Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher have discussed the former Smiths man’s iconic guitars as part of a new exhibition in London.
Marr is set to auction off 80 of his guitars, including ones he played with The Smiths and Billie Eilish on September 17, which are currently part of an exhibition at Christie’s.
The legendary guitarist and Oasis chief recently visited the exhibition to explore the stories behind the guitars. You can view it below.
The two Manchester-born artists inspected a 1982 black Rickenbacker 330 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar, which Marr originally used to compose hit singles ‘This Charming Man’ and ‘What Difference Does It Make’.
“You’ve always been a bit gung ho with your guitars, because I remember the day when Oasis was recording ‘Definitely Maybe’ for the first time, and you sent down some guitars, because we had one guitar each!” Gallagher said.
“Someone took it out and just put it on the floor so it would look like we were a working band. It’s on the cover of ‘Supersonic’. I remember looking at it on the floor, going, ‘that cannot be the fucking Smiths’ guitar’. There’s no fucking way he’s sent that down here to a load of geezers from fucking Longsight! I was like, ‘you better take that back, mate! What if someone stands on it rat arsed at 4 in the morning!’”
Marr added: “It’s a good cover though, it does look good.”
The instrument is expected to fetch up to £80,000, when it goes under the hammer along with a red Gibson ES-355TDSV electric guitar estimated between £100,000 and £150,000.
That guitar was originally purchased for Marr by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein to persuade The Smiths to sign to his label. Inspecting it, Marr noted: “So many people associate me over the years with the Ricky (Rickenbacker).”
Marr suggested that most people connect Gallagher with a red Gibson, to which Gallagher answered: “I got mine because of seeing you on Top Of The Pops! Those, to me, are the best guitars ever made.”
Gallagher added one of the guitars Marr gave to him inspired him to play ‘Slide Away’ for the first time.
“That song never existed and it just came out of that guitar and I remember telling you once and you were like, ‘you fucking bastard’,” laughed Gallagher.
Marr played on three songs on Gallagher’s 2023 solo album ‘Council Skies‘.
Speaking to NME at the time, Gallagher said: “It’s a funny thing with Johnny. He doesn’t get you to send him the track, he turns up, plugs his gear in, puts his guitar on, stands in front of the speakers and says, ‘Right, let’s hear it’. As he’s hearing it for the first time, he plays it. I wouldn’t tell him what to play, I wouldn’t be so cheeky.”
“He elevates my songs. Sometimes it’s really subtle and sometimes it’s really great. I’m so privileged to have his phone number. I say, ‘If you keep picking up the phone then I’m going to keep phoning you’ – but he’s into it,” he added.
Speaking now, Gallagher said: “Well, you’ve referred to the Les Paul as the ultimate guitar. You’ve been to do a few sessions with me, and you always bring that.”
Marr added: “Well the reason I brought it to play on your album is because I’ve got to this point now where I know why people get me in. I know what you would want. Your solo stuff goes in all different directions.”
He will donate 100 per cent of the hammer price to benefit The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
The sale also features amplifiers, gold and silver records from Marr’s long career, a collection of harmonicas, alongside posters and memorabilia from The Smiths.
Marr recently announced his fifth solo album ‘The Age Of Everything’. Set for release on October 2 via BMG, it will be his first since 2022’s ‘Fever Dreams Pts 1–4’.
