Johnny Marr says gifting Noel Gallagher his guitar inspired him to quit drinking

Speaking to Radio X, Johnny Marr recalled a pre-Oasis Noel Gallagher, “He was just this guy who I recognised was intense and really serious about what he was doing, and he was skint and I had a load of guitars and I thought, ‘Right, okay, well I’ll give him this guitar.’”

The guitar he gifted a young, skint Gallagher was his 1960 Gibson Les Paul, formerly owned by Pete Townshend of The Who, and can be heard on The Smiths’ revolutionary 1986 album The Queen Is Dead.

Today, the Smiths guitarist and Noel Gallagher are longtime friends and musical collaborators. But back then, Gallagher and Oasis were semi-unknown outside of Manchester, and Marr was being generous.

“Me giving Noel those guitars has become such a big story over the years, but people don’t realise that at the time he wasn’t who he is now,” he told The Guardian. “He was just a kid from Burnage. I had no idea Oasis were going to go on to such big things. I did it because he was in need, because I was lucky and had lots of guitars, and because I wished someone had done it for me.”

Johnny Marr at Electric Picnic 2023. Copyright Abigail Ring

But then Gallagher smashed it – he destroyed the guitar while handling a stage invader during an August 1994 Oasis show at The Riverside in Newcastle. When the rising musician boldly called to ask Marr for a replacement, he passed on a second guitar – his 1987 Gibson Les Paul Custom.

Why did he give away such a valuable instrument for the second time? Marr half-joked to The Guardian, “I must confess it’s why I quit drinking.”

“I wasn’t drunk, but chances are I was very hungover when I agreed to that,” he clarified. Marr quit booze in the mid-2000s, and hasn’t looked back since.

Over two decades since gifting Gallagher two expensive guitars, the pair remain close friends and musical collaborators. Marr first contributed to Oasis‘ 2002 album Heathen Chemistry, going on to play on The High Flying Birds‘ ‘Ballad Of The Mighty I’ in 2015 and ‘If Love Is The Law’ from 2017.

They linked up again this year for three songs on Gallagher’s new album Council Skies: the lead single ‘Pretty Boy, ’ ‘Open the Door, See What You Find,’ and the album title track. Gallagher spoke to Hot Press for his July cover story about the dynamic collaboration, sharing, “It’s always a pleasure to have Johnny play on all of my albums. I say to him at the end of every session we do: ‘If you keep picking up the phone, I’m going to keep calling you.’ As I’m getting the songs together, I’ll be earmarking ‘em going, ‘Maybe I’ll get Johnny to do that…’ Luckily, he loves my stuff and the chance to hang out.”

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds at Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Sunday 27th of August 2023. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

Both from Manchester-Irish families, the duo share a love of music – and iconic guitars, clearly – and a mutual respect for their individual craft. “Me, with my arms folded, telling Johnny Marr how to play guitar? I wouldn’t fucking dare!” he says during the interview. “I normally go into another room while he’s doing his thing but keep the door open so I can marvel at the magic. We have this telepathic thing whereby we both know at exactly the same time when he’s nailed it, which usually is no more than a couple of takes. Johnny is the most instinctive player I’ve ever met.”

Marr announced Spirit Power: The Best Of Johnny Marr – a new collection featuring the best of his discography across the first decade of his solo career – in September, along with the release of the anthemic single ‘Somewhere.’

Spirit Power is due for release November 3 via BMG. Curated by Marr himself, the project includes songs from his acclaimed solo albums, single releases ‘Armatopia’, ‘The Priest’ (w/ Maxine Peake), two new ones, and a cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘I Feel You.’

The Deluxe CD edition of Spirit Power will feature five previously unheard demos and rarities: ‘Hi Hello’ (Demo), ‘Somewhere’ (Demo), ‘The Answer’ (Crazy Face Version), ‘The Messenger’ (Demo), and ‘Speak Out Reach Out’ (Crazy Face Version).

Pre-order Spirit Power: The Best of Johnny Marr here. Exclusive, limited edition discs and merch bundles will be available from the official Johnny Marr store here.