The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr decides to auction dozens of his guitars

JAKARTA - The Smiths guitarist, Johnny Marr, has decided to auction off a collection of personal instruments that have accompanied his career journey for the past four decades.

The auction process titled "Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection" will be held by the famous auction house, Christie's, in London on September 17.

This auction is a rare moment for collectors and music fans to compete for around 80 units of guitars, complete with amplifiers and tour equipment that are historically owned by Marr.

Two instruments believed to be the main contenders are a 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo guitar and a 1960 Gibson ES-355 Cherry Red.

The black Rickenbacker was Marr's main weapon when recording The Smiths' early hits such as "This Charming Man". The guitar was also loaned to Noel Gallagher for the recording session for Oasis' debut album, "Definitely Maybe", and was featured on the cover of their first single, "Supersonic". Its value is estimated to reach 80,000 pounds.

Meanwhile, the Gibson ES-355 purchased by Sire Records label founder Seymour Stein was a crucial instrument in the creation of the song "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now". This vintage guitar is estimated to have a fantastic value of up to 150,000 pounds.

For Marr, parting with these dozens of 'battle weapons' triggered mixed feelings. However, he did not want the historically significant instruments to end up obsolete in a storage room without ever being played again.

"I have loved the guitar since I first got it at the age of five. Every guitar I've had over the past 50 years has helped me grow as a musician, giving birth to new songs, new sounds, and new techniques," said Johnny Marr, quoted by Billboard, Tuesday, June 23.

He added, the book project "Marr's Guitars" in 2023 was a turning point that made him realize that he had to release the collection into the right hands.

"It's bittersweet to part ways with these guitars, but I want them to go to a new home and new people who will love them as much as I do. I hope they bring joy, inspiration, fun, and new songs, just as they have given me," he said.

Some of the proceeds from the auction sale did not go into Marr's personal pocket. The musician chose to donate part of the profits to two charities, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and National Autistic Society.

Before being officially auctioned in London, some of the selected instruments will also be exhibited to the public in New York from June 25 to July 1.

For information, after The Smiths disbanded in 1987, Marr's productivity never waned. He is known to have joined and collaborated with The Pretenders, Electronic, Modest Mouse, to The Cribs.

Entering the 2010s, Marr successfully embarked on a solo career and even participated in a project with Billie Eilish for the James Bond theme song "No Time To Die", to collaborating with Gorillaz in the "The Mountain" project.

Some of the guitars auctioned were even used by Marr to complete his latest solo album, "The Age of Everything", which is scheduled to be released on October 2.

In conjunction with that, Marr is preparing to embark on a UK and European tour that will culminate in his biggest solo stage at the OVO Arena Wembley, London.