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X-clusive: Johnny Marr Solo Plans

added 27 February 2008 at 15.56

Last night Clint was joined by Smiths legend Johnny Marr to play some of his favourite records and chat about all things The Smiths, The Cribs and his favourite new bands.

Speaking to Steve Harris' Manchester counterpart (and Inspiral Carpets ivory tapper) Clint Boon, Johnny Marr  revealed that despite rumours he won't be joining The Cribs full time and is merely enjoying spending some time working with his friends:

"Me and the cribs are having a realy good time playing some gigs together and we've written some songs that will hopefully eventually see the light of day soon. It's just musicians having a good time but people always go overboard on these things. We'll see what happens."

As for future plans, Marr divulged that he's looking forward to going solo and already has plenty of tunes ready to go:

"I really would love the chance to get back to doing some more solo stuff 'cos I like singing lead vocals and writing lyrics.

"I've got some songs that i was nearly finished before I joined Mondest Mouse but between Modest Mouse and all the touring I haven't had time to do it yet. I'll be on the stage with a zimmer frame at this rate!"

For a further two hours the ex-Smiths legend and Clint Boon discussed guitarist's life, the bands he's played with and the acts both now and then that influenced his life, playing style and career.

In part one, Clint and Johnny discuss his early life in Manchester, the first days of punk and Clint calls up Cult singer Billy Duffy who's said to have introduced Marr to the guitar,

"This is a bit like This Is Your Life isn't it? ...[Billy] sold me my first amp ... and I'm very grateful for giving me a lot of encouragement and helping me out." [Listen to the full clip]

In the second part, Marr talks about the first of the new artists that are currently pushing his buttons, Eugene McGuiness,

"I've heard him play this just him and an acoustic but I also like all the other bits that are on it and I think he does it all himself. ... He's just a young interesting songwriter." [Listen to the full clip]

Part three finds the pair talking about the first meeting of Morrissey and Marr. The moment of Marr knocking on Mozza's door is legendary to Smiths fans

"It's become more powerful in hindsite but it did happen... two people who never knew each other who had a lot in common but were very different people.. both needed the other equally at that point in their lives... but yeah it happened." [Listen to the full clip]

In part four Marr and Clint discuss the guitarist's love for modern music discussing Franz Ferdinand, his work with The Cribs and exactly why you shouldn't sit on the sofa listening to Elvis Costello until you die...

"I heard The Cribs on the radio a few years ago and it pretty much stopped me in my tracks... I think it was 'Hey Scenesters'... and I thought this is band who are really into writing lyrics and there's a musical witicsm to it and I thought 'It sounds like the guitar players into Johnny Thunders'... I really want to be a fan of this band..." [Listen to the full clip]

In Part five, there's more chat about Morrissey and the differences in sound between his solo work and The Smiths back catalogue.

"I have somthing in common with him that I don't have in common with anyone else and that's something we both know. We both went through something together that only he and I know about and that's a very special thing..." [Listen to the full clip]

In the sixth part, there's talk about Modest Mouse touring and a new record and his admission that he'll carry on working with The Cribs simultaneously.

"I'll just do both if I can... I haven't discussed this yet with my wife, but I have now..." [Listen to the full clip]

In Part Seven, there's talk of his post Smiths band Johnny Marr & The Healers and his first steps into stepping to the microphone and taking the role of the frontman,

"The first time I ever did it live properly was at a Linda McCartney gig soudtrack and Paul McCartney was sitting in the emtpy Royal Albert Hall and I had to pretend that it wasn't the first time I'd ever done it..." [Listen to the full clip]

Part eight descends into retro comedy, but chat turns to punk band Alterative Television and Metric frontwoman Emily Haynes as the pair try and fit as much in as possible,

"I really love this track, I've never gone off it, it's quirky but great..." [Listen to the full clip]

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