Marr The Merrier

"Hahahahaha! That’s what rock n roll is all about isn’t it?” laughs Johnny Marr. I have just informed the legendary guitarist that according to internet reports Easyjet instructed  a woman wearing a ‘Johnny Fuckin Marr’ t-Shirt to remove the offending item on a recent UK flight. “Nothing to do with me but I’m so proud!” he smiles.

The Smiths legend is chatting to Hot Press in advance of his visit to Stradbally, a prospect he is clearly relishing.
“I can’t wait for Electric Picnic, it’s going to be really good, particularly as the record has been out for a while and people know the songs,” he enthuses. “I really enjoyed the festival when I was there a few years ago with Modest Mouse. People always have a good time. Ireland’s spoilt in terms of its festival sites. Even when it’s raining it beats a few I’ve seen on the continent!”
From the exemplary smorgasbord of talent on offer at the festival Johnny flags The Knife and Franz Ferdinand as acts he would like to catch.
“I saw the Knife years ago and they were really good,” he says. “It’s great Franz Ferdinand are back with a new album. When they came out first I didn’t think there was a lot going on in guitar music and they were a real breath of fresh air, a reminder that music can be clever and fun at the same time. We bump into each other now and again. The last time I saw them was at the wedding of Ross Jarman from The Cribs because Alec produced them.”
Also on the bill is David Byrne with whom Johnny collaborated on Talking Heads 1988 meisterwork Naked.
“I loved making that record,  I was only a kid and I was quite nervous,” he recalls. “One thing that people don’t realise about David is that he is very, very funny and likes a laugh. He really put me at ease. The other thing I remember is how friendly and gracious he was to everyone who was working on the video shoot for ‘Nothing But Flowers’.
Having watched said 80s-tastic video on YouTube the previous evening as part of my ‘research’  I remark on how young he looks.
“It was a really good fun,” he giggles. “I got off the plane that morning and I got through the day of recording and filming and at about 1.30 in the morning someone gave me a joint. Well it was all over then! (laughs) I thought we were finished but we had more filming to do so the evidence is there! Just say no! Or else you end up with a haircut like that! I remember when I turned up David said to me, ‘Wow, those English haircuts!’”
Johnny has been very busy on the festival circuit over the last few months but never one to rest on his laurels he has been demoing songs for his next album between shows.
“Yeah, I’m just kicking ideas around with the band really,” he says. “I have a few I am pleased with.  I am just trying to not overthink things.  One of the reasons why The Messenger sounds as free as it does is because I didn’t really care too much about what people would think when I was doing it so it is fairly natural. I’m trying to do that again but it’s going to be difficult because it’s a follow up.”
“But the difference this time too is that I am writing it when I’m playing live shows,”he adds. “ It’s great to get the positive energy from the audience. Also, I have the band together, for the last one I was putting the band together as it was being made so I ended up playing a lot of the bass and doing a lot of the backing vocals. So I have the fellas together now so they can get in there and do some of the bloody work!”
We have heard report he is anxious to work with Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Might he make an appearance on the next album?
“Not on this record but in time,” clarifies Johnny. I’m often asked who I would like to collaborate with next and actually I don’t really want to collaborate with anyone right now. (Pauses) Although I would like to work with Hans Zimmer (with whom Johnny worked on the Inception soundtrack) again and with as you mentioned Nick Zinner.
Anyone as long as your surname begins with a Z!” (laughs)
In a live capacity Johnny has joined forces with a few interesting names this year including Ronnie Wood who helped out on ‘How Soon Is Now?’ at the NME bash when Johnny was given his Godlike Genius Award.
“They’re funny, the NME Awards. This might come as a real shock to people but  everybody’s quite drunk at these things,” he deadpans. “ You have to sit through two and half hours of everyone partying and getting crazy. Then you’re up performing  on front of a bunch of drunk cleverclogs, shall we say. It was great. I know Ronnie well and once he puts his guitar on he’s like a really passionate kid. He’s playing it out of his skin. People may not realise or may forget because he is unpretentious but he is an amazing, amazing musician. We often take people like that for granted.”
And will Johnny still be kicking out the jams at Ronnie’s age?
“Without a doubt! You can bank on it”