Who Is Johnny Marr? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on October 31, 1963, Johnny Marr is a celebrated English musician, best known as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the iconic band The Smiths. With his unique playing style and innovative songwriting, he has influenced countless artists and genres. As of 2025, Marr is 61 years old and continues to engage audiences with his musical prowess and artistic vision.
| Occupation | Autobiographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | October 31, 1963 |
| Age | 61 Years |
| Birth Place | Manchester, England |
| Horoscope | Scorpio |
| Country | England |
Popularity
Johnny Marr's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Johnny Marr stands tall at approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) and maintains a balanced physique. Over the years, he has remained in good shape, focusing on fitness to support his active lifestyle. Though specific weight details are not publicly disclosed, he is known for his lean build and striking stage presence.
* Gibson Les Paul – Marr owns several, including a rare 1960 model. His cardinal red Les Paul was acquired in 1984 and was used extensively with the Smiths and with The The, appearing in the video for "Dogs of Lust". He has now added a Bigsby tremolo system to this guitar as well as Seymour Duncan pick-ups with coil taps.
He gave his 1960 model (also previously owned by Pete Townshend) to Noel Gallagher during Oasis's formative years. Gallagher broke the guitar's neck hitting a fan who jumped on stage. Marr then gave Gallagher yet another vintage (black) Gibson Les Paul (used on much of The Queen is Dead) so Oasis could carry on touring.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As for his relationship status, Johnny Marr is known to keep his personal life relatively private. While there have been speculations and rumors regarding his romantic interests, including potential boyfriends or girlfriends, as of 2025, he appears to be focusing on his music career rather than an active dating life. Marr has been married in the past and has children, but details about his current relationships are less defined.
In 1989 Spin magazine rated The Queen is Dead as number one of "The Greatest Albums Ever Made". Spin was not alone in this designation—numerous periodicals rank the Smiths and their albums, especially The Queen is Dead, high on their best ever lists. NME, for example, has dubbed the Smiths the most important rock band of all time.
A legal dispute with Rough Trade had delayed the album by almost seven months (it had been completed in November 1985), and Marr was beginning to feel the stress of the band's exhausting touring and recording schedule. He later told NME, "'Worse for wear' wasn't the half of it: I was extremely ill.
By the time the tour actually finished it was all getting a little bit... dangerous. I was just drinking more than I could handle." Meanwhile, Rourke was fired from the band in early 1986 due to his use of heroin, although he was reinstated in short order.
Despite their continued success, personal differences within the band—including the increasingly strained relationship between Morrissey and Marr—saw them on the verge of splitting.
Net Worth and Salary
Johnny Marr's estimated net worth in 2025 is around $20 million. His income primarily stems from his successful music career, including album sales, touring, and collaborations with various artists. Additionally, his work in the music industry encompasses songwriting contributions and production roles that complement his earnings.
In 1996, Smiths' drummer Mike Joyce took Morrissey and Marr to court, arguing that he had not received his fair share of recording and performance royalties. Morrissey and Marr had received most of the Smiths' recording and performance royalties, and allowed ten per cent each to Joyce and Rourke.
Composition royalties were not an issue, as Rourke and Joyce had never been credited as composers for the band. Morrissey and Marr said the other two members of the band had always agreed to that split of the royalties, but the court found in favour of Joyce and ordered that he be paid over £1 million in back pay and receive 25% thenceforth.
Career, Business and Investments
Marr's career spans over four decades, during which he has released numerous albums both as a solo artist and as part of various bands, including The Smiths, Electronic, and Modest Mouse. In addition to performing, he is a respected songwriter and has collaborated with artists across various music genres. His entrepreneurial spirit has also led him to invest in music-related ventures, contributing to his financial success.
John Martin Marr (né Maher; born 31 October 1963) is a musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has since performed with numerous other bands and embarked on a solo career.
Social Network
Johnny Marr is active on social media platforms, where he engages with fans and shares insights into his life and music. You can find him on platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, where he frequently posts updates about his music projects, concert tours, and personal reflections. His online presence continues to grow as he connects with new generations of music lovers.
Marr's said his family's move to Wythenshawe was "like we'd moved to Beverly Hills", and that the move led to him meeting "a bunch of guitar players" which "changed his life".
Guitarist Billy Duffy, later a member of the Cult, was in a high school band that practised across the street from Marr's new house, and Marr would hang out listening to them rehearsing. He learned to play the guitar with LP vinyl records and a guitar chords dictionary without a teacher.
Marr formed his first band, the Paris Valentinos, at the age of 13, with Andy Rourke (who had gone to the same high school as Duffy) and Kevin Williams (later an actor, known as Kevin Kennedy), performing for the first time at a Jubilee party in Benchill in June 1977, playing Rolling Stones and Thin Lizzy covers.
Education
While specific details about Marr's formal education are not extensively documented, his musical education is evident through his extensive experience and self-taught skills as a guitarist and songwriter. His passion for music began in his adolescence, and he honed his talents in a way that would later define his successful career in the music industry.
The family lived in Ardwick Green and moved to Wythenshawe in 1972. Marr attended St Aloysius Primary School in Ardwick before moving to Sacred Heart Primary School. From 1975, he attended St Augustine's Catholic Grammar School, which in 1977 merged with other schools to form St John Plessington High School.
Marr had aspirations to be a professional football player. He was approached by Nottingham Forest and had trials with Manchester City's youth team.
