Overview

The long-awaited memoir from the legendary guitarist and cofounder of the seminal British band The Smiths. An artist who helped define a period in popular culture, Johnny Marr tells his story in a memoir as vivid and arresting as his music. The Smiths, the band with the signature sound he cofounded, remains one of the most beloved bands ever, and have a profound influence on a number of acts that followed--from the Stone Roses, Suede, Blur, and Radiohead to Oasis, The Libertines, and Arctic Monkeys. Marr recalls his childhood growing up in the northern working-class city of Manchester, in a house filled with music. He takes us back to the summer of 1982 when, at eighteen, he sought out one Stephen Morrissey to form a new band they called The Smiths. Marr invites fans on stage, on the road, and in the studio for the five years The Smiths were together and how after a rapid ascent, the working-class teenage rock star enjoyed and battled with the perks of success until ideological differences, combined with his much publicized strained relationships with fellow band mates, caused him to leave in 1987. Marr's ""escape"" as he calls it, ensured the beginning of the end for one of the most influential groups of a generation. But The Smiths' end was only the beginning for Marr. The bona-fide guitar hero continues to experiment and evolve in his solo career to this day, playing with Paul McCartney, Pretenders, Modest Mouse, Oasis and collaborating today's most creative and renowned artists. Rising above and beyond the personal struggles and bitter feuds, Marr delivers the story of his music and his band, sharing the real insights of a man who has made music his life, and finally giving fans what they've truly been waiting for.

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9780062438737

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Reviews

The preeminent guitar stylist of his generation. Glam, folk-rock, post-punk, funk, rockabilly, and a certain ineffable Marrness-- that ringing, swinging, intricate, atmospheric, hook-dripping soul-- all dovetailed into a sound that still stuns. --Pitchfork

The preeminent guitar stylist of his generation. Glam, folk-rock, post-punk, funk, rockabilly, and a certain ineffable Marrness-- that ringing, swinging, intricate, atmospheric, hook-dripping soul-- all dovetailed into a sound that still stuns. -- Pitchfork

The preeminent guitar stylist of his generation. Glam, folk-rock, post-punk, funk, rockabilly, and a certain ineffable Marrness that ringing, swinging, intricate, atmospheric, hook-dripping soul all dovetailed into a sound that still stuns. --Pitchfork The preeminent guitar stylist of his generation. Glam, folk-rock, post-punk, funk, rockabilly, and a certain ineffable Marrness-- that ringing, swinging, intricate, atmospheric, hook-dripping soul-- all dovetailed into a sound that still stuns. --Pitchfork -The preeminent guitar stylist of his generation. Glam, folk-rock, post-punk, funk, rockabilly, and a certain ineffable Marrness-- that ringing, swinging, intricate, atmospheric, hook-dripping soul-- all dovetailed into a sound that still stuns.---Pitchfork

""An upbeat study in musical growth and stardom"" - Kirkus Reviews ""To say that Marr laid the sonic blueprint for indie rock, then, is not to resort to hyperbole in any regard. You can trace his influence from the ""How Soon Is Now?""-nicked guitar riff in U2's ""So Cruel"" to the folk delicacy of the Sundays and Belle and Sebastian to the shimmery bravado of the Killers to just about any other indie band that has made music in the last two and a half decades. Even if they weren't influenced by Marr, they'll still admit his undeniable impact."" - Popmatters ""Set the Boy Free is a trip down memory lane featuring the all-star cast?at it's heart, Set the Boy Free is written by a music fan for music fans."" - Esquire ""Poetic . . . Marr's directness is refreshing."" - AV Club ""Marr tells his version of the band's story with a nostalgic warmth."" - Rolling Stone ""Colorful."" - Washington Post ""The preeminent guitar stylist of his generation. Glam, folk-rock, post-punk, funk, rockabilly, and a certain ineffable Marrness-- that ringing, swinging, intricate, atmospheric, hook-dripping soul-- all dovetailed into a sound that still stuns."" - Pitchfork

Author Information

Johnny Marr was co-creator and lead guitarist of The Smiths. He went on to join The The and The Pretenders and collaborated with Talking Heads and the Pet Shop Boys before forming Electronic with Bernard Sumner. In the 2000s he joined Modest Mouse and The Cribs before launching a successful solo career. He has added his distinctive sound to film soundtracks, collaborating with Hans Zimmer on Inception, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, which won the Oscar for Best Song. In 2014 Marr developed and launched a guitar with Fender: the Johnny Marr Signature Fender Jaguar has gone on to be one of Fender's most popular models.

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