Hall and Oates
Johnny Marr is an English musician, songwriter, and singer (born Johnny Martin Maher) in Manchester in October 1963 and at the age of 13 formed his first band, the Paris Valentinos. He played in several bands, the most recent being Freak Party. But by early 1982, after losing their singer, Marr approached Rob Allman, the singer with White Dice. He showed little interest and instead suggested Steven Morrissey, the singer with the Nosebleeds. In May, and through a third-party it was arranged for Marr to meet Morrissey at his home. They seemed to hit it off and with Marr’s first bass player, Andy Rourke, and Mike Joyce on drums they formed the Smiths.
Within months they signed to Rough Trade Records and in May 1983 released their first single “Hand in Glove.” Now with an ever-growing fan base they recorded their first album, which was released in early 1984 and reached number two in the UK Chart. This was quickly followed by their second album, the controversial, “Meat is Murder.”
Their third album “The Queen Is Dead” was awarded the accolade by Spin magazine as being one of the greatest albums ever made. This resulted in the NME dubbing the Smiths the most important rock band of all time.
Marr's guitar sounds are instantly recognisable, with his jangly Rickenbacker and Fender Telecaster and synonymous with the Smith’s sound. Marr said, when performing with the band, he wanted to play a music which was pop. "100% of my focus was on providing interesting guitar hooks and putting some kind of space-age twist on the guitarist's role. The pop guitarist crossed with the mad professor. That's how I thought of myself."
In early 1986, Rourke was fired by the band for his use of heroin, but within weeks he was reinstated. But other problems were already looming and despite their continued success, personal differences within the band and the increasingly strained relationship between Morrissey and Marr created a huge problem.
Marr left the group in July 1987, and despite auditions to find a replacement no one was considered suitable. So, by the time their next tranche of music was released the band had long split.
One of the reasons given by Morrissey was the fact that Marr was working and recording with other artists, however, he later told Tim Samuels, a BBC journalist, that it was due to the lack of a managerial figure and business problems.
Marr's guitar playing had a massive effect on many of the Manchester bands that followed the Smiths including: John Squire - Stone Roses, Noel Gallagher - Oasis, and no doubt many more. He has since performed with numerous other bands and singers including: the Pretenders, Pet Shop Boys, collaborating with Hans Zimmer, on film soundtracks, Talking Heads. Joss Stone, Bryan Ferry and so many more.
In 2010 in a poll conducted by the BBC, Marr was voted the fourth-best guitarist of the last 30 years and Phil Alexander, editor-in-chief of Mojo described him as "arguably Britain's last great guitar stylist." In 2013, the NME, honoured Marr with its "Godlike Genius" award: "Not content with rewriting the history of music with one of the world's greatest ever bands, the Smiths, he's continued to push boundaries and evolve throughout his career, working with some of the best and most exciting artists on the planet."
Despite several attempts at reforming the Smiths it seems very unlikely.
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BY-------Graham Sclater
Hall & Oates, were an American duo formed in Philadelphia in 1970. They successfully managed to split their duties with Daryl Hall - lead vocalist and John Oates - guitar and backing vocals. Songwriting duties were either separately or in collaboration and on occasions with sisters Sara and Janna Allen.
Daryl Franklin Hohl and John William Oates first met at the Adelphi ballroom in Philadelphia in 1967. Each of them had their own groups, Hall with The Temptones and, Oates with The Masters. While attending Temple University they discovered they liked the same music. They started spending time together and eventually shared several apartments in the city, one of the apartments they shared had "Hall & Oates" on the mailbox. This became the duo's common nickname but it was another two years before they decided to work together. Three years later they were signed to Atlantic Records and released their debut album and 1970.
Success was not easy and despite being produced by big-name producers Arif Mardin and Todd Rundgren they had no hit singles. But following the release of She’s Gone covered by Lou Rawls, reaching number one and, Abandoned Luncheonette covered by Taveres, everything changed. Their instantly recognisable music is radio friendly, with a combination of rock, soul and R & B. Their greatest success came during the mid-1970s until the late 1980s. For many of their recording sessions, they used the same studio musicians which is perhaps the reason their sound is instantly recognisable.
They were incredibly successful and 29 of their 33 singles charted on the billboard Hot 100 between 1974 and 1991, with six tracks reaching number one: Rich Girl, Kiss on My List, Private Eyes, Maneater and many more. Seven of their albums were certified platinum and six gold. In the UK they were also incredibly successful and their releases spent more than 120 days in the UK Top 75 albums chart.
Hall and Oates are ranked 18 in a list of the top Hot 100 artists of all time and six in a list of the Hot 100's top duos/groups. They remain the most successful duo of all time, ahead of the Carpenters, the Everly Brothers and Simon and Garfunkel.
They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in September 2016 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Like so many bands, in the music industry, they were not without legal issues and as I mentioned in earlier articles it is now common for artists/songwriters to sell their catalogue for what are often huge sums. And in November 2023, Hall filed a contract lawsuit, under seal, to prevent Oates from selling the pair's publishing rights, held by the pair's Whole Oats Enterprises, to Primary Wave Music without consulting him.
Like so many bands, in the music industry, they were not without legal issues and as I mentioned in earlier articles it is now common for artists/songwriters to sell their catalogue for what are often huge sums. And in November 2023, Hall filed a contract lawsuit, under seal, to prevent Oates from selling the pair's publishing rights, held by the pair's Whole Oats Enterprises, to Primary Wave Music without consulting him.
Sadly, last year, Oates indicated that the duo would no longer perform together due to the legal battle between them.
Their music is so radio friendly you will hear their songs almost every day on your radio.
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