Johnny Marr & Pete Doherty Cover Smiths Rarity

Watch the duo perform a brief rendition of 'Jeane' below. Smiths MP3 at bottom.


MP3: The Smiths - Panic

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Johnny Marr Permanently Joins The Cribs, Readies New Single

The former Smith sure is keeping busy!

Learn all about his latest endeavor here.

The quartet's premiere collaboration will hit shops by Christmas.

Brand new press shot (featuring JM) accompanies this post.

Visit The Cribs on MySpace.

MP3: The Cribs - Men's Needs (CSS Mix)

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Johnny Marr Plus The Cribs Equals

Check out a behind-the-scenes clip of the heavyweights tackling The Kinks below.


MP3: The Cribs - Men's Needs (CSS Remix)

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Johnny Marr: #74 On USA Today's Top 100 People In 2007

Here's the blurb that follows the newspaper's declaration: *The former Smiths guitarist re-entered the spotlight as a member of Modest Mouse, and his unmistakable sound can be heard all over the chart-topping, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. Now, if only we could get Marr's band to open for Morrissey, and then Andy Rourke could be waiting in the wings... see where I'm going with this?*

View the complete list here.

MP3: The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

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Johnny Marr 'Professes' His Love Of Pop Music

Salford U explains: *He found fame with cult indie band The Smiths and now, as Visiting Professor, influential Manchester-born guitarist, Johnny Marr will be passing on his musical expertise to students at Salford University. The ex-Smiths guitarist and current band member of Modest Mouse will be delivering a series of workshops and masterclasses to students on the BA Popular Music and Recording degree at Salford. Johnny's latest venture comes hard on the heels of a Q Lifetime Achievement Award and a number one hit in the US charts with Modest Mouse. He joined the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Harloe, and Registrar, Dr Adrian Graves, at a reception on Wednesday 17 October to formally appoint him as Visiting Professor of Music.

After the appointment Johnny said: "Salford University is offering some fantastic opportunities to students in music. It is an honour to be appointed as a Professor and I'm excited at the prospect of being able to make a contribution." But this is not the first time that Johnny has visited Salford University. Those lucky enough to have been present at The Smiths' performance (one of the last few) held at the University in 1986 experienced what Johnny regards as the best gig he ever played. As he himself says: "the PA had to be tied down because the floor was bouncing up so high that the stage was practically falling to pieces." After making his name in cult 80s band The Smiths, Johnny became a session musician working with artists such as The Pretenders and Bryan Ferry. In the late 90s he formed a new band, Johnny Marr and the Healers, and he is currently a member of American indie rock band Modest Mouse.*

MP3: Modest Mouse - Dashboard

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James Blunt & Johnny Marr Respond To 'In Rainbows'

James (Friggin') Blunt: “I definitely think there is value in music. I don’t think they should devalue it. I’ve got to pay a band, a producer & a mixer. I don’t know how I’d necessarily pay them if I sold my albums for 1p. I’d have to work it out, but maybe they know how this works in practice.”

Johnny Marr: “I think it’s a really fantastic idea because it puts the responsibility back on people’s own consciences and deals with people as grown ups... Everyone knows you can get your music for free, so let’s see if you really want to show the band your appreciation.”

Both quotes courtesy of Radiohead fan site, At Ease Web. In related news, the current estimated sales tally for the LP exceeds 1.2 million! I guess the experiment worked.

MP3: Radiohead - Faust Arp

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Noel Gallagher Hearts Johnny Marr

Noel shares his thoughts on the former Smiths guitarist/current Modest Mouse guitarist, Johnny Marr, with 7 Ages Of Rock.

"I remember seeing The Smiths on Top Of The Pops, and I don't mean this in a sycophantic way, but I wanted to be Johnny Marr.

"He had the Brian Jones haircut, the turtleneck, and the big red semi-acoustic guitar and he was cool as fuck."

Still is Noel, still is.

MP3s: Oasis - Whatever + The Smiths - Meat Is Murder

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Johnny Marr: Why I Joined Modest Mouse

"It started off just as me writing some songs with Isaac (Brook, MM mainman) and I wasn't looking beyond that. Then it became about me recording these songs as an album with these musicians. Then when the record started to sound as it did, I felt like I wanted to go out and play my part and show my commitment to what I'd done. And I'm still in that frame of mind.

"I was completely open-minded as to what it may or may not be. As it turned out, we wrote the first single ('Dashboard') on the first night and got on really strong roll straight from the off. I don't think they've officially asked me to join yet, I'm just hanging around! But it would be a good idea for us to do some more I think.

"We're not a pretty boy band. We're serious about playing. But Modest Mouse are a very welcoming, quirky bunch of people so I fit in very nicely. Isaac's very good at creating a family environment. It's very funny, very sarcastic and very progressive." (via NME)

Sounds like love at first sight. For all Modest Mouse tour dates, check here.

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Johnny Marr Reveals, Morrissey Wows LA

Lots of Smiths, or rather ex-Smiths, news today!

Firstly, in a joint NME/Uncut interview this week, ex-Smiths (and current Modest Mouse) guitarist, Johnny Marr reveals that 'How Soon Is Now?' is the band's 'most enduring record'. He also reveals that it's the track he most often gets asked about. Not so shocking if you ask me. Oh, he also voiced some choice words for t.a.t.u (remember them?) and their cover of the aforementioned track, declaring it 'plastic'. That sounds about right. First time I heard that cover I cringed and cringed and cringed!

The interview is part of a look at The Smiths' 30 greatest songs, as chosen by members of REM, Ian Brown, Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand. On newsstands now!

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In Morrissey news, last night was his first US show of the year - he's in the middle of a 3-night run in Pasadena. The set featured many Moz/Smiths classics (including 'How Soon Is Now?'). A dream setlist if you ask me!

Setlist: Panic / First Of The Gang To Die / The Youngest Was The Most Loved / You Have Killed Me / Disappointed / Ganglord / I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero Now / William, It Was Really Nothing / Irish Blood, English Heart / I Will See You In Far-off Places / Girlfriend In A Coma / Everyday Is Like Sunday / In The Future When All's Well / I've Changed My Plea To Guilty / Let Me Kiss You / The National Front Disco / Dear God, Please Help Me / How Soon Is Now? / I Just Want To See The Boy Happy / Life Is A Pigsty // Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want / Don't Make Fun Of Daddy's Voice

Tonight and tomorrow's shows are sold out, but if you managed to get a ticket, let us know how thrilling the show was! We're jealous. Beyond jealous!

MP3: The Smiths - Frankly Mr Shankly (live)

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