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Johnny Marr guitars sell for almost £4m at auction

James FellNorth West
News imageChristie's Johnny Marr is sitting on a large amp holding a black and white coloured guitar. Next to him is another amp and behind him are five guitars and other musical equipmentChristie's
Johnny Marr's guitar collection includes instruments used with The Smiths and on his forthcoming solo album

Guitars owned by The Smiths musician Johnny Marr have sold for almost £4m at auction.

The instruments, which were used during his time with The Smiths and on his forthcoming solo album, went under the hammer as part of Christie's Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection sale.

The sale lasted for more than five hours and included buyers from 34 countries, fetching £3,649,280 - more than three times its estimated value.

Marr said: "The auction has been a great experience and has exceeded all my expectations. I'd like to thank everyone who made bids and special thanks to Christie's for making it so memorable."

News imagePA Media A selection of guitars on display during the preview at Christie's in central London, of the auction house's sale of The Johnny Marr Collection on September 17 in London. The sale presents approximately 80 guitars, alongside amps and equipment that have been integral to Marr's extraordinarily wide-ranging career, to datePA Media
The sale included 10 guitars as well as amplifiers and gold discs

Marr's 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo sold for £358,400 after attracting a bidding battle lasting more than five minutes.

The guitar was used throughout the recording of The Smiths' debut album and on the band's early tours. It can be heard on songs including This Charming Man, Still Ill and What Difference Does It Make?

The instrument also featured on the cover of Oasis's debut single Supersonic.

Marr had lent it to Noel Gallagher during early recording sessions for Oasis' album Definitely Maybe.

A second guitar, Marr's 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355, sold for £204,800.

The instrument inspired him to write the music for The Smiths' 1984 single Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now and its B-side Girl Afraid.

News imageGetty Images Four man stand on stage, one plays a red guitar, the other is singing into a microphone, the other is playing a bass guitar, and the other is playing drums. They are on a stage, with the front of a crowd staring back at them.Getty Images
Johnny Marr played the Gibson guitar in early TV appearances with The Smiths, including this performance on The Tube

It was bought for him in 1983 by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein after Marr joked that The Smiths would sign to the label if he bought him a new guitar.

The auction comes ahead of the release of Marr's first studio album in four years, The Age Of Everything, which is due out on 2 October.

Marr was guitarist and co-songwriter for The Smiths alongside singer Morrissey.

The Manchester band released four studio albums before splitting in 1987 and became one of the defining groups of the British indie music scene.

Johnny Marr auctions guitars - including one on Oasis album cover

The sale also saw 100% of the hammer price of 31 lots, which included 10 guitars, donated to two charities: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.

Amelia Walker from Christie's said the sale prices reflected Marr's "groundbreaking and unparalleled musical influence".

She said: "It has been an absolute honour to work with him and to share these amazing instruments and their stories with so many fans, collectors and fellow musicians around the world.

"We are also delighted to have been able to support Johnny in raising valuable funds for his chosen charities."

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