Guitars used by Johnny Marr in The Smiths and on his upcoming solo album The Age Of Everything are set for auction.
The sale includes his 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355, inspiring "Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now," and his 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, used on The Smiths’ debut and early tours.
The rockstar, 62, said: “I have loved guitars for as long as I can remember, since the first one I got at the age of five.
“Each guitar I have acquired over the past 50 years or so has helped me evolve as a musician, bringing new songs, new sounds and techniques.
“Writing Marr’s Guitars (his book) in 2023 gave me the perfect excuse to bring all of these instruments together, to tell their stories, revisit the songs, shows and unforgettable moments they’ve brought me, and that I’ve shared with remarkable people in studios and on stages around the world.
“The book turned out to be a cathartic experience and when it was time for these beautiful instruments to go back into storage, I couldn’t imagine them being put away and left unplayed.
“It’s bittersweet to be parting with these guitars but I want them to go to new homes and new people who will love them as much as I have. I hope they bring as much joy, inspiration and fun – and new songs – as they have given me.”
The Gibson ES-355 was purchased for him in 1983 by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, after Marr joked The Smiths would sign to the label if Stein bought him a new guitar, and is expect to fetch between £100,000 and £150,000.
The Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo can be heard on some of The Smiths' best-known songs such as “What Difference Does It Make?” and “This Charming Man”, and is expected to fetch between £60,000 and £80,000.
It also featured on the cover of Oasis’s debut single “Supersonic” after Marr lent the guitar to Noel Gallagher during early recording sessions for Definitely Maybe.
Also included in the auction is Marr’s Cherry 1984 Gibson Les Paul Standard, which was bought for The Smiths' second album Meat Is Murder (1985) and used on the 1985 tour and the final song of their last ever concert in December 1986.
The Les Paul is expected to fetch between £80,000 and £120,000, with Marr saying the instrument has also been used on records by New Order, The The, The Cribs, and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
A Comet Sparkle 2017 Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar is also among the 95 lots, where it is expected to make between £8,000 and £12,000, having been used on Billie Eilish’s James Bond theme for the 2021 film No Time To Die, and on the James Bond theme from that film.
Highlights from the sale, named Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection, will go on display in New York from 25 June to 1 July, before returning to Christie’s London headquarters for the pre-sale exhibition – which is free and open to all – from 9 to 16 September.
The sale will take place on 17 September at Christie’s in London.
Marr will donate 100 per cent of the hammer price from 10 lots to benefit the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association and the National Autistic Society.
It comes after he announced last week that he will release The Age Of Everything, his first studio album in four years, on 2 October.
With The Smiths, who were completed by singer Morrissey, bass player Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce, Marr was one of the pioneers of British indie rock in the 1980s.
The band released four critically acclaimed studio albums in The Smiths (1984), Meat Is Murder (1985), The Queen Is Dead (1986), and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987), before breaking up in 1987.
They achieved three UK top 10 singles, and were best known for songs such as “How Soon Is Now?”, “This Charming Man” and “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now”.
Marr launched his solo career with 2013 album The Messenger, with all of his solo albums charting in the UK top 10.
