With Record Store Day less than a week away, Johnny Marr has been revealed as this year’s ‘Record Store Legend’ – only the second artist to receive the prestigious honour, following in the footsteps of Elton John. The announcement was made earlier today when Johnny joined Chris Hawkins live on his 6Music show.
The guitarist, songwriter, solo artist, and former Smiths icon has been honoured with the accolade in recognition of his lasting impact on music, his steadfast support for independent record stores globally, and the deep affection and respect he receives from the stores – such as Manchester’s Piccadilly Records – along with their loyal customers.
In celebration, Johnny has been presented with a commemorative plaque at Piccadilly Records, a store he has long been associated with. From purchasing gig tickets there in his youth to building a friendship with the staff over the past twenty years, the store has been an integral part of his journey, and they’ve welcomed him for various album signings since he embarked on his solo career in 2013.
“Going out to a record store, it’s a nice pastime. It’s a part of the culture, if they were to completely disappear, the high street or the city centre would be a much worse off place. There’s something about the presence of a record store. It’s a magical thing. I’ve known the staff in Piccadilly Records for 20 years…this plaque is a very nice thing to be associated with.”
Johnny Marr, 2025
Record Store Day celebrates its 18th edition on 12th April, offering hundreds of exclusive releases on a first-come, first-served basis at over 270 independent record shops across the UK, with thousands more participating globally. Johnny has taken part in the event several times, most memorably in 2015 when he released a 7″ single featuring his cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘I Feel You‘, alongside a live recording of his performance of ‘Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want’ at Manchester’s O2 Apollo during his 2014 Playland tour.
This year, Johnny will release a live recording of his April 2024 show at Hammersmith Apollo, which was part of his UK tour celebrating a decade as a solo artist. Titled Look Out Live!, the double LP will be pressed on vibrant orange vinyl and feature a special guest appearance by Neil Tennant. The Pet Shop Boys frontman joined Johnny on the night for renditions of Electronic’s Getting Away With It and David Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’.
