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The Smiths star Johnny Marr said the auction of his instrument collection “exceeded all my expectations” as the lots fetched nearly £4 million.
The 111 lots auctioned on Thursday during Christie’s London sale included a range of instruments played by the musician, Marr’s Guitars: The Johnny Marr Collection.
Lasting over five hours, the event attracted bidders from 34 nations and brought in £3,649,280 — more than triple its initial valuation.
Marr said: “The auction has been a great experience and has exceeded all my expectations.
“I’d like to thank everyone who made bids and special thanks to Christie’s for making it so memorable.”
Among the items offered was Marr’s 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, played on The Smiths’ self-titled debut album and during their early tours.
The guitar — which features on tracks such as “What Difference Does It Make?”, “This Charming Man”, “Still Ill” and “Accept Yourself” — fetched £358,400, well above its pre-sale guide price.
The same Rickenbacker was also featured on the cover artwork for Oasis’s debut single Supersonic, after Marr lent the instrument to Noel Gallagher during the initial recording sessions for Definitely Maybe.
The sale further featured his 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355, the guitar that inspired Marr to write the music for The Smiths’ 1984 hit “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” and B-side track “Girl Afraid”.
It fetched £204,800, comfortably exceeding its guide price of £100,000 to £150,000.
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Sire Records founder Seymour Stein purchased the instrument for Marr in the 1980s after the guitarist joked that The Smiths would join his label if Stein bought him a new guitar.
A Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar Comet Sparkle reached £46,080 following an intense five-minute bidding war, selling for more than three times its expected price.
Marr used the instrument to record the theme for the 2021 James Bond film No Time To Die on Hans Zimmer’s soundtrack, having also played it onstage at the Brit Awards a year earlier during a performance of the title track alongside Billie Eilish.
Full hammer prices for 31 of the lots, including 10 guitars, raised funds for charity, with 100 per cent donated to The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
The auction also offered amplifiers, a collection of harmonicas owned by Marr, gold and silver sales awards spanning his career, as well as vintage posters and memorabilia from The Smiths.
Amelia Walker, Christie’s specialist head of private and iconic collections, London, said: “We are thrilled to have been able to partner with Johnny Marr for this landmark auction, the results of which reflect his groundbreaking and unparalleled musical influence.
“It has been an absolute honour to work with him and to share these amazing instruments and their stories with so many fans, collectors and fellow musicians around the world.
“We are also delighted to have been able to support Johnny in raising valuable funds for his chosen charities.”
Marr initially rose to prominence alongside vocalist Morrissey, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce as part of The Smiths, who stood as central figures in 1980s British indie music.
Before splitting up in 1987, the band recorded four critically acclaimed studio records: The Smiths (1984), Meat Is Murder (1985), The Queen Is Dead (1986), and Strangeways, Here We Come (1987).
They scored three UK top 10 singles and built an enduring legacy with songs like “How Soon Is Now?”, “This Charming Man” and “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out.”
Marr subsequently launched his solo career with the 2013 album The Messenger, with each of his four solo studio albums reaching the UK top 10.