Johnny Marr describes how he wrote How Soon is Now | In Conversation with John Kennedy | Radio X

Johnny Marr popped by for an intimate chat with John Kennedy, armed with a guitar, in front of some lucky members of the public. Recorded on the Radio X roof on the 14th June, 2018.
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[@redplague]

Got to give him credit, he picked a haircut at age 17 and stuck to it all his life.

[@robdean704]

To be fair he stuck to the same length but messed about with partings

[@themScreamS]

Same colour too Just like Ronnie Wood. Toupees in a pod

[@gart9680]

He had a cracking quiff at one stage in the 80s during The Smiths years.

[@avedic]

@@themScreamS lol.....i see what you did there. touche

[@jack0609]

I think when he was with electronic he had a short hair like a grown out buzz cut

[@jennyfromtherox]

Johnny Marr guitar genius.

[@TwitchLV]

Couldn’t agree more

[@billybeetroot8595]

Johnny Marr, Pete Buck and Paul Weller

[@iwww13]

student of his art

[@underdawg2743]

No doubt, 1 of the last true British guitar heroes

[@slickrockcreek1]

It took me way too long to realize that. He even had a tremendous influence on a song I wrote and I didn't realize it until like ten years later. The guy's totally original, nobody else sounds like him.

[@manuxuser]

this guy is so cool and such a musician....

[@jongibirdi1394]

He is..seems so relaxed and down to earth about it all

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

He stoled the riff and tremo effect from bo DIDDLEY's Crackin' Up

[@harrisonwintergreen1147]

OMG 😮 How Soon is Now is a Bo Diddley riff. Mind = blown 🧨

[@DenisGreenhalgh]

😮 ❤❤

[@TheMr007247]

Mind blown similar to the video of Dave Grohl telling Pharrell Williams how the drum flam at the beginning of Smells Like Teen Spirit and the entire Nevermind album is originally from The Gap Band and Cameo.

[@68Warpigs]

Lucky buggers, Johnny Marr is such an amazing guy to sit and listen to. He speaks music to people who don't read music, like musical stories in a foreign language that you can understand.

[@jbrat1967]

The man who wrote the soundtrack to my life. 3:10 touches my soul.

[@JohnnyMarr_Official]

Thanks for the support, recognition and love towards me 🎶& I am captivated❤️. where are you watching from?

[@fotoviano]

as if I wasn't a huge Bo Diddley fan already - awesome legacy

[@matthewmccalvin2062]

Such a masterful guitar player, his phrasing and rhythmic understanding goes without saying.

[@pejpm]

My favourite kind of guitar player. Playing a million notes a minute has its place, and I like and respect those players, but i much prefer those players who focus on the rhythmic side. Adam Jones from Tool is another example.

[@Daniel-ox1sb]

Says a lot that he was in a band with an iconic singer frontman and yet his guitar is talked about equally to if not more than Morrissey.

[@amandacorrin]

Uh would I been the only one giving a standing ovation after everytime he played?

[@Liam.2000]

Yes. It’s an interview not a concert

[@amandacorrin]

@@Liam.2000 then stay seated.

[@mac.shwibbie]

@@amandacorrin cold response haha

[@googleislame]

2:35 When you take away everything from the song except for the main guitar, it becomes so obvious how much of the song was inspired by the blues.

[@phillynott2459]

All rock does

[@jrussell4711]

Watch him just get into a groove and pass into another world about 50 seconds in. Brilliant.

[@RumbleFish69]

Listening to Johnny Marr speak and hearing him speak of his process, it just gives me goosebumps! It's funny how I can become emotional over something like this! Maybe it's the fact that I am 58-years old and I have been of fan of Johnny Marr and The Smiths since 1984. This man is not only an amazing guitarist, but also an incredible lyricist. I have tried to pattern my own guitar playing around Johnny's style. Man, I am in awe of this amazing, amazing artist!

[@davidhoogendyke2774]

I saw Johnny Marr playing guitar for Sinead O'Conner in Toronto for her "The Lion and the Cobra" tour in the eighties, what a fantastic concert, in a small venue called "The Diamond Club"...a fabulous show.

[@hjones4922]

Wow. Never knew he played with her - especially not at that time!

[@matteframe]

saw him in a medium sized place with The The, that was pretty great.

[@wavelengthrecords-1]

No, Andy and Mike only. Not Johnny. Never played with her or on her records. Sorry.

[@lewis7951]

You’ve never seen Al Pacino and Johnny Marr in the same room have you?

[@rodicasufletu4701]

😂💖

[@hattster1818]

Say hello to my little charming friend !

[@ITSAHARDNUGLIFE]

Well...I have now

[@rockturtleneck]

Fascinating. How Soon is Now is the single greatest song of the 1980s in my opinion. There are a lot of videos of McCartney doing this too, where he downplays his genius to make it sound like they just put a couple of chords and beats together and wa-la, we have a masterpiece.

[@CertifiedSlamboy]

“Wa-la”..? You mean “voila”..?

[@tonyhill1264]

One of the greatest songs ever created.... Haunting. 👍

[@Sometimes_Always]

Add “Amazing fking story teller” to the amazing fkin guitar player skill set

[@mikerooke1828]

This song haunts my twenties and still does … got to be the best or one of the best tracks of all time .. genius !! Marr is incomparable in his field and one of the top six guitarists of all time …

[@TheBEATLEnumber5]

Him and Graham Coxon of Blur are deeply underrated guitarists

[@ginaramusic]

True

[@DaveTaste]

They're massively and commercially successful. Because you like them doesn't mean they're underrated.

[@rat9199]

how is Johnny Marr underrated lol. You do know that the guitar on this video is his own signature model that goes for like 2500 USD. Getting an american Fender made after you is like the peak of success in term of guitar players.

[@girlsknowbest8666]

One of my favorite guitarists and my favorite story on this song. When you hear how he breaks it down, you appreciate it so much more

[@JohnnyMarr_Official]

Thank you so much for your wonderful comments, love& recognition , I am extremely captivated❤️. Where are you watching from ?

[@fellspoint9364]

Thank Bo Diddley

[@hammersfan1886]

Geniuses make hard things look so easy until you try to do it yourself

[@finnkdy]

Ronnie O, c'est comme ça.

[@canaletto333]

That evolution of the main theme is amazing.

[@patlee1348]

Love love love this guy, How Soon is Now is one of many classics I can’t get enough of. Thanks J, with love from Alabama ✊🏾

[@scottflores2502]

Dude, this guy is so humble and play homage forward to his mentors....love this guy!

[@scottflores2502]

oh, btw!! his vocals are sick...love you Johnny!

[@68404]

Great interviewer. Sat back and let the story unroll.

[@sanfernando2stories998]

Hey Bo Diddley! Bo is in the dna of most classic rock songs.

[@whitebread171]

Legend of a man. Amazing watching Hans Zimmerman orchestra doing the dark knight trilogy and Johnny Marr pops up playing guitar as part of the orchestra. Worth a watch

[@julast6658]

Note to all Camera persons. 2, Avoid head obstruction. 1, When filming a guitarist always but always make sure you film the guitar always.

[@Bosch_Bosch]

Underrated comment

[@ronniemacdonald2768]

would love to hear the original How Soon Is Now demo

[@stupoc6715]

Just strumming that first chord created so much power for that song. Crazy.

[@MrSoapFactory]

Wow! After all these years, I did not see that one coming! In the words of Noel Gallagher, "Johnny Marr is a fookin' wizard"

[@johnmcdonald1237]

Love how he describes his processes as simple...humble legend!

[@Aleakwe]

💛 I love Bo Diddley, Marr and this song. Full circle of why it’s love at first hear. Love stories of evolution and that anyting can be inspirational

[@janbonne]

Nice that tremolo echo wobbly thing is such a deep everpresent base of the song omg... can’t believe it’s from another mood

[@BenLapke]

Even Johnny Marr can’t play Johnny Marr.

[@rhianc7347]

Noel Gallagher quote ;)

[@mijadreams3486]

i hate this quote im sorry

[@irishhungrydwarf9015]

@@mijadreams3486 seen it enough times now ain’t we

[@globalpeasant]

Hahaha

[@Yourweakminds]

Brilliant line.

[@Sulu-sw3zo]

*Fascinating evolution story of a wonderful piece of my formative years. Saw Marr in the Wellington Town Hall, New Zealand circa 1989, when he toured with The The. Brilliant, brilliant musician.*

[@connormurphy7684]

Johnny Marr is to cool to be Johnny Marr!

[@andymanser1]

Fabulous artist

[@shiftertron6143]

The intro is almost identical to the riff from What We All Want by Gang of Four.

[@BentleyGT10]

Picture this….Driving out of the shale mountains into the rolling sand dunes headed for Dubai in my ole NSX with this CRANKED on auto-replay! What a life!!

[@qwahaxahn]

*I love him*

[@mrmac3971]

all the 80s kids look like teachers now except for Johnny

[@davemcdave2169]

Love it. Pulls something out of his head that's been there stewing for 10 years, that has its origins in Bo Didley. That's made my week that has.

[@necromaya]

He is such an underated guitar player.

[@AL13NM]

Love the american roots of what is such a British song!

[@PerfectoKiss]

One of the best songs!

[@michaelgreene4816]

Love this man.

[@okee9]

I love watching Marr talk Guitar

[@kidcatchy2091]

a legend

[@chelseaacidcasual2825]

Seen The Smiths twice.....I feel very blessed.

[@QS-si3cq]

*Saw

[@johnnypk1963]

Brilliant…

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

That's how he did it! Brilliant!

[@cosmicactivity299]

Dude’s awesome

[@luciano350hp]

Que grande johny. Y ese efecto del trémolo le da el toque

[@someblokecalleddave1]

It's weird seeing this audience and realising we've all got old.

[@chesterlane3032]

Johnny Marr is the reason why I listened to the smiths for a long time since I was in school and now I'm 43 years old this year lol

[@URBANPERMACULTURE]

check out the first bit of guitar and Hawkwinds Spirit of the age, it really sounds like Johhnys guitar on How soon is now

[@jrkchannel37]

He said somewhere that it also was inspired by The Gun Club..

[@orsonkart4794]

The Smiths best track ever ! Just my opinion.

[@chrisjerome4183]

Yup. I love how it goes on and on. Barbarism begins at home #2

[@lawrenceleong8747]

Legend!!!!

[@craigsandry6737]

Absolute Legend 😎🎸

[@drmgrl5785]

Hes insane i luv him

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

Bo Diddley already had the rifle and tremo effects on Crackin' Up I'm back 1957

[@bingandrew3266]

Powerful and cool

[@GrabbinPeelz]

so true about the bo diddley thing

[@mackabeats]

When that tremolo comes in wow.

[@Stampistuta]

Proper genius.

[@aeon_6172]

Man his phrasing... omfg

[@rahmanbikmukhametov1253]

Awesome 👏

[@phacemagphaceview7394]

Would have been lovely if Johnny had talked about how the lyric evolved with this masterpiece. ‘The Smiths’ was a combination of genius that inspired a generation ❤ bless best pauliepaul x

[@ToysintheStatic]

Cool video! I wish he would have gone into depth about his joke! Don’t get me wrong, it’s awesome that he explains the origins of the main riff, but I was more curious about the layers and all that.

[@volartree]

Marr is soooo cute🥰🥰🥰

[@jackhaugh]

I have to say as soon as he started playing I was like “that’s Bo Didlely.”

[@edwardbliss8931]

Those are the people that get All Access laminate passes at concerts while we have to pay $100 a ticket.

[@aquamarine99911]

I grew up loving Hendrix, Deep Purple (Blackmore) and all those guys and the heavy blues rock style. But when I heard Hatful of Hollow, I said I've GOT to learn those guitar lines. Simple, but so effective. Such a lush contrast to Morrissey's mournful voice. Johnny has a better voice than Morrissey, but he wasn't gonna be a star on his own.

[@DonVideoGuy007]

I knew all these years that the opening riff with the tremolo for "How Soon Is Now" came from the legendary Bo Diddley.

[@intrepidvirgo938]

Interesting....so when Johnny strips away all layers of this song - you’re only left with a simple 50’s riff....

[@jjfloyd618]

I once heard that there is so much layering of guitars and reverbs on the final album cut that it was a complete nightmare for the band to try to recreate the sound live.

[@Michael-xg5bq]

I love his guitar man i love the blue

[@richluvsellie1]

Pure genius. ..

[@gart9680]

3:05 goosebumps

[@MrKarmapolice97]

British men always have the best head of hair

[@akiray1999]

never heard this song before, thats some cool stuff

[@craigg4219]

Standing there with ya camera phone when it was getting filmed anyway

[@rayvinloony2322]

Manc and a blue.💙👏

[@iamhereblossom1588]

Those guitarist interviews usually bore me but his unique take on the guitar and his storytelling is entertaining.

[@harrisonmayhew-kemp6461]

Please upload all of this

[@RadioX]

Full interview will be available Monday !

[@harrisonmayhew-kemp6461]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rhianc7347]

Guy holding up the mobile phone to record the whole time annoys me. Put the phone down and enjoy the experience instead of worrying about recording everything

[@WellMefisto]

But he is certainly enjoying. Just turn the on the cam, hit "record" and there you go! Above all, he did not hold the phone up in the air in front of the rest of the audience, spoiling the others' experience ahahahaahh!!!

[@rhianc7347]

@@WellMefisto your right, but people seem to be more concerned about capturing the moment rather than enjoying and savouring the moment

[@WellMefisto]

@@rhianc7347 true, ahahahah!! They quite forget their own eyes!

[@tsmay4598]

He didn't see the interview live, but at least he could watch it with his friends later on.

[@omnipop4936]

@@rhianc7347 Exactly right. You're not fully experiencing it if you're constantly making sure everything is "in frame", ffs. Live music is best captured by your _soul,_ not a device.

[@westboundbadger]

"No one can play guitar like Johnny Marr,...Not even Johnny Marr can play like Johnny Marr",.....

[@lpark8]

💥💥💥

[@joshuatree9845]

GENUIS

[@mpaddyuk70]

The man

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

There is nothing new under the sun.

[@loganlockyer2651]

Sad that all of them are on their phones while in the presence of the man

[@tomflanigan3594]

It's not like they were playing Candy Crush. They were filming.

[@testsite66]

All the people filming it weren't actually in the room. They were watching it on their phones.

[@waynebelton5445]

In a room full of people, half of them are watching the interview through their phone. Unbelievable.

[@puffysnowball2261]

I’m late to the Johnny Marr party. Been delving into the catalog W O W ! ! !

[@28copland]

He's playing an amp ffs, genius

[@sbfletcher5096]

Who knew that Mississippian Bo Diddley inspired one of the greatest songs of 80’s !!

[@paulmcknight4249]

Well done to the cameraman at 3:18 letting the girls head get in the way

[@fernandotattoonicolini1058]

Johnny and Morrissey is the genius but inthe how son...the guitar ruuuuules!!!