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.