The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has raised almost £4m at auction following the sale of his extensive instrument collection, in a report first published by the BBC.
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 top lot of the sale was Marr's 1982 Rickenbacker 330 Jetglo, which fetched £358,400 following an intense five-minute bidding war. Used throughout the recording of The Smiths' debut album and early live tours, the iconic guitar features on classics such as 'This Charming Man', 'Still Ill', and 'What Difference Does It Make?'. The instrument also made history when Marr lent it to Noel Gallagher during early sessions for Definitely Maybe, subsequently appearing on the cover of Oasis's debut single 'Supersonic'.
Another major highlight was Marr's 1960 Cherry Red Gibson ES-355, which sold for £204,800. The instrument was famously purchased for him in 1983 by Sire Records founder Seymour Stein after Marr joked that The Smiths would sign to the label if Stein bought him the guitar. Marr subsequently used the Gibson to write 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' and 'Girl Afraid'.
Proceeds from 31 specific lots—comprising 10 guitars alongside rare memorabilia—will have 100% of their hammer price split equally between The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and The National Autistic Society.
Reflecting on the milestone sale, Marr expressed his gratitude to international bidders and Christie's for exceeding all his expectations. Christie's specialist Amelia Walker added that the final results directly reflected 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.
