Johnny Marr Courtesy Christie's Images
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Johnny Marr’s legendary guitars are set to go under the hammer this summer. In a landmark sale taking place at Christie’s in London on Sept. 17, Marr is set to auction a vast collection of instruments that have helped define some of the most influential British indie music of the past four decades.
Titled Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection after the 2023 coffee table book Marr’s Guitars, the auction will feature around 80 guitars, alongside amplifiers and touring equipment. The collection traces Marr’s career from his breakthrough as co-founder of seminal Manchester group The Smiths through to his extensive post-band collaborations and solo work.
A portion of proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the National Autistic Society. Selected instruments will also be exhibited for public view in New York later this month (June 25 – July 1), before heading across the Atlantic to London. Further information about the auction can be found on the official Christie’s website.
Among the highlights are Marr’s 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, which was played on early The Smiths hits including “This Charming Man” and “What Difference Does It Make?”, with an estimated value of up to £80,000 ($106,000). The guitar was also lent by Marr to Noel Gallagher for Oasis’ Definitely Maybe recording sessions, and appears on the cover of the band’s debut 1994 single, “Supersonic.”
Also featured is a 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355, one of Marr’s signature instruments during the mid-1980s, purchased for him by Sire Records label founder Seymour Stein. The guitar was central to the writing of The Smiths’ “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and is estimated to fetch up to £150,000 ($199,000), according to a press release.
Several guitars in the collection were recently used in the recording of Marr’s upcoming solo album The Age of Everything, (due Oct. 2 via BMG). He will support the new record with a headline U.K. and European tour this fall, culminating in his largest solo show to date at London’s 12,500-capacity OVO Arena Wembley on Oct. 24.
“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,” Marr said in a statement.
“Writing Marr’s Guitars 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.”
Amelia Walker, Christie’s specialist head of private and iconic collections, added: “Christie’s is thrilled to be presenting Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection for sale this September. When Johnny Marr co-founded The Smiths at the age of 18, the music world had never before heard such a unique and melodic style of guitar playing, nor such original and fresh sounding songs.”
She continued: “These are the tools of a guitarist who continually strives to innovate, and whose unmistakable sound and music has inspired musicians and fans of all ages and walks of life from the early 1980s to today. We are delighted to be working with Johnny Marr to find new owners and new songs for these legendary instruments.”
After the split of The Smiths in 1987, Marr went on to work with a succession of major acts including The Pretenders, Electronic (alongside Bernard Sumner of New Order), Modest Mouse and The Cribs. He launched his solo career in the 2010s, and has since collaborated with the likes of Billie Eilish (“No Time To Die”) and Gorillaz (2026 The Mountain).
