The Smiths always seemed on the brink of collapse, especially with Morrissey’s tendency to voice his opinions on everything except music. It’s a wonder they managed to produce so many albums during the 1980s, thanks largely to Johnny Marr’s continuous stream of iconic rock riffs. While Marr typically let his music do the talking, there was one particular Smiths song that nearly pushed him to leave the band entirely.
Before their rise as one of England’s best indie acts, Marr sought to break free from the confines of traditional rhythm guitar. Inspired by early alternative bands like The Police and Talking Heads, he crafted a unique soundscape using various open tunings and effects, exemplified in tracks like “How Soon Is Now?”
By the time they reached The Queen Is Dead, Marr had developed a distinct musical vocabulary with his signature Rickenbacker guitar. Although some lead breaks echoed The Rolling Stones, Marr’s ability to transform a handful of notes into sweeping epics, like “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” was unparalleled.
Despite the growing tension between band members while working on their final album, Strangeways Here We Come, both Marr and Morrissey regarded it as one of their best projects. However, Marr was frustrated by the prolonged effort spent on leftover tracks.
Beginning with the single “Girlfriend in a Coma,” Morrissey delivered some of his finest vocal performances, masking personal tragedies with a seemingly cheerful facade. While Marr took pride in the song, the B-side, “Work Is a Four Letter Word,” became one of his most loathed Smiths tracks. As a cover of a Cilla Black song, Marr felt it contradicted everything the band represented, leading him to seriously contemplate leaving.
Reflecting on those studio sessions, Marr recalled, “Work Is a Four Letter Word, I hated. That was the last straw, really. I didn’t form a group to perform Cilla Black songs.
That was it, really. I made a decision that I was going to get away on holiday. The only place I could think of was L.A. L.A. was the only place I knew where there’d be sunshine, so off I went. I never saw Morrissey again.”
Though the band never released anything after Strangeways Here We Come, Marr quickly cemented his status as a rock legend in the years that followed, collaborating with notable artists like Noel Gallagher and Modest Mouse and performing with rock giants like The Killers.
While Marr’s legacy was secure the moment he walked out of that studio, the prospect of The Smiths reuniting became nothing more than a distant dream.
