John Martin Maher in 1963 to Irish immigrants, he is best known as a founder member, guitarist and songwriter with The Smiths. The band releases four studio albums and numerous singles between 1983 and 1987 before dissolving.

Career

After leaving The Smiths in 1987, Marr focuses mainly on session work and collaborations with established artists. He plays guitar and writes music for acts including The Pretenders, Talking Heads, Billy Bragg and Kirsty Maccoll. He also spends a period as a full-time member of The The, through his friendship with singer Matt Johnson.

Electronic and other projects

In 1989, Marr forms Electronic with New Order’s Bernard Sumner, initially also working with Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tennant. Their single Getting Away With It reaches number 12 in the UK charts. Electronic then continues as a duo and releases three albums: Electronic, Raise the Pressure and Twisted Tenderness, issued in 1991, 1996 and 1999.

In 2000, he starts his own band, Johnny Marr + The Healers, and brings in Zak Starkey, the son of Ringo Starr, on drums. Their album Boomslang appears in 2003 and features Marr writing lyrics and singing lead vocals.

Later band memberships and solo work

In 2006, Marr joins Modest Mouse, and his work appears on their 2007 album We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. The following year, he becomes a full-time member of The Cribs, touring, co-writing and recording their 2009 album Ignore the Ignorant. He leaves in 2011 to focus on solo work.

His first solo album, The Messenger, appears in 2013, followed by Playland in 2014 and Call the Comet in 2018. He tours extensively as a solo artist, including songs from his work with The Smiths and Electronic.

Associated acts

Johnny Marr’s membership and collaborations also include The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Johnny Marr + The Healers, Modest Mouse, The Cribs, 7 Worlds Collide and The Magnificent Six. His work is associated with alternative rock and rock, as well as indie rock, britpop, indie and rock.