Johnny Marr planning solo releases

[not_me_not_I]

http://www.billboard.com/news/ex-smiths-guitarist-johnny-marr-planning-1005051172.story#/news/ex-smiths-guitarist-johnny-marr-planning-1005051172.story


"Johnny Marr, the former songwriter and guitarist in the Smiths, is planning a return to front man status.

After stints performing with Cribs and Modest Mouse, Marr plans to release two albums within the next 18 months under his own name.

"With the Cribs not working I've been writing a lot on my own," Marr told Billboard at a pre-Academy Awards gathering. Marr did not have details on the timing of releases or even recording sessions.

The Cribs, meanwhile, will be heading into the recording studio this summer to work on their fifth album, according to NME. Marr was mum on whether he will join them on the project.

His only solo release since the Smiths' break-up in 1987 was "Boomslang" in 2003. Besides recording and touring with the Cribs and Modest Mouse, Marr has worked with the The, Neil Finn, Pet Shop Boys and others.

Marr was making the rounds at Oscar-related events with composer Hans Zimmer. The two collaborated on the score for "Inception."

"We will work together again," Marr predicted. "Right now I don't know what the movie is." "

[GlasgowChivas]

Bah! Beaten to the forum!

I submitted this as Main page news this morning but couldn't get a minute in work to post to the forum.

Anyways; he's confirmed on Twitter too that he will be touring in the Autumm/Fall.

See here (http://twitter.com/johnny_marr) from about 4hrs ago (at time of writing.)

[not_me_not_I]

I was actually surprised it hadn't been posted and assumed I'd be merged into the previous thread!

[Amy]

Assuming his time in the Cribs is over then?

[mcrickson]

Assuming his time in the Cribs is over then?

One can only hope. :D

[Amy]

One can only hope. :D

Haha, indeed! I'm pleasantly surprised that he's planning some solo stuff now (possibly the Healers' aborted second album, waiting in the wings since 2005?) - a welcome change from his usual "done, done, onto the next one" merry-go-round of projects and collaborations.

[mcrickson]

Haha, indeed! I'm pleasantly surprised that he's planning some solo stuff now (possibly the Healers' aborted second album, waiting in the wings since 2005?) - a welcome change from his usual "done, done, onto the next one" merry-go-round of projects and collaborations.

Ahh, yes. Weren't there reports straight from the horse's mouth around 2005 of the new Healers' material being more "jangle-oriented"? Whatever it is, I do very much look forward to it.

[Raphael Lambach]

great

[Oh my god, it's Robby!]

umm, I think Johnny is great and all, but I really would be more enthused to hear that he was touring with someone else doing the singing, thats all, sorry :o
still, good luck to him and those that go see the tour :guitar:

[goinghome]

but I really would be more enthused to hear that he was touring with someone else doing the singing, thats all...
:guitar:

Someone else in particular in mind? ;)

[Amy]

umm, I think Johnny is great and all, but I really would be more enthused to hear that he was touring with someone else doing the singing, thats all, sorry :o
still, good luck to him and those that go see the tour :guitar:

Have you heard Ryan Jarman attempt to sing? I'd rather have Johnny on his own any day.

[Orson Swells]

I hope it's instrumental... and he sends Morrissey a copy.

[mcrickson]

Have you heard Ryan Jarman attempt to sing? I'd rather have Johnny on his own any day.

Agreed. I do like Johnny's voice. His lyrics I'm not so much a fan of, but they do fit the music, which is very well put-together.

[Mars_Rover]

Anyways; he's confirmed on Twitter too that he will be touring in the Autumm/Fall.

See here (http://twitter.com/johnny_marr) from about 4hrs ago (at time of writing.)

Maybe he'll do a Smiths song or two. I would love to hear him sing, "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want." Swoon city.

[KenzieW]

umm, I think Johnny is great and all, but I really would be more enthused to hear that he was touring with someone else doing the singing, thats all, sorry :o
still, good luck to him and those that go see the tour :guitar:

Me too. I love him and if he played here I would go see him, but I would prefer someone else singing. I wish I had saw him in concert when he played here with the cribs.

[DAVIE]

I hope Johnny gets Andy Rourke to help out with the Bass parts in the gigs! :D
I hope Johnny doesn't recruit any of the "Healers" or do another disaster "Healers" album
I hope Johnny returns to his 1980s Jangle roots!

[Amy]

Agreed. I do like Johnny's voice. His lyrics I'm not so much a fan of, but they do fit the music, which is very well put-together.

Johnny's lyrics are a strange thing for me - I'm not sure if he's genuinely lacking in ability or whether he's just lazy about that aspect of it and prefers to concentrate solely on the music. If you look at the "lyrics" for something like 'You Are The Magic' or 'The Last Ride', well, it's hard to believe he was taking the writing part seriously.

[DAVIE]

Johnny's lyrics are a strange thing for me - I'm not sure if he's genuinely lacking in ability or whether he's just lazy about that aspect of it and prefers to concentrate solely on the music. If you look at the "lyrics" for something like 'You Are The Magic' or 'The Last Ride', well, it's hard to believe he was taking the writing part seriously.

Hopefully his new album will be pure instrumental and Marr will let the music speak for itself! Doubt it though.....

[Amy]

Hopefully his new album will be pure instrumental and Marr will let the music speak for itself! Doubt it though.....

Well if he's getting the Healers back on the road, you know he'll be singing and writing.....:P

[Maurice E]

http://www.nme.com/news/the-cribs/56040
and not, one might argue, a moment too soon!

[mcrickson]

Thank god.

[Maurice E]

I'm sorry but Johnny Marr offically leaving the Cribs is much bigger (or, at least, significantly different) news than him planning a solo album.
It's ridiculous, over-the-top moderation like this which is partly responsible for this site's decline (this place should be buzzing with the new tour and best-of just round the corner).
Does anyone know if the moderation is this poorly judged over at http://allyouneedismorrissey.com/index/?
Guess there's a pretty good way of finding out...

[billy scissors]

Im sure everyones devastated to hear this earth shattering news :rolleyes:

[Amy]

Surprise surprise, the notorious musical nomad gets bored and packs in once again. The Cribs were dire so his solo stuff can only be an improvement.

[Amy]

Looks like the Jarmans weren't happy with the album sessions:

http://www.nme.com/news/the-cribs/56050

[mcrickson]

Looks like the Jarmans weren't happy with the album sessions:

http://www.nme.com/news/the-cribs/56050

Right. You know something is wrong with your band when sessions with one of the most talented musicians of the past century "weren't working."

[Amy]

Right. You know something is wrong with your band when sessions with one of the most talented musicians of the past century "weren't working."

I don't like the Cribs, but have you heard Boomslang?

[mcrickson]

I have. Apart from Johnny's lyrics, its not terrible. I'd certainly rather listen to it than a Cribs album. And I wouldn't expect another Boomslang. It's been about a decade since then, I'm sure Johnny's got something new for us.

[Mars_Rover]

I hope I'm not reading too much into the situation, but it does seem significant that the Jarmans released their statement on the same day Marr did. Perhaps the parting of the ways was less than harmonious.

[Amy]

I hope I'm not reading too much into the situation, but it does seem significant that the Jarmans released their statement on the same day Marr did. Perhaps the parting of the ways was less than harmonious.


What makes you think that? I thought Johnny's statement made it sound like he chose to leave because he wanted to focus on the Healers, but the Jarmans' statement made it sound like they didn't have room for him anymore and wanted to go back to the norm - particularly the 'It was never about fancy LA studios' bit. Whichever, it's strange that Marr should pick now as a good time to return to the Healers, considering he's had the 2nd album pretty much finished for 6 years, and shelved it to work on other projects.

[Orson Swells]

I'd really like Johnny to make an album with a different singer providing the lyric/vocal for each track. Morrissey could do one and Johnny could do one himself, of course.

[mcrickson]

I'd really like Johnny to make an album with a different singer providing the lyric/vocal for each track. Morrissey could do one and Johnny could do one himself, of course.

:D
This made me laugh at the possibility of Morrissey singing Johnny's lyrics (I know this isn't what you meant, but the thought just popped into my head). Imagine that swathing baritone crooning "I'm on a landslide, maybe I'll take you down for the ride." :lbf:

[Mars_Rover]

Because the two statements came out on the same day with slightly differering stories. Marr saying basically it was a non-event, a natural parting of the ways, and the Jarman brothers saying it wasn't really working out with Johnny anymore.

Yeah, you're probably right - Ryan, it was really nothing.