In a fascinating meeting of musical minds, Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher recently sat down to explore the storied history of the former The Smiths guitarist’s legendary instrument collection. The pair met at Christie’s in London, where 80 of Marr’s guitars—including those used on seminal tracks and during his collaborations with artists like Billie Eilish—are currently on display before being auctioned on September 17.
The exhibition features a 1982 black Rickenbacker 330, an instrument central to the sound of The Smiths on hits like 'This Charming Man'. During their conversation, Gallagher recalled the early days of Oasis, noting how Marr had generously lent some of his own guitars to the band during the recording of their debut album, Definitely Maybe.
Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher CREDIT: Holly Murray Christie’s London
“Someone took it out and just put it on the floor so it would look like we were a working band,” Gallagher recounted, referring to the guitar that famously appeared on the cover of the 'Supersonic' single. “I remember looking at it on the floor, going, ‘that cannot be the fucking Smiths’ guitar’. There’s no way he’s sent that down here to a load of geezers from Longsight!”
The conversation also touched on the lasting influence of Marr’s gear on Gallagher’s own playing style. Gallagher revealed that one of the guitars gifted to him by Marr was the direct inspiration for the Oasis classic 'Slide Away'. “That song never existed and it just came out of that guitar,” Gallagher said.
Marr, who recently contributed to Gallagher’s 2023 solo album Council Skies, explained his approach to session work, noting that he aims to serve the song by understanding exactly what the artist needs. “I’ve got to this point now where I know why people get me in,” Marr remarked.
The upcoming auction is set to be a significant event for music historians and collectors alike, with proceeds from the sale benefiting The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society. Beyond the guitars, the collection includes amplifiers, rare records, and memorabilia from throughout Marr’s illustrious career.