Johnny Marr on his new album, "The Messenger", Smiths reunion rumors

It's odd to me that this is repeatedly referred to as a "debut." I mean, I get the fact that he didn't want to be in anyone else's band anymore...but when he's touring in January, is he not going to be accompanied by a band? I mean, he's not REALLY going to be solo - it's just an issue of semantics, that he won't be touring under the name 'Johnny Marr + the Healers.' The Healers WERE his band, and his name was out front. It's all well and fine if he recorded this new album completely on his own without a band and if he wants to release it JUST as 'Johnny Marr'; but 'Johnny Marr + the Healers' to me seems just as much of a solo debut, especially if he's going to be touring with a band again this time around.

I doubt he's embarrassed of Boomslang, I imagine he just finds these new songs much more exact to his vision.

 

[ARI]

Thanks for that.

Btw: You can view the article here: http://issuu.com/nmemagazine/docs/3rdnov/7 . Unfortunately it's rather blurry. What left me puzzled is that the tracklist doesn't include "The Trap". I assume (dearly hope) it's just been renamed and it will still be found on the record; it simply cannot be left out.

 

[Amy]

It's odd to me that this is repeatedly referred to as a "debut." I mean, I get the fact that he didn't want to be in anyone else's band anymore...but when he's touring in January, is he not going to be accompanied by a band? I mean, he's not REALLY going to be solo - it's just an issue of semantics, that he won't be touring under the name 'Johnny Marr + the Healers.' The Healers WERE his band, and his name was out front. It's all well and fine if he recorded this new album completely on his own without a band and if he wants to release it JUST as 'Johnny Marr'; but 'Johnny Marr + the Healers' to me seems just as much of a solo debut, especially if he's going to be touring with a band again this time around.
.

I can't understand this either. He's still touring and releasing under "The Healers" as far as I know; he just seems to be pretending that Boomslang never existed. Maybe he wants a fresh start? The drum skin on his recent appearances has read "Healers" too though, so he must envision it as a band of some sort.

That aside, I found it quite refreshing to hear Johnny admit that he got sick of being a sideman; it's what the fans have been saying for years!

 

[MORRIZSEY]

Healers was still printed on the gear front in The Trap video (renamed The Crack as the first on the track list?) although he did say why he wants it under his own name last month here, I presume it's due more to his preference than the band structure

 

[The Seeker of Good Songs]

Johnny Marr of The Smiths to release solo debut ‘The Messenger’ in February

Since quitting The Smiths in 1987, guitarist Johnny Marr has played with a wide variety of acts, from Talking Heads and The The to Electronic, Modest Mouse, The Cribs and even his own short-lived band, Johnny Marr + The Healers. Early next year, though, he’ll finally release his first proper album under his own name.

In interviews this week with the NME and The Sun, Marr revealed that his long-gestating solo debut will be called The Messenger and is due out sometime next February, following a tour in January.
Of the album, Marr — who turns 49 today — told the NME:

“It is late in the day to be making my debut. I didn’t want to be in someone else’s band at this point. In the past I might have been reluctant to stand up front, and I’ve been lucky enough to be in bands with great singers, so it wasn’t necessary. But this is my band now, and the frontman in my band has to play guitar. I do both.”
​

The guitarist also spoke of the ever-present rumors of a Smiths reunion:

“Everybody seems to know more about a Smiths reunion than I do. Those rumours are like a sport for everyone involved bar the people who were in the group 30 years ago. But it’s not happening.”
​

Marr also is set to join Dinosaur Jr in New York this December to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of that band’s classic album You’re Living All Over Me. As for his former partner Morrissey, we’re still waiting for the remainder of his U.S. tour to be rescheduled.


from: http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2012/10/31/johnny-marr-messenger-solo-album/

 

[ARI]

Re: Johnny Marr of The Smiths to release solo debut ‘The Messenger’ in February

Some more details:

http://www.johnny-marr.com/music-release/johnny-marr-to-release-%E2%80%98the-messenger%E2%80%99-solo-album

Johnny has recorded ‘The Messenger’ a solo album which is scheduled for release on 25th February 2013 on Warner Bros. The album was recorded in Manchester and Berlin and mastered at Abbey Road. Johnny has contributed writing, vocals, guitar and production on the album, songs titles include, I Want The Heartbeat, The Right Thing Right, Upstart, Word Starts Attack & European Me.

Johnny will be touring the UK in March 2013 and playing festivals worldwide.

I'm very much looking forward to this record. Dearly hope to get the chance to see him live next year.

 

[Dave2006]

Re: Johnny Marr of The Smiths to release solo debut ‘The Messenger’ in February

Great that the album is scheduled for release early next year, really disappointing that he spoke to The Scum about it (even if it was a quick interview after an award ceremony) - as Johnny's mate Billy Bragg says Scousers Never Buy The Sun


Dave

 

[Amy]

Johnny says that this week's NME will feature an article about his new album

Edit: Oh, it's already been posted above. Sorry!

"I spent years trying to hide from The Smiths". Thank God he's stopped now!

 

[Uncleskinny]

Johnny Marr on his debut solo album: 'I didn't want to be in someone else's band any more' - NME.com
Former Smiths guitarist says The Smiths reunion rumours are "like a sport"

Link first posted here by Morrizsey...

---

ARI also added:

Btw: You can view the article here: http://issuu.com/nmemagazine/docs/3rdnov/7 . Unfortunately it's rather blurry. What left me puzzled is that the tracklist doesn't include "The Trap". I assume (dearly hope) it's just been renamed and it will still be found on the record; it simply cannot be left out.

 

[DAVIE]

I can't wait for it! If it's a good album I'll watch him on tour!

 

[Anonymous]

He's probably been advised that, commerically, it's not a sound strategy to market this album as a 'follow up' to 'Boomslang' - an album that came out best part of a decade ago; to me, referencing 'Boomslang' creates the connotation "Solo career stalled first time round, not very successful, now I'm having another shot at getting it right, and it's taken me a few years to pluck up the courage". On the other hand, relegating 'Boomslang' to the category of merely being one amongst the many and varied projects he's been involved in post-Smiths, and describing the new album as a 'solo debut' makes for a much stronger, headline-grabbing' statement. Personally, I think Johnny Marr is actually rather embarrassed about 'Boomslang' these days - it was pretty poor Oasis-lite stuff, and he seems keen to emphasise that the new album is a departure from that sound.

 

[mcrickson]

He's probably been advised that, commerically, it's not a sound strategy to market this album as a 'follow up' to 'Boomslang' - an album that came out best part of a decade ago; to me, referencing 'Boomslang' creates the connotation "Solo career stalled first time round, not very successful, now I'm having another shot at getting it right, and it's taken me a few years to pluck up the courage".

A very valid and well-stated point.

 

[south]

finally he decided to publish a record of his own, i can't wait

 

[Anonymous]

Apparently he's airing it now on "Absolute radio" ... hope someone is able to record some!

 

[Librarian On Fire]

A tweet from Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers, "New town velocity on the johnny marr record is glorious-what a chorous-beautiful x"

At one stage I thought that Johnny Marr might have been asked to appear on the new Manics album, but no.