Having played sold out shows in Melbourne and Sydney to great acclaim in 2014, these will be Marr’s first as a solo artist when he and his band roll in to Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.

A founding member of cultural institution The Smiths and performer alongside the likes of Modest Mouse, Beck, Talking Heads, The The, Oasis, plus featured on the critically acclaimed album by John Frusciante, The Empyrean – Marr was already rock royalty before releasing his Top 10 debut solo album The Messenger in February 2013.

    ‘Each tune throws up a different style, creating a one-man compilation album that rifles through 25 years of lush or edgy genres, perfecting every one…The Messenger isn’t just a summary of everything worthwhile in contemporary rock music, it’s an insightful and informed dissection of life in 2013.’ – NME 8/10

    ‘One quick listen to The Messenger brings all his signatures rushing back — the intricate, intertwining arrangements, the insistent riffs finding a counterpoint in the elastic yet precise melodies, a romance with the past that doesn’t negate the present.’ – All Music 8/10

In a poll conducted by the BBC, Marr was voted fourth best guitarist of the last 30 years and Phil Alexander, Editor-in-Chief of Mojo magazine described him as “arguably Britain’s last great guitar stylist”.

Nothing if not prolific, Marr had begun writing sophomore solo effort Playland (out October 3 through Warner Music, watch the clip for new single ‘Easy Money’) almost immediately after The Messenger’s release “…I kept on writing. I liked that the band had a momentum going on tour and a connection with the audience, and I thought that energy would be good to capture on the new record.”

Energetic, post-punk song writing complemented by Marr’s characteristic guitar licks, engaging lyrical ideas and poised vocal phrasing. Playland is composed around the central theme that “songs that move at the speed of life” and captures much of the spirit that made his debut so memorable.

Marr collected rave reviews when last in Australia with critics spotlighting his ability to combine the best of his new material with select highlights from his epic back catalogue, including The Smiths and many others.

    ‘This was a man honouring his legacy while still creating in the present. As the T-shirts at the merchandise desk defiantly proclaimed… Johnny Fuckin Marr.’ – The Music

    ‘His playing is visually evocative, often invokes wide-eyed dopamine release and is always impeccably tasteful. Put simply, the man is a goddamn God-like genius.’ – Beat

He’s one the most celebrated guitarists in the world. Armed to the teeth with classics and his own lauded solo works, when Johnny Marr hits Australia and New Zealand in July 2015 the shows promise to be exhilarating displays of talent from a revered virtuoso.

Johnny Marr 2015 Australian Tour
Sat 18 July – Metropolis Fremantle, Perth
Mon 20 July – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Tue 21 July – The Gov, Adelaide
Wed 22 July – Forum Theatre, Melbourne
www.johnny-marr.com

One of the most outstanding qualities of Frusciante’s playing in the Chili Peppers is that even with the amazing facility he has on guitar, he never lets his playing degrade into mere histrionics. He keeps it earthy and real. With his solo stuff he tends to stray into the spacey and ethereal. So for fans with only the Peppers as reference, this isn’t an easy work.

This latest solo project is a concept album of sorts and in John’s own words can be described as such “The Empyrean is a story that has no action in the physical world. It all takes place in one persons mind throughout his life. The only other character is someone who does not live in the physical world but is inside it, in the sense that he exists in peoples minds.”

Spacey descriptions aside, the album has a strange flow and will at times try the listener’s patience as it leaps from moments of elongated instrumental muse to more concise renderings. It even features a cover song in Tim Buckley’s Song To The Siren. Joining John in this journey is among others, RHCP bassist Flea, former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and Josh Klinghoffer (who has collaborated in the past on other Frusciante projects like the amazing A Sphere In The Heart Of Silence).

Those that have an appetite for art for arts sake will be right at home with the sonic excursions on offer here. For others with a more commercial preference, it will take a bit more effort but for both groups there are many moments of transcendence to be found.

Rob Hudson
johnfrusciante.com