Johnny Marr Interview

That’s what happens when you go out for the day with Noel Gallagher... you start off just wanting a pretty low-key Sunday and you end up on the pitch being hugged by Sergio Aguero! That’s Noel for you! He’s a good guy and his new record’s great; people are really going to like it.”

Johnny Marr is shooting the breeze with Hot Press in the impressive surrounds of Dublin's Radisson Hotel. In addition to ruminating on impressive latest outing Playland, the former Smiths legend is happy to wax lyrical on recent activities such as his tabloid-frenzy-inducing FA Final Cup visit with Mr Gallagher.
The two have a lot in common. They're trying to cultivate solo careers in the shadow of legendary former outfits, the acrimony of a “severed alliance” looming large in the background.
Playland comes a mere 18 months after The Messenger. Marr has cited Rory Gallagher as an attitudinal influence, in that he immediately started work on album number two after his solo debut’s release, not wanting to lose momentum.
 “The music industry has changed a hell of a lot over the last 10 or 12 years,” he states. “When things come out, a record or a new iPhone or something, there’s so much strategy involved. The bands that I liked when I was a kid just got on with being bands and that’s the reason why Rory Gallagher came to mind...there didn’t seem to be a lot of contrivance. It seemed to be about plugging in and playing and then going out and doing it again and doing it again. That’s good to have as an influence... that kind of attitude is healthy and, dare I say it, honest. I don’t see the value in me and my band shutting down for three or four months, just because that’s what everybody else does.”
Sonically, the album continues in a similar vein to its predecessor. It's packed with uptempo post-punk gems. Once again Johnny draws inspiration from his urban environment on songs such as ‘Speak Out, Reach Out’ (about a city worker fallen on hard times) and ‘Dynamo’ (a love song to a building). As on The Messenger his children, Nile and Sonny, make an appearance.
“Nile’s band played Reading and Leeds this year; his album’s coming out at the start of next year, I’m really proud,” he beams. “I featured them on my record because they were around and are very good at what they do. I tried to make their credit as discreet as possible... without showing any disrespect or being weird about it. I just wanted to treat them as session musicians.”
His eldest son is named for one of his heroes and friends, Nile Rodgers. Did he get the call for the new Chic album we wonder?
“I did but I was busy, I think I was working on the Spiderman soundtrack,” he explains. “I’ll have to rope Nile into my next project! He's like family; a really important person to me, both professionally and personally. He inspires me off stage as much as on stage. There’s a lot to learn from him.
“I’m very fortunate in that people who were my heroes as a kid then became my friends, Nile being one. Andrew Loog Oldham is another. I look around and go, 'How the fuck did that happen?!'”
Spiderman 2 saw Johnny team up with Pharrell Williams and Alicia Keys as well as reuniting with Hans Zimmer, with whom he worked on Inception.
“It was great to work with Hans. This time it was more collaborative,” he says. “Pharrell was amazing, as anyone would imagine. There’s a reason he’s successful. He’s very inspired. Working with Alicia Keys was really unexpected because that happened at the end of the process. She had a brilliant work ethic. Alicia is part of a lineage of wonderful soul singers. She sat at the piano and belted out these songs. The difference in musical backgrounds didn’t really mean anything at all. Music is the best universal language.”
Given his extensive soundtrack work, has Johnny ever harboured ambitions to be on the silver screen?
“Yeah, I’d definitely do it,” he nods. “A couple of my friends are actors and as the years have gone on I do find that I’ve probably more in common with those people than with a lot of rock musicians. Someone like Gary Oldman, for example, really fought to not be typecast. I can relate to that. When you’re a rock musician people hate it when you step out of what you’re doing. If an actor kept making the same film year in, year out, people would switch off very quickly. Actors and visual artists have a different approach to work... they're usually trying to do something every day and working on different projects. That makes me relate to those people much more than musicians. A lot of actors are big fans, I can never remember them... I don’t mean to sound blasé. There are a few.”
We imagine there have been a few famous faces in Johnny’s audiences over the years.
“Well, when I found out Andrew Oldham was a fan that really knocked me out,” he laughs. “I remember one time Keith Richards rang me up to ask if he could come round because he liked my guitar playing – that really freaked me out. And Paul McCartney, well I don’t know whether he is a fan. However, he asked me to come and play.”
As a musician who thrives on live performance, it comes as no surprise that Mr Marr intends to release an album capturing the band in all their gigtastic glory.
“Yeah, I want it to be vinyl-only just for the sake of it too!” he smiles. “I’ve got an iPod and like all humans who like music, the convenience is great. I mentioned it to somebody and they argued with me that people would have to buy a record player, but you can buy record players for 30 quid!! And if it means people will buy record players - that’s great! They’re really fabulous objects. My band, at least half of what we’re about is playing live, if not more, and so we want to just put out a concert.” 
Famous fans, former heroes as friends and getting to do what you love every day. We wonder does Johnny agree with Noel Gallagher’s contention that rock 'n' roll is the Rolls Royce of professions?
“Well it is for Noel!” he laughs. “For me it’s more a 30-year vehicle. It starts out as a brand new racing car then really puts its foot down and gets a few bumps and scratches along the way. Then, after a long journey, it becomes vintage and timeless and super cool. I’m not talking about myself there – just hopefully what my career could be! Either that or it’s clapped out and knackered and held together with a few elastic bands!”

Playland is out now.