Johnny Marr's guitars from The Smiths for auction

Around 80 guitars integral to his extraordinarily wide-ranging career will come under the hammer at Christie's in London on September 17 

Johnny Marr's 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 and his Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo 1982. Pictures: Christie's

Johnny Marr, regarded as the guitar genius of a generation, co-founded the groundbreaking 1980s band The Smiths at the age of 18 in 1982. 

Since then, the Manchester-born Irish musician — originally named Maher — has been a member of The Pretenders, the The, Electronic, The Healers, Modest Mouse and The Cribs. He has collaborated with a roll call of greats across indie, rock, pop and film including Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, Beck, Hans Zimmer, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Noel Gallagher, Billie Eilish, Blondie, Gorillaz and Franz Ferdinand.

Around 80 guitars, along with amps and equipment integral to his extraordinarily wide-ranging career, will come under the hammer at Marr's Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection at Christie's in London on September 17. 

The 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 used when he wrote the guitar melody for ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ — the iconic anthem whose lyrics and vocal melodies were penned by Morrissey — will lead the sale at £100,000-£150,000 (€117,000-€175,600).

The line-up also features the 2018 Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar used to record the James Bond Theme on Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack for No Time To Die (2021), as well as the film’s Oscar‑winning theme song with Billie Eilish.

 His 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, for many the guitar most strongly associated with his melodic early Smiths-era sound, is estimated at £60,000-£80,000 (€70,250-€93,660). 

Estimates in this auction of 95 lots range from £1,000 to £150,000 (€1,170-€175,600).

Johnny Marr will donate 100% of the sale of 10  lots to benefit the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the National Autistic Society. In June, Marr released "Spin"