Johnny Marr has revealed that Kevin Kennedy, the actor who played Curly Watts on Coronation Street, was responsible for losing his first guitar.
Having both grown up in Wythenshawe, Marr and Kennedy had attended the same primary school, and had played in a band called the Paris Valentinos – which also included Marr’s future bandmate Andy Rouke – before Marr formed The Smiths and Kennedy had graced Corrie’s cobbles.
In a new episode of Origin Stories on Apple Music, Marr reflected on those early days, and playfully revealed that Kennedy, whose career in music has seen him star in productions including We Will Rock You and Rock of Ages, was to blame for the loss of his first-ever guitar.
Explaining that it was long lost, Marr said: “Someone very kindly bought me a version of it, it’s an old Vox guitar,” he said. “I don’t have my very first one. And what happened to it actually was a mate of mine back in the day, he borrowed it and never gave it me back.
“He says that it got damaged. I’m talking about you, Curly Watts from Coronation Street.”
Despite likely knowing the guitar would be worth a lot if it were still in his possession, he made it clear there were no hard feelings, adding, “Yeah, Kevin Kennedy had it from back in the day, but that’s alright, he’s a nice fella.”
With that one lost, he said his current favourite guitar was the red Gibson Les Paul that he got just before recording the ‘Meat Is Murder’ album. “It’s actually not the most valuable in monetary terms,” he said. “But I played that on ‘Dogs of Lust’, ‘Slow Emotion Replay’.
“It’s been on quite a lot of records, some Pet Shop Boys stuff.” It also appeared on Gorillaz‘ latest record ‘The Mountain’, which Marr contributed to after making an appearance with the band in London last September.
Elsewhere in the conversation, he also provided an update on his next studio album, which will be his first full-length record since ‘Fever Dreams Pts 1–4’.
“I’m so old school, my head is like ‘I’ve made this record, this album’, but I’m all about the single, believe it or not,” he said. “Does the single even… are they even a thing anymore? I think I’ve got a few singles on it which, you know, I’m such a creature of habit. I’m excited about possibly hearing on the radio, right?
“Once you get your sound then it becomes about the more, I think, deeper aspects for me now. Like are the lyrics what I want? Have I expressed myself well, have I got some good titles? Is the singing better than the last album? How’s my stagecraft? And I think they should be your concerns.”
Later this year, Marr is set to play the biggest solo headline date of his career at Wembley Arena, joined by special guest Baxter Dury – you’ll be able to buy your tickets here.
That new London date is set to follow his summer headline concerts at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl and Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens, as well as numerous stops across Europe this July.
It comes after the musician wrapped up his ‘California Calling’ North American tour earlier this year, where fans were treated to a set of hits, classics and brand new and unreleased music. Marr then joined Pet Shop Boys on stage in London to perform some deep cuts and rarities in early April.
Last year saw Marr release a new live album, ‘Look Out Live!’. The project comprises 22 tracks recorded at the Eventim Apollo in London as part of his ‘Spirit Power’ live tour in 2024.