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The 1969 song that changed Johnny Marr’s life: “It’s a beautiful mix of rhythm, sex and street poetry”
Johnny Marr, the accomplished guitarist from The Smiths, remains a prominent figure in modern music through his solo work and collaborations across multiple bands. When reflecting on his artistic influences in an interview with Nick Hornby, Marr highlighted The Rolling Stones' 1969 track 'Gimme Shelter' as a transformative moment that redirected his creative trajectory.
Marr's admiration extended beyond the song's technical qualities—its rhythm, instrumental execution, and lyrical character—to encompass how The Stones operated as an integrated creative force. His fascination with their approach to band dynamics, visual presentation, and collective artistic vision became central to his later work with The Smiths, where he prioritised presenting albums as unified creative works rather than simply assembling individual compositions.
In short
- Johnny Marr identifies The Rolling Stones' 1969 song 'Gimme Shelter' as a pivotal influence on his musical career
- Marr was inspired by both the song's musical qualities and The Stones' approach to band mechanics and creative identity
- These lessons shaped his philosophy when forming The Smiths and throughout his collaborative work
Explained simply
Johnny Marr is a guitarist known for his work with The Smiths, an influential British rock band of the 1980s. He has continued his career since then as a solo artist and through various musical collaborations.
Reflecting on his musical influences, Marr has highlighted The Rolling Stones' 1969 song "Gimme Shelter" as a pivotal moment in his artistic development. While he admired the song's strong rhythm, instrumentation and lyrics, he was equally struck by how it showcased The Stones operating as a unified creative partnership rather than separate individual contributors.
This vision influenced how Marr later approached The Smiths, where he prioritised creating albums as cohesive artistic statements. He was drawn to The Stones' model of presenting themselves as an integrated creative force—both musically and visually—and this became central to his own artistic philosophy.