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Johnny Marr named as 'Record Store Legend'

PA Media Johnny Marr stands outside Piccadilly Records. He is wearing a khaki-coloured shirt and has his hands in the pockets of black trousers. In the background window display hangs columns of vinyl recordsPA Media
Marr said he had known staff in Manchester's Piccadilly Records for 20 years

A plaque has been unveiled in Manchester honouring musician Johnny Marr with the title of "record store legend".

The 61-year-old's support of independent record stores worldwide has been commemorated with the sign at Piccadilly Records, situated in the city where he co-founded rock band The Smiths in 1982.

The accolade, which first awarded to Sir Elton John in 2017, is a joint honour presented by both Record Store Day US and UK.

Marr said he had known staff at the store for 20 years and the plaque was "a very nice thing to be associated with".

He said going to a record store was "a nice pastime".

"If they were to completely disappear, the high street or the city centre would be a much worse-off place," he said.

He said such shops were "magical", adding: "There's something about the presence of a record store."

Johnny Marr, with short black hair and wearing a blue, white and black speckled shirt and blue jeans, plays a white guitar next to a microphone
Marr had been honoured for his support for independent record stores, Record Store Day organisers said

Piccadilly Records' Andy McQueen said Marr was "our favourite living artist and his music has soundtracked our lives for over 40 years".

With a nod to the lyrics of Marr's former band, he added that to be "associated with him in this beautiful way; well, the pleasure, the privilege, is ours".

Described as the "one day of the year when almost 300 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture", Record Store Day sees many artists put out limited editions and unique releases.

For the 2025 celebration, which takes place on 12 April, Marr will release a special edition of his album Look Out Live!, which captured a show at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 2024.

PA Media A vinyl-design plaque reads 'In honour of record store legend Johnny Marr. Presented by Record Store Day and Piccadilly Records'. A framed black and white photo of The Smiths outside Salford Lads' Club is on the wall next to it. Vinyl records can be seen beneath it.PA Media
The plaque has been placed next to an iconic image of Marr's former band The Smiths

In 1982, Marr and fellow Mancunian, Morrissey formed The Smiths, also comprised of bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce.

The band had hits with songs including Bigmouth Strikes Again and There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, but Marr left to undertake other projects in 1987.

He has gone on to work with a host of artists, including US pop star Billie Eilish, the bands Modest Mouse, Pet Shop Boys and Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, and Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.

In 2024, following news of the Oasis reunion, he revealed he had turned down the chance of a reunion tour with The Smiths.

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