Johnny Marr’s Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo 1982. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.
Johnny Marr, regarded as the guitar genius of a generation, co-founded the groundbreaking 1980’s band The Smiths at the age of 18 in 1982. Since then the Manchester born Irish musician originally named Maher has been a member of The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, The Healers, Modest House and The Cribs. He has collaborated with a roll call of greats across indie, rock, pop and film including The Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, Beck, Hans Zimmer, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Noel Gallagher, Billie Eilish, Blondie, Gorillaz and Franz Ferdinand.
Around 80 guitars along with amps and equipment integral to his extraordinarily wide ranging career will come under the hammer at Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection at Christie’s in London on September 17. A 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 will lead the sale (£100,000-£150,000) (€117,000-€175,600). His 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, for many the guitar most strongly associated with his melodic Smiths era sound, is estimated at £60,000-£80,000 (€70,250-€93,660). Estimates in this auction of 95 lots range from £1,000 tp £150,000 (€1,170-€175,600). Johnny Marr will donate 100% of the sale of ten lots to benefit the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society. In June Marr released “Spin” as the lead single for his album The Age of Everything due to be released in October.
Johnny Marr’s 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd.