WME head of music Marc Geiger has hailed Johnny Marr as one of the world's greatest guitarists ahead of this week's release of the Smiths legend's new album, Call The Comet.
The LP, the singer/songwriter's third as a solo artist, comes out on Friday via Marr's New Voodoo label and will be distributed by ADA. Both of his previous two albums, 2013's The Messenger and 2014's Playland, charted in the Top 10.
"Johnny Marr is one of the best and most influential guitarists of all time. Just listen to his work," said Geiger, who represents the frontman in North America.
Geiger, who has worked with Marr since 1984 "when I flew to try to sign The Smiths", booked a series of intimate club shows for Marr in the US around the release of the record, including shows at August Hall in San Francisco and the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles earlier this month. A larger headline tour will follow in the autumn.
"We are looking ahead to a few special festival sets including Eddie Vedder’s Ohana Fest in Dana Point," Geiger told Music Week.
Marr (pictured) has a similar campaign lined up in the UK, having done underplays at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds and Islington Assembly Hall in London in May. He will return in November for a lengthy tour, taking in venues such as Brighton Dome, London Roundhouse and Glasgow Barrowlands.
“I’m not convinced that Johnny ever rests,” said WME's Russell Lewis Warby, Marr's agent outside the US and Canada. “He’s always thinking, always moving. He’s got bags of energy and he’s never been prepared to just rest on his laurels. He’s always questioning himself, pushing through new ideas and working with different technology to try to keep the forward momentum of his music."
London-based Warby, who also works with the likes of Foo Fighters and Jack White, added: "It’s been said that the guitar is an extension of his body; he plays so naturally and the style has adapted at different times, but there is definitely a Johnny Marr sound.”
To revisit our cover story with Marr, featuring contributions from associates such as Warby, Sire Records legend Seymour Stein and Rhino, East West and ADA president Dan Chalmers click here.
