If guitars could talk, Johnny Marr’s would sing an entire history of modern music. Marr’s Guitars is a visually rich, deeply personal look at the instruments that shaped the sonic identity of one of Britain’s most innovative guitarists. From jangly riffs with The Smiths to film scores and collaborations with the likes of Modest Mouse and Hans Zimmer, each guitar in Marr’s collection is linked to a moment, a melody, a milestone.
Presented through the lens of renowned photographer Pat Graham, the book captures each instrument with reverence—full portraits and detailed close-ups showing every worn fret and custom mod. Marr pairs these images with his own reflections, telling the stories behind the sounds. Whether it’s his cherished Rickenbacker 330, the Gibson ES-355, or the Fender Jaguar that bears his name, every guitar unlocks a memory.
Some guitars come with legends attached: the Stratocaster once owned by Nile Rodgers, the Hagstrom from Bryan Ferry’s Roxy Music era, the Yamaha passed down from folk legend Bert Jansch. Others have moved on to new hands—like the Stratocaster used by Noel Gallagher to record “Wonderwall,” or the Goldtop Gibson that Ed O’Brien wielded on Radiohead’s In Rainbows. Marr gives each of these instruments the respect of a fellow traveler on his creative path.
With behind-the-scenes photos from studios, stages, and backrooms across decades, Marr’s Guitars isn’t a tech manual or a glossy showcase—it’s a living museum. One filled with resonance, memory, and a relentless pursuit of tone. Johnny Marr may be the guitarist’s guitarist, but through this book, he also becomes a historian of feeling, showing how six strings and a vision can change the sound of everything.
