Two of the UK’s most enduring and influential artists have announced a joint headline tour of North America for September and October. Johnny Marr is set to team up with fellow Mancunians, the beloved alternative band James, for their first US tour together. James first toured with Johnny for The Smiths’ Meat Is Murder UK tour in 1985. Since then, both artists have enjoyed international success across four decades of impressive creative output.
Last year, Johnny released both a book of his own guitar collection - Marr’s Guitars - and the album Spirit Power. Spirit Power encompasses songs from four acclaimed UK top ten solo albums (2013’s The Messenger, 2014’s Playland, 2018’s Call The Comet, 2022 double album Fever Dreams Pts 1-4), plus unreleased tracks. Widely regarded as the most influential guitarist of his generation, Johnny’s impact on popular music cannot be overstated; from his time in The Smiths, The Pretenders, Electronic, Modest Mouse and The Cribs, to his more recent solo releases and movie soundtrack work with Hans Zimmer, Johnny’s distinctive songwriting and guitar sound has been an integral part of the musical landscape for 40 years.
Last month, James’s 18th album, Yummy, shot straight to number one on the British charts, their first studio album to do so. Formed in Manchester in the early-80s, the band built an immediate and fervent following with their jubilant live shows. By the time their third album, 1990’s Gold Mother, spawned a series of global hits - including the anthemic “Sit Down - they had already established themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting guitar bands. Hand picked by Neil Young as openers for a 1992 US tour, James went on to work with Brian Eno for their fifth album, Laid, which saw them impacting the Billboard Charts for the first time while in heavy rotation on MTV’s 120 Minutes. A six year hiatus in the mid-00s did nothing to diminish the appetite from fans and James reunited in 2007 for Hey Ma, which took them back into the UK’s Top Ten. With an increasingly ardent fan base around the world, James’ ability to traverse new creative terrain with each release, coupled with a gift for writing poignant and frequently prescient lyrics, has endured well past their 40th anniversary. Last month’s release of the politically-spirited Yummy cemented their position as one of the UK’s most fiercely respected and unerringly relevant rock bands.
Of the tour, Johnny shared ‘I remember The Smiths being on tour with James in 1985. We admired them and even did one of their songs in our set. I’ve been a fan of theirs ever since and being out on tour again after 40 years is a really great thing.”
James’ Tim Booth added, “Nearly 40 years ago James toured with the Smiths on the Meat is murder tour. We were met with such generosity and kindness that it changed our DNA. Co-headlining an American tour with the true Gent and genius that is Johnny Marr, is an honor and pleasure. We look forward to making magic together.”
Tour Dates:
Running order: James, Johnny Marr
Sep 17: Denver, Co @ Paramount Theatre
Sep 20: Vancouver, Bc @ Queen Elizabeth
Sep 21: Seattle, Wa @ The Moore
Sep 22: Portland, Or @ Mcmenamins Crystal Ballroom
Sep 23: San Francisco, Ca @ The Warfield
Sep 25: Los Angeles, Ca @ Orpheum Theatre
Sep 29: Austin, Tx @ Stubbs
Sep 30: Dallas, Tx @ Majestic Theatre
Oct 1: Houston, Tx @ Bayou Music Center
Oct 3: Atlanta, Ga @ The Eastern
Oct 4: New Orleans, La @ The Fillmore New Orleans
Oct 6: Washington, D.C. @ Warner Theatre
Oct 8: Brooklyn, Ny @ Paramount
Oct 10: Boston, Ma @ Orpheum
Oct 11: Philadelphia, Pa @ Franklin Music Hall
Oct 13: Montreal, Qc @ Mtelus
Oct 14: Toronto, On @ History
Oct 15: Detroit, Mi @ Masonic Temple
Oct 17: Chicago, Il @ Riviera Theatre
Oct 18: Saint Paul, Mn @ Palace Theatre
