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Johnny Marr to auction guitars he played with The Smiths and Billie Eilish
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- Johnny Marr is auctioning nearly 100 guitars, including iconic instruments played on The Smiths' "This Charming Man" and Billie Eilish's "No Time To Die," with estimates ranging from £1,000 to £150,000.
- The collection features notable guitars such as a 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 given to Marr by Seymour Stein, a Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo used on Smiths classics, and a Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar played on the Bond theme.
- Marr decided to sell the guitars after completing his 2023 book "Marr's Guitars," wanting the instruments to inspire other musicians rather than remain in storage or become museum pieces.
- The auction will take place at Christie's in London on 17 September, with some proceeds from 10 lots donated to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
- Reflecting on the sale, Marr described it as an emotional but potentially cathartic experience, embracing nostalgia while looking forward to new creative chapters.
