Johnny Marr says ‘very cool’ first record he bought was a ‘fluke’ purchase

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Johnny Marr says the first-ever record he bought is “very cool”, but that it was a “fluke” of a first purchase.

The Smiths‘ guitarist and celebrated solo artist may exude a coolness in the modern day, but this was not always the case. Marr says that his first record purchase, despite being a strong option, is complete happenstance. Marr will play Wembley Arena later this year with opening act support from Baxter Dury, with covers of his hits with the Morrissey-fronted band likely. But Marr’s work runs deeper than that and can be heard in his solo discography. His influences can be heard too, and in an interview with Pitchfork, the Float On songwriter broke down his biggest influences and the first record he ever bought.

Tucked away in a shoebox at a furniture store of all places was the record Marr not only “fell in love with” but found plenty of influence in. He told the music outlet: “The first 45 I ever bought with my own money was a T. Rex record, which, luckily, is very cool. It was a fluke, though — it was in a bargain shoebox in a furniture store, and I didn’t know what it was.

“But I bought it because it had a picture of Marc Bolan on the B-side label, and I figured I was getting more bang for my buck! I fell in love with that image. The song was Jeepster, and I didn’t have to learn to love it because those thunking guitar riffs were so great.”

Marr went on to describe the influence T.Rex had on him when he was just 10-years-old, with another song by the band also an early purchase from the guitar legend. He said: “After that, I spent every bit of money I had on 45s, and it’s a habit that’s not really left me. When Metal Guru from T. Rex’s The Slider came out, I was knocked sideways, too.

“Hearing it for the first time was one of those things that can only be described as transcendent, people who’ve had those moments with rock music will know what I’m talking about. It’s not something you can get from anything else. Seeing Metal Guru performed on Top of the Pops was a life-changing moment for me.

“I got on my pushbike, aged 10, and rode and rode for miles until I got lost in this park in the early hours of the morning. It really affected me that deeply. That feeling was something I wanted to create in music. By this time, I was already trying to hold some chords down on the guitar. I was very serious about it. I had a crummy acoustic that took a lot of love and dedication to play, but I never had to be told to practice. I never had a lesson.”

Marr would go on to join The Smiths and had later success as a solo artist. He remains one of the most recognisable UK guitarists, bringing to life the likes of This Charming Man and How Soon is Now. Alongside Marc Bolan from T.Rex, Marr has cited Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones and The Velvet Underground as influences on his sound.

Phil Spector was also singled out by the guitarist as influencing how he makes albums. He said: “I like the idea of records, even those with plenty of space, that sound ‘symphonic’. I like the idea of all the players merging into one atmosphere.”