Johnny Marr

Johnny Marr was a revolutionary guitarist who left an immense legacy during his time with The Smiths, and went on to become a prolific session musician and successful solo artist. While with The Smiths, Marr revolutionized and renewed the potential for the guitar in pop music in the 1980s. His innovative guitar playing led the way for a full-scale revival in British guitar groups. As a professional gun-for-hire, he spent every year of his post-Smiths career playing with bands, elevating each group he joined and contributing to their breakout success. He toured and recorded with Pretenders in 1987, followed by The The from 1988 through 1994, recording two albums with the group. He simultaneously formed Electronic with New Order's Bernard Sumner, performing and recording intermittingly from 1989 and 1998, followed by stints with Modest Mouse (2005-08) and The Cribs (2008- ), before finally releasing his first solo album, The Messenger (2013).