Breaking News: Johnny Marr to Auction Iconic Smiths-Era Guitars and Solo Career Instruments

Johnny Marr is set to send some of the most recognisable instruments of his career under the hammer, in a major music story drawing attention across breaking news ireland coverage and beyond. The former Smiths guitarist will auction a collection of guitars linked to landmark recordings, historic tours and his forthcoming solo album, giving fans and collectors a rare chance to own pieces of alternative rock history.

The sale, titled Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection, will feature 95 lots through Christie’s. Among the standout instruments are the 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 and Marr’s famous 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, both deeply tied to defining moments in his songwriting and studio work.

Why Johnny Marr’s guitar auction matters

For music fans following ireland breaking news and entertainment developments, this is more than a celebrity sale. Marr’s instruments are closely associated with some of the most influential British indie records of the 1980s, as well as major later collaborations.

Marr said each guitar helped shape his evolution as a musician over the last five decades. He explained that revisiting the instruments while working on his 2023 book Marr’s Guitars made him realise he did not want them left unplayed in storage, even if parting with them is bittersweet.

Key guitars in the sale

• 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 – the guitar that inspired Marr to write Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now, estimated at £100,000 to £150,000.
• 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo – used during the recording of The Smiths’ debut album and early tours, estimated at £60,000 to £80,000.
• 1984 Gibson Les Paul Standard – bought for Meat Is Murder and used on tour and at The Smiths’ final concert, estimated at £80,000 to £120,000.
• 2017 Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar – used on Billie Eilish’s Bond theme No Time To Die, estimated at £8,000 to £12,000.

The auction is also likely to feature strongly in irish breaking news and music press because of the stories attached to each instrument.

The Smiths links and music history behind the instruments

The Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo is perhaps the most instantly recognisable guitar in the sale. It can be heard on classic Smiths tracks including This Charming Man and What Difference Does It Make? The guitar also crossed into Britpop history after Marr lent it to Noel Gallagher, with the instrument appearing on the cover of Oasis’s debut single Supersonic.

The Gibson ES-355 carries another famous backstory. It was bought for Marr in 1983 by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein after a light-hearted exchange about The Smiths signing to the label. That guitar later became a creative spark for one of the band’s best-known songs.

Meanwhile, the 1984 Les Paul Standard is tied to Meat Is Murder, one of the group’s most acclaimed albums, and was played during the band’s 1985 tour and the final song of their last concert in December 1986.

Exhibition and auction dates

Collectors and fans interested in this latest news ireland entertainment story should note the timeline:

1. Highlights go on display in New York from June 25 to July 1.
2. A free public pre-sale exhibition will then run at Christie’s London from September 9 to 16.
3. The auction itself takes place on September 17 in London.

Charity element and new album boost interest

Adding another layer to the sale, Marr will donate 100% of the hammer price from 10 lots to the Guide Dogs For The Blind Association and the National Autistic Society. That charitable contribution is expected to increase public interest as ireland current affairs readers follow wider cultural and charity developments.

The auction also arrives just after Marr announced The Age Of Everything, his first studio album in four years, due for release on October 2. That timing gives the collection added relevance, bridging his past with The Smiths and his present solo career.

As one of the defining guitarists of his generation, Marr helped shape The Smiths alongside Morrissey, Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce. The band released four celebrated studio albums before splitting in 1987, while Marr’s solo work has continued to earn strong chart success in the UK.

What happens next

This sale stands out as one of the most fascinating music auctions of the year, with instruments linked to songwriting milestones, era-defining recordings and major cultural crossover moments. For readers tracking breaking news ireland, it is a reminder that entertainment stories can carry both emotional weight and historical significance.

The clear takeaway is simple: Johnny Marr is not just selling guitars, he is passing on pieces of modern music heritage to a new generation of players, collectors and fans.

Article/Image Courtesy: BreakingNews.ie