The Smiths

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Johnny Marr plays a chord on his white Stratocaster as he performs live with the Smiths in 1987
The making of the Smiths’ 1986 classic The Queen Is Dead

By Henry Yates Published

It was a square peg amid the shred scene and almost sank Johnny Marr, but the Smiths’ majestic third album ended up as the jewel in their crown

Guitarists
Fender's Johnny Marr Signature Special Jaguar shot on a Vox AC30 amp
“Far, far from limited to our man in terms of its potential use”: Fender Johnny Marr Signature Special Jaguar review

By Dave Burrluck Published

It’s been 13 years since we saw the first Johnny Marr Jaguar, and with little fanfare his second signature landed at the end of 2025. What’s changed?

Electric Guitars
Johnny Marr with his second signature Fender Jaguar
Johnny Marr on reinventing the Fender Jaguar (again), the “biggest reunion of all time” and why Nile Rodgers deserves more credit

By Janelle Borg Published

Marr is one of guitar's most prolific collaborators, having played with The Smiths, The Pretenders, Modest Mouse, The Cribs, The The, and even Hans Zimmer – now, he’s pushing the limits of the Fender Jaguar’s design, all while keeping both eyes firmly on the evolution of the guitar world and its most exciting new generation of players

Guitarists
Johnny Marr with his Limited-Edition Johnny Marr Signature Special Jaguar
Fender and Johnny Marr team up for a new signature Jaguar – which puts a new twist on the Smiths legend’s go-to guitar

By Janelle Borg Published

The limited edition launch builds on the success of the 2012 release – but with an expanded tonal palette, upgraded specs and an attractive new finish

Electric Guitars
Johnny Marr performs during Forever Now Festival at The National Bowl on June 22, 2025 in Milton Keynes, England
Johnny Marr’s guitars have gone missing days before his tour

By Janelle Borg Published

The Smiths legend has been pleading for the return of his lost gear – but UPS has told him that his guitars have been lost

Guitarists
Johnny Marr sits against a brick wall and plays his new Martin M7 seven-string acoustic guitar
Johnny Marr on the magic of his 7-string signature Martin – and his fight with capo addiction

By Jamie Dickson Published

Since he rose to glory in the mid-’80s with The Smiths, Marr has been the king of crystalline chime. Now, he reveals how his new M-7 Martin – complete with octave G string – puts that shimmer at your fingertips

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Guitarists
Martin M-7
Johnny Marr on his signature Martin and why the Smiths were a Patti Smith-influenced folk band

By Henry Yates Published

Tearing up the blueprint with an octave G string, Johnny Marr’s new seven-string Martin signature model is a distillation of all the British icon’s most rebellious opinions on acoustic

Guitarists
Gibson Johnny Marr 1984 Gibson Les Paul Standard
Gibson and Johnny Marr have recreated the 1984 Les Paul that underpinned The Smiths legend’s entire career

By Matt Owen Published

Exclusive to the Gibson Garage London to mark the store's first anniversary, only 20 examples will be made, and each will be hand-signed by Marr himself

Electric Guitars
Kurt Cobain, Chuck Berry, Slash, and Ritchie Blackmore
Nirvana track named the best guitar riff of all time by surprising new study

By Phil Weller Published

Many of the big hitters feature, but not where you’d expect them to be – and there are some notable absences, too

Bands
Andy Rourke mural Manchester
The Smiths drummer Mike Joyce launches mural crowd funder for late bassist Andy Rourke

By Phil Weller Published

The campaign will finance a mural of the band's late bass player in Manchester, UK, with some of the proceeds also set to go to charity

Artists
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