Johnny Marr Flies Solo

Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr will release his debut solo album this summer under the tag "Johnny Marr and the Healers." Marr, who never sang on a single Smiths song, will be making his debut as a lead vocalist.

In a post on his Website (www.jmarr.com), Marr writes that his friend Chrissie Hynde encouraged him to take the mike. He also explains that after all his various collaborations -- which include Hynde, Billy Bragg, The The's Matt Johnson and New Order singer Bernard Sumner -- he was ready to go it alone. "I've kinda run out of people, so I'm on my own now. All the people I ever wanted to work with, well, I've been working with!"

Marr's not exactly on his own, as Mickey P (of Beck fame) is producing the album, and Zak Starkey, the in-demand Beatles offspring, plays drums.

Despite reports to the contrary, the album does not mean the end of Electronic, Marr's on-again/off-again project with Sumner. "Everyone seems to love a good feud," Marr writes of the rumors of Electronic's demise. "Bernard and I are really close friends, and at the moment he's doing New Order and I'm doing my album."

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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