Description
A memoir by the guitarist and cofounder of the British band The Smiths. Johnny Marr tells his story in a memoir informed by his music. The Smiths, the band with the signature sound he cofounded, remain one of the most beloved bands and have had a profound influence on 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 readers back to the summer of 1982 when, at eighteen, he sought out Stephen Morrissey to form a new band they called The Smiths.
Marr invites readers on stage, on the road, and in the studio for the five years The Smiths were together. After a rapid ascent, the working-class teenage rock star enjoyed and battled the perks of success; ideological differences, combined with his much-publicized strained relationships with fellow bandmates, led 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. The Smiths' end was only the beginning for Marr. The guitarist continues to experiment and evolve in his solo career, playing with Paul McCartney, the Pretenders, Modest Mouse, Oasis, and collaborating with today's most creative and renowned artists.
He shares the story of his music and his band, offering insights from a man who has made music his life.
An artist who helped define a period in popular culture. Finally giving fans what they've truly been waiting for.