Author: Johnny Marr
Autobiography: arts & entertainment
Published on 22 October 2026 by Thames & Hudson Ltd in the United Kingdom.
Hardback | 368 pages, 85 Illustrations, black and white
254 x 199 x 36 | 1198g
'Wise, breezy, supersmart ... Marr's defiantly unghostwritten book is pleasant and direct' Guardian 'An unpretentious, clearly written memoir recounting his journey from a working-class upbringing on the outskirts of Manchester to his status as a musical polymath' The Times 'A pleasure ... present[s] a particular life in rock as one of pure, disarming joy and open possibility' New Statesman 'A trip down memory lane featuring the all-star cast that Marr has rubbed shoulders with' Esquire Previously a Sunday Times bestseller and NME Book of the Year A fully illustrated, enhanced and reformatted edition of Johnny Marr's acclaimed autobiography, Set the Boy Free, sumptuously re-imagined with additional archival photography and exclusive updates by Marr himself.
With a slick redesign integrating the classic text and photographs with expanded imagery from the Marr archives, this enhanced edition of Johnny Marr's ˜defiantly unghostwritten' bestselling autobiography is so much more than the story of the much-loved guitar wizard. It's the inside track of popular music over the last forty years, laid bare by a musical legend at the heart of it all and never far from the Top 10.
A true collector's item, Johnny Marr: Set the Boy Free also features a foreword by Noel Gallagher, and a brand-new preface and illustrated afterword by Marr, adding further highlights and insights into what has been another stellar decade of creative projects. Featuring exclusive photography including live, backstage and studio shots from key eras of The Smiths and the many collaborations beyond, this illustrated anniversary edition comes at a time when Marr's stature as a musician, songwriter and household name confirms his position as a modern cultural icon.