Held at Christie’s in London, Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection fetched a total of £3,649,280—more than triple its original presale estimate. The live event lasted over five hours, drawing registered bidders from 34 countries.
The leading piece was Marr’s 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, which sold for £358,400 after a fiercely contested five-minute bidding duel. This iconic instrument was used during the sessions for The Smiths’ debut album and in the early touring years, featuring on tracks such as ‘This Charming Man’, ‘Still Ill’, and ‘What Difference Does It Make?’. The guitar also marked a milestone when Marr lent it to Noel Gallagher during early sessions for Definitely Maybe, and it later appeared on the cover of Oasis’s debut single ‘Supersonic’.
Another notable highlight was Marr’s 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355, which went for £204,800. The instrument was famously bought for him in 1983 by Seymour Stein, the founder of Sire Records, after Marr joked that The Smiths would sign with the label if Stein purchased the guitar. Marr subsequently used the Gibson to write ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ and ‘Girl Afraid’.
Proceeds from 31 selected lots—comprising ten guitars along with rare memorabilia—will see 100% of the hammer price donated evenly between The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
Reflecting on the milestone sale, Marr expressed gratitude to international bidders and Christie’s for surpassing his expectations. Christie’s specialist Amelia Walker added that the final results directly reflect Marr’s groundbreaking and unparalleled musical influence across generations.
The landmark auction comes ahead of the release of Marr’s new studio album, The Age Of Everything, set for release on 2 October 2026.
