Johnny Marr is a renowned musician, songwriter and singer, best known as the guitarist and co-songwriter with The Smiths. He was born on Halloween in October 1963 in Ardwick, Manchester. His family was from an Irish background and as a boy, Marr was influenced by the musical get-togethers of his extended family and his parents’ extensive record collection.
Aged 18 Marr wanted to form his own band and went looking for a lead-singer. A mutual friend introduced him to Stephen Morrissey. Andy Rourke then joined as bass player and Mike Joyce was recruited as the band’s drummer and so The Smiths were formed. In May 1983 The Smiths released their debut single Hand in Glove and for the next four years the band enjoyed huge acclaim and success with a string of hit singles, albums and tours.
The Smiths are regarded by many as one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. Working with Morrissey, Marr created some of the most memorable and acclaimed songs of that decade, with Marr's distinctive jangly guitar style perfectly complementing Morrissey's witty and satirical lyrics.
Since leaving The Smiths, Marr had enjoyed continued success working with The Pretenders and Bryan Ferry and has been a member of The The and Electronic. He has also worked as a prolific session musician. In 2013 Marr released a solo album called The Messenger and Set The Boy Free his autobiography was published in 2016
