JOHNNY MARR IS A RECORD STORE LEGEND
Johnny Marr looks better at 61 than we did in our 20s.
Record store aficionados have long known that Johnny Marr is a legend. It's a title now carved in stone with a plaque at Piccadilly Records, in his hometown of Manchester, England, identifying him as a Record Store Legend in advance of Record Store Day, 4/12.
Marr has been collecting accolades for four decades, first as the musical linchpin of The Smiths, then with his solo career, which will be furthered by the Record Store Day release of the limited-edition album Look Out Live! (New Voodoo/BMG).
Taped last year during a sold-out show at London's Hammersmith Apollo, Live! blends solo cuts with such Smiths favorites as "How Soon Is Now?" and "This Charming Man," plus a version of Electronic's "Getting Away With It" featuring Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tennant.
Reacting to the plaque, Marr said, “Going out to a record store, it’s a nice pastime. It’s a part of the culture. If they were to completely disappear, the high street or the city center would be a much worse off place. There's something about the presence of a record store. It’s a magical thing. I’ve known the staff in Piccadilly Records for 20 years… This plaque is a very nice thing to be associated with.”
Heaven knows Marr would be miserable now if he were forced to associate with us.