12811

Johnny Marr is here, played "How Soon is Now?" on Fallon

by Bill Pearis

Johnny Marr @ Coachella 2013 (more by Dana [distortion] Yavin)
Johnny Marr

Guitar legend Johnny Marr is currently in NYC for two sold-out tour stopstonight (5/2) at Irving Plaza and Friday (5/3) at Music Hall of Williamsburg — and last night he stopped by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to perform live. On the show he performed the title track to his new solo album, The Messenger. But then for the online exlusive, he and his band pulled out The Smiths‘ classic “How Soon is Now?” (aka “the indie Stairway to Heaven”). Marr is one of my heroes, and I love the Smiths as much as any sane person does, but it’s a little strange (but not really so) to see him sing Morrissey’s lyrics. I didn’t watch his Coachella performances and wasn’t expecting him to do any Smiths songs at all. He does a pretty good job though, and it’s a thrill to watch him play those riffs for sure.

In fact he’s also been playing a lot of Smiths on this tour: “Bigmouth Strikes Again,” “London,” “Stop Me If You Think That You’ve Heard This One Before” and “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out,” in addition to “Getting Away with It,” “Get the Message” and “Forbidden City” which he wrote with Bernard Sumner for Electronic. So expect trips down Memory Lane if you’re catching him live.

Meanwhile check out those Fallon videos below.

Johnny Marr – “The Messenger” on Fallon

Johnny Marr – “How Soon is Now?” on Fallon