Johnny Marr playing smiths song at meltdown 2005

[knowvirtuoso]

WHERES THE SOLO JOHNNY?

[roryrawks]

Please, please, please, let me get what I want.... this time! <3

[19babyjack55]

Heck yes the man can sing... typical Johnny Marr...understated.

He just GETS IT.

[cupolove1]

i wanna be johnny marr when i grow up! which doesnt make me any cooler than anyone else.. but it makes future me cooler than future you.

[elsquibbs]

I always felt bad for the Stone Roses. Imagine being a mid-80s alt band from Manchester, and not being The Smiths. Poor bastards.

[cranie4]

@elsquibbs Though I feel The Smiths were far superior, Joy Division didn't do so badly at the time.

[monte2115]

@cranie4 Joy Division was very influential as well, and if they had been able to tour the US they would have been huge as well

[cranie4]

@monte2115 I agree. I have been trying to "get" JD but so far have failed. I watched the Doc and it was great. I agree 100% that had Ian lived and they went on the US tour they would have been HUGE.

[55athy55]

Johnny Marr's Family came from Athy Co Kildare in Ireland

[ninelivecat]

@55athy55 I'm from Naas never been to Athy though

[HangTheDJ16]

@ninelivecat I wouldn't recommend the visit

[ninelivecat]

@HangTheDJ16 I hear you there is a saying that goes like this though "From the dirtiest swamp grows the biggest Lotus Plant" that's Moss Side rather than Athy LOL

[sheilatakeabow1990]

Just making another comment, The Smiths did need the drummer and bassist. Andy rourke's playing shaped most of the songs and Mike Joyce was just brilliant on the drums. (mind you, I play drums, so maybe I am biased).

I love them all.

[zoomburger412]

@sheilatakeabow1990 many of Mike's rhythms are very basic (mind you, i am a drummer). but one song that has absolutely blew me away drum-wise was Death of a Disco Dancer. Probably my favorite song ever and I still cant get the drum part correct 100% perfect

[sheilatakeabow1990]

@zoomburger412 Yes, they were very basic but that is why I like them. (I'm not sure why) .I love that song, the drums were great. Did you listen to it and figure it out or have you got the sheet music? I can never find sheet music for The Smiths..

[zoomburger412]

@sheilatakeabow1990 i've never looked, i usually learn songs by ear

[sheilatakeabow1990]

He is really , really good.

Unlike others, though, I'm not of the opinion that he was better than Morrissey, purely because The Smiths wouldn't have worked without his, erm, shall we call it 'eccentric' personality.

Still, he's really talented.

[moontheloon82]

before i get shot down, i wanna say, fook me he can sing!!! really well!!! unlike john squire who can play just as good, but can not sing ( and i am a massive squire fan)... but Marr is really on form.

[DavePerry2012]

Marr can actually sing. Maybe he should have just kept going without Morrissey.

[CeistyMurf]

The Arctic Monkeys openly cite The Smiths as an influence. Therefore, it's reasonable to say this sounds like the Arctic Monkeys as they have drawn on a lot of The Smiths' stuff. Shazaam.

[johnnymarrplayguitar]

@CeistyMurf absolutely, The Smiths have been a huge influence, particularly in Britain. Most (if not all) guitar bands were heavily influenced. Listen to Noel Gallagher and Bernhard Butler. Even REM (obviously American and contempories) were influenced) Radiohead too. The Smiths are probably, given the time of extreme dross around them, the most important British band since the Beatles

[backko]

@johnnymarrplayguitar Agree!

[smallisland12345]

don't ever compare arctic monkeys to the smiths please.

[Amulius]

@smallisland12345 comparing Arctic Monkeys to The Smiths is totally okay. The Smiths were first, but you can sense that The Arctic Monkeys were influenced by them. The comparisons are subtle, but they are there.

That having been said, I think The Smiths are amazing.

[hegrom]

@smallisland12345 Smiths is compareable to Beatles, Velvet, Joy Division. Never to Arctic Monkeys. God.

[ghoststang4point0]

@hegrom the smiths are comparable to no group, because the smiths were the smiths, marr and morrissey were on a whole different level musically and psychologically.

[Presentboy]

sounds a tad bit arctic monkeys. The smiths are amazing.

[Cedrusdeodara]

I love Marr. I don't miss Morrissey. He became the wikipedia image of what gay is. Sick of his ass shaking a eye batting.

[Zealant]

Get the fuck over it.

[MrWankSock]

they clearly stole those carpets from an indian restaurant the mischievous devils!

[saulhughes]

"as Morrissey's lawyer said... "

And we all have great esteem for the opinions of lawyers on all things musical, don't we. I'd also like to hear Morrissey's accountant pronounce on Andy Rourke's bss playing.

[Marinhoalvesdasilva]

Andy Rourke is my hero.

[charmingmancunian]

To be honest I'm not sure I'd want to see the Smiths reform. Morrissey just looks like a middle aged banker now. Johnny still looks pretty cool. But they could get any session players in for the bass and drums, as Morrissey's lawyer said in the trial, the drummer was as interchangeable as the parts on a motorbike.

[Gonzalez2500]

Put the differences aside and play for the fans! Please.

[xmasonmars2]

It will be difficult enough to get them together one of them try to sue morrisey

[lbsrfr999]

Please, please, please.... get the Smiths together one last time.

That would be the tour for the ages.

[m0zc0re]

Will NEVER happen.

[maiden666guitar]

Kinda makes me think about Noel Gallagher...

Cool, would really like to see more though.

The Smiths Rule.

[NOAHcoustic]

Please please please let me get what I want.

Beautiful song.

[puffpuffyogi]

THIS IS GREAT SHOCKING FOOTAGE!....

[66fredo99]

Didn't know he could sing either. A bit shaky, but easy and nicely pitched. He'll certainly do.

Perhaps after Smiths he shoulda set out on his own.

[droge085]

I think I might prefer his voice over Mozer's.

[robbieonguitar]

Every member of The Smiths made them what they were. Its unfair to call Rourke and Joyce "studio musicians" because thats not what they were at all. Ok ok, Morrissey & Marr wrote and composed the music, but without Rourke & Joyce. They would have been "just another 80's band".

[Voodooprawn22]

Holy shit Marr can sing!

[sastal]

ROFL!!!!!!

[ItTakesStrength]

Yeah he has an awsome voice!!!!! Never heard him sing before. He was taken off backin vocals right at the begining of The Smiths when he tried in the studio, te producer didn't like hs voice....ah well things get better with time :-)

Peace

[Reint25]

I hava an old bootleg (it's called Handsome Devil') of the beginning period (it was their 3rd gig ever), and when they play What Difference Does It Make, the outro with Morrissey using his falsetto, Marr backs it up with his own voice, but it's dramatically out of key.

He's not a bad singer, though.

[sinbin55671]

This made me cry so much. I know that it would never happen now (touch wood) but I want them to be togther again so much it hurts.

MARR AND MOZ FOREVER, I love u guys.

[mansell863]

hey this is good

he has a sweet voice

[reggaeboy2006]

Please,please,please let me get what I want.

[Amon420]

what song is this

[MarijuanaGood4U]

incredible...

[downintubestation]

marr and morrisey are both gifted and equally the backbone of the smiths..the other two were just the drummer and bass player! neither would have been what they are today without the other...end of story!!

[chente222222]

i dont care about mike joyce, but andy rourke is an excellent bass player, just listen to barbarism starts at home, or listen to many of the songs, without the bass , its loses some of the magic.

[amiressy]

Fucking eh. The smiths would have been just another 80s band without the bass lines.

[thirdynumberone]

sorry but cant say the other 2 wer just bassist and drummer, without andy rourkes basslines, loads of smiths tracks wouldnt've sounded as good, heaven knows im miserable now, this charming man etc, he follows marrs melodies with such confidence and ability, mike joyce was a punk drummer and thats what gives the smiths songs so much character, marrs melodic genious, morriseys dower humerous lyrics and vocals combined with rourkes jazz lines and joyce's punk drums are the root of the smiths sound

[chickensw]

agreed!! morrissey and marr were geniuses but rourke and joyce so often get sidelines and it just wouldnt have been the smiths sound that everyone loves now hadnt it been for mike and andy

[NaMrJellyRek]

wouldnt be the same sound but it would be DAMNN CLOSE.

lol

I see what you guys are saying, give the other 2 some credit.

but not that much credit.

its all about marr and the moz. sorry people. it just freaking is.

[rickyscot]

why do they hate each other?

[antihostile]

money changes everything

[cesarrssey]

no one as morrissey he without moz is nothing

[presinkt]

Its the other way round cunto.

[funkydafunker]

Star

[jk8sdd]

he sounds like morrissey. Morrissey's argument against reuniting is that he's successful in his own right and that the others just want to chip in on his solo success. However, if Marr becomes as successful as Morrissey, maybe that changes things.

It would have to be soon or never in my book - they might alter their legendary status if they had some half assed comeback a la Led Zep

it's annoying though that they're playing as well as they have in years, but separately.

[MagicFreddie]

please please please let me, let me, let me!!!

[JohnnyMarrTheBest]

His voice is really magic, wonderfull !

[IrishBog]

Never thought Johnny was the best solo singer (good backing) until this video

[Rmmoore1313]

So let me get this straight... Johnny Marr plays old Smiths songs live, as does Morrissey... But they refuse to play together?

Both obviously have fond memories of that shared period of time... I don't understand really...

[mozzyboy01]

there's no need for a reunion. I think they would look ridiculous if they were to reunite and tour.

Peace

[obscurorum]

Nice singing...

[tonycologne]

Needs more MOZ.

[vicarinatutugal]

thank you for this.

[kissmyshades0]

He has a lovely singing voice

[TheJibs]

Is this Johnny's youtube account?

That would be great.

[DrunknMunky2000]

my fav smith song sounds even better now