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Renowned as the guitarist and co-songwriter of The Smiths, Johnny Marr played a pivotal role in shaping the musical landscape of indie and guitar bands, not only in the 1980s but far beyond. With a distinct style that eschewed clich茅s yet remained firmly entrenched in the realm of British guitar pop, Marr's influence reverberated through generations. His musical journey extended beyond The Smiths, as he became an indispensable member of several other iconic British bands, including the Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Kirsty MacColl, and The Cribs, while also carving a successful path as a solo artist.

Marr's fascination with the guitar began at the tender age of five, sparked by a toy in a Manchester shop window, and blossomed into a lifelong obsession. While he ardently followed guitar culture and bands, Marr was selective in his admiration, dismissing the notion of mere virtuosic displays as outdated within the realm of pop music. Instead, he gravitated towards bands that embraced creativity and artistic innovation, particularly those of British origin.

In his beautifully curated four-part playlist series, Marr takes audiences on a captivating journey through the realm of Great British Guitar Bands, spanning from the 1960s to the contemporary era. Focusing on artists who have not only resonated with him but have also left an indelible mark on the music scene, Marr reflects on the enduring legacy and cultural impact of British guitar bands worldwide. Johnny delves into the value of albums and why they are so important for many UK artists.

In the final part of the series, Johnny tips his hat to more UK bands that he really rates, especially those who have taken the opportunity to stretch themselves as artists through their albums. Johnny also looks at some of his favourite UK groups who aren't associated with guitars. There are so many more British bands that Johnny wanted to include in the series, including Siouxie and the Banshees, Echo and the Bunnymen, Clinic, X-Ray Spex, Sault etc etc - the list goes on - his admiration for British artists who have managed to stand shoulder to shoulder with those who have come before them is really evident. The importance of albums to Johnny is underlined and he says "without albums, everything is just reduced to the most commercial and quickest and ear 'candie-ish' philosophy - making great albums, they're expansive and it gives people the space to be creative, take some risks and tell some different stories".

Radio 2 is celebrating Great British Groups as part of National Album Day, an annual celebration of the album format, which takes place on Saturday 19 October 2024. You can listen to a collection of special programmes by searching 'British Groups' on 大象传媒 Sounds, including Your Ultimate British Group Top 30, Johnny Marr's Great British Groups, The Great British Groups That Broke America, and themed editions of shows such as Pop Top 10s and Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Kitchen Disco.